Ramdas Athawale wants government to promise jobs to people in inter-caste marriage

BHUBANESWAR: Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale has suggested that Odisha promise jobs to those entering into an inter-caste marriage.

The Dalit leader, who has been pushing inter-caste marriages as a means to bridge India's caste divide, was in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday to visit an institute under his ministry.

“The state could give Rs 20-25 crore as an award to those districts that have high incidence of inter-caste marriages. They can also consider the option of promising a job, to either one or both people in an inter-caste marriage. My ministry will also look into how this can be done,” Athawale told the media.

On Tuesday, he said he would also push for an increase in the monetary assistance provided to inter-caste couples at the time of marriage. Odisha government gives Rs 50,000 to couples from different castes entering into marriage.

The Rajya sabha member and president of the Republican Party of India (Athawale) was inducted into the council of ministers in July this year.

The minister has also mooted in the recent past the idea of reservation for the economically deprived among the upper castes.