New norms to check fake inter-caste marriages for money

Rajasthan sees unusual increase in such marriages and divorces after incentive rose to Rs. 5 lakh

Concerned over an increase in the number of fake weddings under the inter-caste marriage scheme for monetary incentive, the Rajasthan government has now put conditions for solemnising such marriages and claiming the benefit.

According to a notification issued here, the government said such marriages would be allowed only up to 35 years, and the couple would be entitled to only half the incentive money initially. The remaining would be kept as fixed deposit in a joint account in a nationalised bank and can be claimed only after eight years of marriage to ensure that the marriage was still on.

There had been an unusual increase in the number of inter-caste marriages under the Dr. Savita Ben Ambedkar Inter-caste Marriage Scheme and subsequent divorces after the previous Congress government increased the incentive money from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 5 lakh in April 2013. Worse, it had been seen that a large number of widows and widowers and elderly, were also tying the knot under the scheme to take monetary benefit under the scheme.

The new rules envisage that the inter-caste marriage should be registered and the couples are followers of Hindu religion where polygamy is not allowed. The couple can claim Rs. 2.5 lakh within one year of the registration of marriage for purchase of household goods.

Widows and widowers, whose spouse has not died as a result of suicide or murder, and those who do not have children will also be entitled to the monetary benefit under the scheme.

In 2008-09 when the incentive under the scheme was Rs. 50,000, 57 couples claimed the benefit and the government disbursed Rs 44.80 lakh. The following year, the number of couples who married under the scheme were 103 and the money disbursed was. Rs 51.50 lakh.

Similarly in 2011-12, the number of such couples was 130 and the money given to them was Rs. 87.50 lakh which went up to 175 beneficiaries in 2013-14 with an allotment of Rs. 87.50 lakh.

Jump in beneficiaries

In April 2013, the Ashok Gehlot government enhanced the incentive money to Rs. 5 lakh which resulted in a jump in the number of beneficiaries to 261 and the money doled out was Rs. 426 lakh. In 2014-15, so far 88 couples have got married and Rs. 388 lakh disbursed as against 322 applications received, of which 57 are still pending for disposal.

However, it was brought to the notice of the government that a large number of such marriages broke down after the money was claimed which prompted the stringent eligibility criteria.