Marriage Assistance Scheme for Poor Girls in Jammu & Kashmir: Revised Guidelines & Recent Developments

Introduction

The Marriage Assistance Scheme is a social welfare initiative in Jammu & Kashmir aimed at providing financial aid to poor girls of marriageable age. The scheme is designed for families holding Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) or Priority Households (PHH) ration cards, ensuring financial security for economically weaker sections.

Under the scheme:

• AAY families now receive ₹75,000 as financial assistance before marriage (recent update).
• PHH / BPL families continue to receive ₹50,000 as a one-time grant.

To ensure timely disbursement, Deputy Commissioners must verify and submit eligible beneficiaries' details to the Social Welfare Department fortnightly, ensuring girls receive assistance well before their marriage.

Eligibility Criteria

To benefit from the scheme, applicants must fulfill the following conditions:

1. Age & Family Background

• The beneficiary must be of legally marriageable age.
• She must belong to a family holding either an AAY or PHH ration card.

2. Educational Qualification

• The minimum educational qualification required is 8th class pass or its equivalent.
• For school dropouts:
• Till March 31, 2025: Assistance is available irrespective of education level.
• From April 1, 2025: Applicants must provide a certificate confirming 8th class completion.

3. No Multiple Benefits

• The applicant should not have received marriage assistance under any other UT or Centrally Sponsored Scheme, particularly the Ladli Beti Scheme.
• A girl can avail of benefits only once under this scheme.

4. Application Deadline

• Applications must be submitted at least one month before the marriage date.
• Required documents:
  • Proof of age/date of birth
  • Copy of AAY or PHH ration card
  • Unmarried certificate
  • Education qualification certificate (if applicable)
  • Aadhaar card

Financial Assistance

• AAY category beneficiaries: ₹75,000 (recent increase from ₹50,000).
• PHH category beneficiaries: ₹50,000.
• The financial aid is transferred directly to the beneficiary’s bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

Implementation & Monitoring

Application & Verification Process

• The scheme is operational in all districts of J&K.
• The District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) verifies the applicant’s marital status, family background, and eligibility.
• Verified applications are forwarded to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) for final approval.

Survey & Education Support

• The Deputy Commissioner, through the Chief Education Officer, will conduct surveys to identify school dropout girls from AAY & PHH families.
• Such girls will be encouraged to enroll in formal/informal schooling to complete at least 8th class by 2025.
• Dropout girls will also be linked with scholarship programs for further educational support.

Fund Disbursement

• The Deputy Commissioner will sanction assistance only after verifying eligibility and genuineness.
• The list of approved beneficiaries will be submitted to the Social Welfare Department on a fortnightly basis.
• The funds will be released online via DBT mode, ensuring transparency and efficiency.

Recent Developments & Enhancements

• Increase in financial assistance for AAY families:
  • The government has raised the assistance from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000 for girls from AAY ration cardholder families.
  • This enhancement aims to provide better financial security to the poorest sections of society.
• Mandatory 8th class qualification from April 2025:
  • From April 1, 2025, all applicants must provide an 8th class pass certificate.
  • This reform ensures that financial assistance also promotes basic education among girls.
• Online application and DBT system:
  • The entire application and disbursement process is now online.
  • This eliminates manual delays and ensures direct fund transfer to beneficiaries.