Srinagar, Feb 11: Srinagar, February 11: The Jammu and Kashmir government would pay a Rs. 2.50 lakh incentive for a legal inter-caste marriage, which will be released to the eligible couple in a single instalment via direct benefit transfer.
The sanction has been accorded under the centrally sponsored scheme for implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1995 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities), Act 1989.
As per the guidelines, the incentive for a legal inter-caste marriage shall be Rs. 2.50 lakh per marriage, which shall be released to the eligible couple in a single instalment through direct benefit transfer.
As per an order issued by Commissioner Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare Department Sheetal Nanda, which read that in pursuance to the Administrative Council’s decision referred the sanction is hereby accorded to the implementation of Scheme for availing financial assistance for Inter Caste Marriages in the Union Territory of J&K under Centrally Sponsored Scheme for implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1995 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities), Act 1989 as per the guidelines.
Eligibility Criteria for availing the financial incentive:
An Inter-caste marriage, for the purpose of this Scheme means a marriage in which one of the spouses belongs to Scheduled Caste community as mentioned under Scheduled Caste List (out of 13 Castes) specified in The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 C.O.19 for Jammu and Kashmir and the other is a Non-Scheduled Caste Hindu.
“One of the spouses should be a domicile of Jammu and Kashmir. The marriage should be valid as per the law and duly registered under the Hindu Marriage Act. 1955 and a registration certificate to this effect issued by the competent authority must be furnished by the beneficiaries,” it said.
As per the order issued here today, it stated that the age criteria of marriage should be as per prescribed law. Case for assistance shall only be valid if submitted strictly within 6 (Six) months from the date of marriage, as indicated on marriage registration certificate produced at the time of submission of application.
“The couples who have already received incentive from the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment or any other State/UT shall not be eligible for incentive under this scheme,” it said.
Il. Extent of incentive: –
The incentive for a legal inter-caste marriage shall be Rs. 2.50 lakh per marriage. The total amount of incentive will be released to the eligible couple in a single instalment through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode to the joint account of the couple in any Government nationalized bank in the form of fixed deposit (FD) with lock-in period of three years.
“At the time of maturity of the fixed deposit i.e. after completion of 3 years the couple has to submit a joint undertaking to the bank regarding the successful sustenance of Marriage clearly depicting that no marital dispute or legal proceedings are going on between the couple after which the bank will provide them the option of withdrawing the amount or continuing the fixed deposit under an intimation to the sanctioning authority,” it said.
According to the order in case the beneficiary couple fails to produce the joint undertaking regarding the same it will be the responsibility of the Bank concerned to return and remit the total amount along with interest to Government account under intimation to sanctioning authority.
The onlineApplications shall be invited for providing financial assistance under the scheme at district level through District Social Welfare Officer concerned from eligible couples by giving wide publicity.
“The concerned District Social Welfare Officer shall scrutinize the application forms thus received and identify/verify the particulars of the applicant couple which shall be further verified by District Magistrate(s) concerned.
“After such verification, the DSWO shall forward the consolidated data of eligible beneficiaries to Director Social Welfare Jammu/Kashmir at the end of every quarter. The cases recommended by DSWO should carry the due approval of District Magistrate,” it said.
The beneficiary couple has to furnish an undertaking in the form an affidavit duly attested by a Judicial Magistrate First Class to the concerned Deputy Commissioner to the effect that they have not claimed any other financial Assistance under any analogous scheme of UT/Central Government.
“The Director Social Welfare, Jammu and Kashmir shall sanction the eligible cases within 15 days after receipt of the case from DSWOs. In case any clarification is required regarding the implementation of the scheme, the mandate to issue such clarification shall lie with the Social Welfare Department, J&K,” it said.
