Odisha Govt hikes cash incentive for inter-caste marriage

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KalingaTV News Network

marriageBhubaneswar: In an effort to encourage inter-caste marriages in the state, the Government of Odisha on Thursday announced that the cash incentive for persons opting for inter-caste marriages would be doubled to Rs 1 lakh from Rs 50,000.

The last time the state government had raised the amount – from Rs 10, 000 to Rs 50,000 – was in 2007.

While talking to Kalinga TV, SC & ST development, minorities & backward classes welfare department secretary S Kumar said the cash incentives would be given irrespective of the economic status of the marrying couple.

The couple could use the cash to purchase land or buy household articles, he added.

A couple will have to apply for a sanction of the grant and execute a bond in order to avail the opportunity. If the marriage ends in divorce within five years, the recipients will have to refund the entire amount within a year failing which principal and an annual interest of 6.5% would be levied on the person.

There are a sizeable number of Dalits and Tribal population in the state, comprising 17 per cent and 22 per cent respectively of the total population. The idea is to encourage people from higher castes to marry someone from the ST, SC category to usher in greater social integration.

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