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  India   Ramdas Athawale for cash reward, jobs for inter-caste couples

Ramdas Athawale for cash reward, jobs for inter-caste couples

Published : Sep 21, 2016, 3:31 am IST
Updated : Sep 21, 2016, 3:31 am IST

Union minister of state for social justice Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday stated that inter-caste marriages should be encouraged to abolish caste system in the country.

Union minister of state for social justice Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday stated that inter-caste marriages should be encouraged to abolish caste system in the country.

“If the chief minister of Orissa announces Rs 20-25 crore reward for the district reporting the maximum numbers of inter-caste marriages, people will be motivated to encourage this system. Besides, the state government can consider announcing government job for one of the inter-caste couple. To end caste system, inter-caste marriages are necessary,” Mr Athawale said.

He added that youth going for inter-caste marriage should be given Rs 4-5 lakh reward.

The Dalit leader, on the sidelines of attending a review meet with officials of state government, said the Centre was also contemplating rewards of similar fashion to encourage such marriages.

“My ministry is encouraging such marriages and people should come forward to encourage such things. We have also been thinking what best can be done to abolish the caste system,” the minister said.

While expressing concern over the sorry state of ‘divyangas’ in the country, Mr Athawale said the ministry was considering pensions for the differently-abled persons. “We want to give them equality not sympathy,” he stressed.

Athawale maintained that reservations should be carved out for the poor among the forward castes.

Location: India, Odisha, Bhubaneswar