J K News Today

Jammu, February 23:

Over 25000 girls in Kashmir province have approached the state government during the past two years to seek financial help under the ‘state marriage assistance scheme.’

An official of the Social Welfare Department  said that over 25,000 girls sought financial assistance under the scheme but just over 5000 were found eligible, reports Greater Kashmir in its Friday’s issue .

“We have our parameters based on which the financial assistance is provided to the beneficiaries belonging to lower strata income group,” he added.

“The scheme is meant for unmarried girls of the state living below the poverty line who may not find themselves in a position to marry due to financial constraints,” the official said.

“Under this scheme, only the girls who belong to BPL category as per official survey list are provided with the assistance.

The other girls who are poor but not belonging to the BPL category as per the survey list are not entitled to the benefit,” he added.

Another official said that government vide order no. 33-SW of 2017 dated 31-01-2017 directed the officials of the Social Welfare Department to conduct a fresh survey to include left out deserving girls in the scheme which is under process.

As per official data in 2015-16 nobody in Kashmir availed benefits of this scheme. In 2016-17, 2171 beneficiaries availed this scheme. The number swelled to 2923 beneficiaries in 2017-18.

It may be recalled J&K government in 2015 launched state marriage assistance scheme under which poor girls are provided Rs 35000 and 5 grams of gold to solemnize their marriage.