Ranchi: Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Friday said caste-based reservation should continue in the country as long as caste distinctions and discrimination persist.Speaking to reporters at the state guesthouse here, Athawale said instances of caste discrimination continued to be reported, particularly in rural areas. He also said caste considerations could sometimes affect access to opportunities, including promotions.Athawale said his community would be willing to give up reservation benefits if the caste system was completely abolished. Until then, he added, communities should receive representation in proportion to their population.Referring to the Centre’s proposed caste census, Athawale said the Narendra Modi-led NDA govt intended to collect accurate data on different social groups. Such demographic information, he said, would help the govt frame targeted welfare and development policies.Supporting reservation in the private sector, he said the policy should also cover public sector undertakings following their privatisation.Commenting on recent student protests in Jharkhand, Athawale said the state govt should have initiated talks with the protesters at an early stage. He said the situation escalated before police used force to disperse the protesters.He urged state govt to ensure greater transparency in recruitment processes and formulate a new employment policy to expand job opportunities for youths. The minister also stressed the need to attract more industries to Jharkhand to boost employment generation.Athawale questioned state govt’s reported decision to cancel all JPSC and JSSC examinations conducted since 2014. He said such a step could adversely affect candidates who had been selected through these examinations and were currently serving in govt jobs.He also called for more effective measures to address the concerns of Dalit and tribal communities in the state. However, Athawale did not respond to questions related to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act.
