The article “We are casteless, give us our due” (Open Page, July 4) has highlighted a very important issue — of the plight of children of not only inter-caste but also inter-religious marriages. Undoubtedly, the importance of including them in the census — as well as taking steps such as providing reservation for them — should be looked into to remove the traditional discrimination faced by these sections. In a secular society like ours, it is incumbent on the government and society as a whole, to not only establish laws but also strive relentlessly to encourage inter-religious, inter-caste and inter-regional marriages.
Kasim Sait , Chennai
Children of men and women who have married outside their caste do not belong to the downtrodden section. Sure, the couples deserve the credit for crossing the traditional barrier. But how can a casteless society be created by providing reservation for their children? Are we going to create a new caste called the ‘casteless'? Reservation should be based on economic conditions, not caste or the lack of it.
Himabindu Marisetty , Hyderabad
The belief that inter-caste marriages can end the caste system is a myth. When inter-caste couples admit their sons or daughters to schools, they state their wards' caste. Most women prefer to state their husbands' caste as their children's caste. In such circumstances, how can we create a casteless society?
G. Purushothaman , Tirunelveli