PANJIM: Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Monday said Goa government is mulling to amend the law to allow Neo-Buddhists-members of Schedule Caste (SC) communities who converted to Buddhism- to allow them benefit under the reserved caste they belonged to before conversion.
Athawale held meeting with Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on various issues concerning the SC communities and schemes of Central government under social justice and empowerment.
Speaking to media persons post meeting, Athawale said the Centre has already amended the Act and so also the Maharashtra government to allow Neo-Buddhists, the SC status. “I have spoken to Goa CM and he has also assured to make necessary amendment to the Act to grant benefits of the SC and Centrally-sponsored schemes to these people,” he said.
The Union Minister said in 1990, the Central government had made a constitutional amendment to address this anomaly but the rule was never implemented.
In 1956, weeks before his death, Dr B R Ambedkar had converted to Buddhism. Hundreds of thousands of Dalits had converted to Buddhism along with Ambedkar. Today, they are known as Neo-Buddhists.
However, as per the then law, because they had converted they could no longer avail the benefits of schemes meant for the SC.
Athawale said the Goa government will be provided all support to implement various Central government schemes under social justice and empowerment. He said the Centre will provide all support for industrial and tourism promotion and creation of employment in the sectors.
“I will hold talks with the concerned Union Ministers and industrial stakeholders from Mumbai for working in collaboration with Goa on industrial front,” he said.
