GIVE UP SC, ST, OBC STATUS- RAMDAS ATHAWALE SMILES

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale today said he “would look into it” whether wealthy Scheduled Castes, Tribes and Other Backward Castes would be asked to voluntarily “give up” their claim on job and education reservation.

Addressing a press Conference in Shillong, Meghalaya's Capital, Athwale said that he has suggested to the Centre to create reservation within the General category based on their economic status “without disturbing the quota belonging to SCs, STs and OBCs.”

“I have suggested to the Central Government that a Bill in the Parliament is introduced and passed so that there is reservation for the general category based on economic status so that the quota of the SCs, STs and OBCs are maintained. I hope that the Government would respond favourably,” the Union Minister, who is also the founder of the Republican Party of India (Ambedkar,) said.

However, when the Minister was asked if he would similarly suggest to the Centre to also look into the economic status of SCs, STs and OBC and encourage them to give up their claim on job and education reservation, Athwale was initially hesitant to answer, but said that he would look into the suggestion.

Athwale, who is a Dalit leader from Maharashtra, was non-committal if he would set the trend by first giving up claim on job and education reservation under his reserved category.

He further stated that the division between castes in India can be reduced through inter-marriages and therefore the Government has announced the Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration through Inter-Caste Marriage in which an incentive of 2.5 lakh is given.

Under the scheme if one of the spouses is from a Scheduled category and the other is not the incentive can be claimed by the couple within a year of their marriage, after furnishing documents validating the marriage and provided that the annual income of the couple is not over Rs. 5 lakh.