Srinagar, May 02: Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has expressed concern over a “flawed” rule which states that anyone seeking to benefit from the government’s marriage assistance scheme must have attained education up to at least the 8th standard.
In a statement issued here, Bukhari termed this eligibility criterion an “illogical and irrational” guideline and urged the authorities to revisit it to better serve the interests of girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Pertinently, under this scheme, the government provides a one-time financial assistance of Rs 75,000 to eligible unmarried girls before their marriage.
The Apni Party chief wrote on his X handle: “Making educational qualification up to 8th class as a mandatory eligibility criterion for the Marriage Assistance Scheme for girls from economically weaker sections is completely illogical.”
He further said, “I have been informed that many applications are being rejected by the Social Welfare Department simply because the applicants—underprivileged girls—are unable to produce a certificate confirming they have passed the 8th grade. This is utterly illogical.”
Bukhari urged the government to revisit this “flawed” guideline. “The 8th pass eligibility criterion is defeating the purpose of what is otherwise a helpful and commendable scheme,” the post further reads.
