NEW DELHI: The Centre is in favour of increasing monetary incentives to encourage inter-caste marriages, Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar has said.

"We are ready to provide incentives on fifty-fifty basis to encourage inter-caste marriages," Ms. Kumar told reporters on the sidelines of a two-day conference of Welfare Secretaries of States here on Thursday.

The Ministry has written to the State Governments to increase the financial incentive for inter-caste marriages to Rs. 50,000, half of which would be paid by the Centre. At present, the States are giving varying amounts as incentives, which, is not enough. The step has been taken since such marriages play a crucial role in mitigating caste feelings. "We want people to change their mindsets," Ms. Kumar added.

Asked about the possibility of the scheme being misused, Ms. Kumar said such a possibility remained, but "a good thing" could not be stopped because of that.

The Ministry has also proposed quality education "on a par with the public schools" for Dalits for their upliftment and to bring them into the national mainstream.

Under the proposed scheme, five schools in each State would be selected for quality education to Dalits, whose entire expenditure would be borne by the Government.

Thus, initially a pool of 10,000 students will be prepared at the national level and they could be competent enough to enter Indian Institutes of Managements, Indian Institutes of Technologies and other higher educational institutions.

Earlier, inaugurating the conference, Ms. Kumar said the Ministry had made progress in the educational, economic and social development of children belonging to the disadvantaged sections of society such as Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and the disabled. For their educational development, she asked the State Secretaries to gear up their targeted educational and economic development programmes.

"We have to work towards 100 per cent enrolment as well as retention in schools. I would request you to ensure that the children who complete one level of education do progress for the next level so that they can be brought on a par with the mainstream society in terms of higher education," she said.

Senior Citizens Bill

On the Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2006, that seeks to ensure adequate financial and family support for the elderly, particularly from their children, Ms. Kumar said the draft Bill was with the Cabinet for approval.

She said the Bill was drafted after wider consultation with State Governments, experts, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders.

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