Bhubaneswar, Sept. 20: Union minister of state for social justice Ramdas Athawale today said the Centre was considering a proposal to provide job reservation to economically-backward people even from the upper castes.

"They should get at least 25 per cent reservation out of the 50 per cent left for the general category," Athawale told newspersons here today.

Jats, Gujjars and Marathas have been demanding reservation for the economically weak sections of their communities.

Stating that the Supreme Court has put 50 per cent ceiling on the reservation quota, the Union minister said that to raise the ceiling, it was necessary to amend the Constitution.

Athawale criticised the state government for its failure to curb atrocities on Dalits. "Atrocities on Dalits have increased over the years in the state. In 2014, the number of cases of atrocity was 2,121, which went up to 2,504 the next year. This year, 1,641 cases have been lodged so far," he said.

He also said inter-caste marriages should be encouraged and promoted to check atrocities on Dalits. "Inter-caste marriages will not only bring down atrocities, it will also play a major role in putting an end to casteist feelings," he said.

Athawale urged chief minister Naveen Patnaik to give awards of Rs 20 crore to Rs 25 crore to districts that record a high rate of inter-caste marriages. Besides, youths who marry low-caste girls should also be given employment, he said.

Athawale said 68 lakh SC and ST and 72 lakh OBC students across the country were getting scholarships to fund their studies.