KalingaTV News Network
Bhubaneswar: Odisha government, in a move to encourage inter-caste marriages in the state, enhanced the amount it gives as an incentive to men and women who opt to marry outside their caste to Rs 2.5 lakh from Rs 1 lakh on Tuesday.
SC and ST Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi said that the hiked incentives would be implemented retrospectively from September 14, 2017.
In order to encourage inter-caste marriage, the incentives will be given to couple for marriage between upper caste Hindus and SC Hindus, he added.
Sources said the cash incentive would be given irrespective of the economic status of the marrying couple and has to be used to purchase land or household articles.
Odisha had raised the cash incentive for inter-caste marriages was Rs 1 lakh from Rs 50,000 in 2017.
Moreover, the state government had increased the amount to Rs 50,000 from Rs 10,000 in 2007.
Ms Kalinga