Madhya Pradesh: Government Neglect Plagues Inter-Caste Marriage Promotion Scheme

Bhopal-Amidst escalating debt plaguing the Madhya Pradesh government and a disconcerting indifference among administrative officials, approved funds for the Inter-Caste Marriage Promotion Scheme are failing to find their way into the accounts of deserving beneficiaries. This scheme, intended to promote inter-caste marriages, finds itself in a dire state.

Despite approvals, the funds earmarked for this initiative fail to reach the intended beneficiaries. Regrettably, this scheme appears to be languishing, with minimal governmental efforts invested in its promotion. Astonishingly, even though individuals apply for the scheme, approved sums remain unallocated. Tragically, a majority of the populace remains oblivious to its existence, leaving the responsible department merely going through the motions on paper.

The genesis of this program can be traced back to 2007 when the Scheduled Caste Development Department of Madhya Pradesh introduced the Inter-Caste Marriage Promotion Scheme. Initially, couples engaging in inter-caste marriages received a grant of Rs 50,000, accompanied by a commendation certificate from the Madhya Pradesh government. Subsequently, in 2014, the incentive amount was increased to Rs 2 lakh. The scheme targets couples where one partner belongs to the Scheduled Caste while the other is from the general category, both below the age of 35. The application must be submitted within one year of marriage to be eligible. Furthermore, adherence to the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 is mandatory for registration under this scheme.

Alarmingly, even after months, the allocated funds fail to materialize. In 2022, two applicants from Anuppur district had their applications approved under the Inter-Caste Marriage Scheme, but the promised funds remained unallocated. It came to light that the scheme's funds were depleted to zero on the PFMS (Public Financial Management System) portal, causing a frustrating delay in disbursing funds to the rightful beneficiaries. In response, the Assistant Commissioner of the Anuppur Tribal Affairs Department wrote a letter to the Commissioner of the Scheduled Caste Development Department in Bhopal, highlighting the issue of zero funds on the PFMS portal as the root cause of the problem.

Lack of publicity adds to predicament

Adding to the predicament is the glaring lack of publicity surrounding the Inter-Caste Marriage Promotion Scheme. Unlike other government initiatives, it fails to garner attention and thus eludes the awareness of potential beneficiaries. Remarkably, not a single advertisement pertaining to this scheme was disseminated by the Public Relations Department during the current fiscal year. This scheme offers a substantial benefit of two lakh rupees along with a certificate of appreciation. It is crucial to note that the claim for this award is valid for a maximum period of one year from the date of the inter-caste marriage, and eligibility expires after this timeframe. Couples seeking this benefit must meet the criteria of marriageable age, with one partner belonging to the Scheduled Caste and the other to the General Category.

Intriguingly, numerous applications throughout the state have received approval under the Inter-Caste Marriage Promotion Scheme. The District Tribal Welfare Department itself sanctions these applications, yet the allocation of approved sums falls under the jurisdiction of the Scheduled Caste Development Department. Presently, due to budget constraints, the allocated amounts for all approved applications have not been transferred to the beneficiaries' bank accounts.

Seeking clarification on this matter, The Mooknayak engaged in a conversation with Savita, the Deputy Director of the Scheduled Caste Development Department. However, she refrained from disclosing any information or figures related to the Inter-Caste Marriage Promotion Scheme, citing the existence of several other departmental schemes that also require disbursement.

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