Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale said here on Tuesday that the Union Government is contemplating a reward system to encourage inter-caste marriages a measure to abolish caste system in the country.
Athawale too urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to introduce such a system in the State.
“If the Chief Minister announces `20-25 crore reward for the district reporting the maximum numbers of inter-caste marriages, people will certainly show interest to have brides and bridegrooms from other castes. Besides, the State Government can consider announcing a Government job for one of the inter-caste couple. To end case system inter-caste marriages are necessary,” said Athawale.
The Dalit leader, on the sidelines of attending a review meeting with State Government officials, said the Centre is contemplating rewards to encourage such marriages.
“Our Ministry encourages people to go for such marriages. We are also thinking what best can be done to abolish the caste system,” the Union Minister said.
Expressing concern over the sorry state of ‘divyangas’ in the country, he said the ministry is 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.