Minister for Social Justice Meira Kumar today backed her colleague and LJP chief Ramvilas Paswan on reservation for SCs and STs in judicial services and said her ministry was working in this direction. “There can’t be another opinion on this issue”, she told reporters when asked to comment on the statement by Paswan demanding reservation in judicial services for Dalits. The minister, however, said the way to accomplish it was being considered by her ministry.

Kumar was responding to questions on whether reservation in judiciary would help check atrocities and benefit the Dalits. Paswan had said, “there should be reservation in the judiciary also. It is the sole body which interprets law. There should be a national commission to provide adequate representation to SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities.”

Meira Kumar also announced four national awards for outstanding work in eradicating untouchability and combating offences of atrocities against SCs and STs. “By instituting these awards, we are trying to encourage NGOs and individuals to work in eradicating untouchability and combating atrocities on Dalits.”

The four awards, two in each category, will give Rs 2 lakh each to individual activists and Rs 5 lakh to institutions winning the award. The awards, to be given to outstanding NGOs or individual activists in each of the four regions, may be shared by more than one recipient or organisation. It would be instituted in 2007 and given annually thereafter.

Kumar said the award was open to all Indian NGOs and human rights activists. A screening committee and a selection committee will recommend nominations for the awards. For the 2007 awards, these committees would consider nominations received up to January 31, she added. Expressing concerns over non-registration of FIRs in many cases related to Dalits, she said, “it needed sensitisation of police, administration and those responsible for governance and welfare of the community.”