Odisha Launches ‘Sumangal’ Portal For Inter-caste Marriage Alliances

Odisha Launches ‘Sumangal’ Portal For Inter-caste Marriage Alliances

Odisha has launched a web portal called ‘Sumangal’ to promote inter-caste marriages in the state. The official announcement was made by the chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday who informed that the portal would help inter-caste couples to get an incentive within sixty days of application.

The portal has been developed by ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department. The chief minister further announced a hike in the incentive from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. He said such marriages would lead to social harmony.

To get the one-time incentive, the marriage should be between upper-caste Hindus and Hindu of scheduled castes. The marriage should be valid as per the law and duly registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. One of the spouses should belong to the scheduled castes as defined under Article 341 of the Constitution of India.

The grant would be given only to people marrying for the first time. However in case, the bride is a widow or the bride-groom a widower, they would be eligible for the incentive. Incentives would also be given for the purchase of lands/essential articles for house-hold or for starting a business.

Odisha had last hiked the incentive for inter-caste marriage in August 2017 when it raised it from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. At least 17 percent of Odisha’s population are Dalits. Last year, 658 inter-caste marriages had taken place in Odisha.

Who can apply?

• Inter-caste marriages solemnized between the caste Hindus and the Scheduled Castes belonging to the Hindu community. The marriage should be valid as per the law and duly registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
• Both the spouses should be citizens of India permanent residents of Odisha and should be professing the Hindu religion.
• One of the spouses should belong to the scheduled castes as defined under Article 341 of the Constitution of India.
• The incentive would be given for the purchase of lands/essential articles for house-hold or for starting a business.
• The grant shall be given only once i.e. persons marrying for the first time only will be entitled to the grant except in the case, where the bride is a widow or the bride-groom a widower and this should be clearly mentioned in the marriage registration certificate.
• Award of grant and the above facilities shall be admissible in case of marriage solemnized only after date of issue of Resolution issued by Govt. from time to time.
• No incentive is available on second or subsequent marriage.

Documents required:

• Scanned photo copy of the registered marriage certificate.
• Scanned photocopy of caste certificate of both spouses stating there in the community and the sub-caste to which they belong;
• Scanned joint photo of couple( husband & wife ).
• Scanned photo copy of Declaration form duly signed
• Scanned photo copy of joint bank passbook of the couple in any Govt./Nationalized Bank.

For more details log on to http://www.sumangal.odisha.gov.in/