When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, support for measures to prevent discrimination was strong.

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Discrimination on the basis of caste is now illegal and various measures have been introduced to empower disadvantaged groups and give them easier access to opportunities - such as education and work.

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In response, the state government has made two of the three local Pardhi sub-tribes eligible for positive-discrimination measures.

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The DRC is also pressing for a new equality act to put all discrimination law on an equal footing as part of a "quantum leap" in anti-prejudice measures.

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Perez noted the U.S. Department of Justice's duty to enforce laws that bar "discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin, " and requirements that "affirmative measures" be taken to assist students for whom English isn't their native language.

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