Claims for funds given by the Scheduled Caste Development Department to inter-caste married couples in distress have more than doubled in the district this financial year, indicating either a renewed interest in the assistance or deteriorating condition of such marriages.
While only 99 couples sought the assistance in 2010-11, the number rose to 306 till date during this fiscal.
The department has distributed Rs.1.14 crore and had to approach the government twice for extra funds over the original allocation of Rs.85 lakh.
During the 2008-09 fiscal, 122 couples had benefitted from the assistance, whereas the number was 103 for 2009-10.
Increase in aid
Sources said that enhancing the assistance from the previous Rs.20,000 to Rs.50,000 may be a reason for the surge in the number of claimants. Earlier, no one bothered to comply with the formalities for just Rs.20,000. Now the efforts are seen worth it considered the amount at stake.
To be eligible for the aid, one of the spouses should belong to Scheduled Castes and they should have been legally married and staying together for at least a year. The annual income of the couple should be below Rs.22,000, qualifying them as Below Poverty Line.
Along with certificates proving their marriage, caste, nativity, and income, they should also produce a certificate issue by a gazetted officer vouching for their distress in the inter-caste marriage.
There is no monitoring mechanism to ensure that the funds are received by genuine couples except for the certificates that they are required to produce.
Initially, the funds given were meant as contributions towards buying land or constructing houses. This is now out of question considering the escalating land and construction cost.
The assistance is now aimed mainly at enabling the couple in distress to find a means of income, including self-employment.
