Kumbakonam: Central government is keen to protect Dalits in the country said Ramdas Athavale, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment at Kumbakonam on Friday.
He told presspersons that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has special concern for Dalits. That is why he has allotted Rs 200 crore for economic development of Dalits under ‘Stand Up India programme’, he said.
A sum of Rs 3,000 crore is spent by the Social Justice Ministry for providing educational assistance to Dalit students annually, besides Rs 2.50 lakh is given for starting industries to any Dalit family, he said.
The minister said that some persons are alleging that Central government is responsible for atrocities against Dalits in the country.
“Central government is not responsible. Caste is responsible. Solution lies in inter-caste marriages,” he said.
On the Cauvery issue, he said that Karnataka should abide by the Supreme court’s order and continue to release Cauvery water for 10 days as stipulated by the court.
