PATNA: Amid reports of honour killings in different parts of the country, an ambitious initiative of the Bihar government to encourage inter-caste marriages is bearing fruits.
The state’s department of social welfare provided monetary incentives to 200 and odd brides who opted for caste exogamy from April till November 2010. According to sources, the state government has allotted Rs 50 lakh to districts for the purpose in the financial year 2010-11. The allotments for the year 2009-10 and 2008-09 were only Rs 35 lakh and Rs 22 lakh respectively.
With girls making a beeline for the money and districts spending the funds, the allotments have been growing steadily over the years. For instance, Nalanda has been allotted Rs 2.5 lakh this year as against just Rs 25,000 in 2007-08. Ditto with Aurangabad. This year it has been allotted six times more than Rs 25,000 given to the district in 2007-08. Other districts too have reported similar “growth”. The highest allotment of Rs 3.75 lakh this year has been made to Patna district while Kishanganj, besides Nalanda, has got the second highest allotment of Rs 2.5 lakh.
The incentive was launched in 1979. Buoyed by its success, the government in 1999 increased the amount from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000. To get the incentive, the bride should be a Hindu native of Bihar.
Department of social welfare director Ashish Kumar said the growing allotment of funds for inter-caste marriages is a pointer to the changing social trend in Bihar, including the countryside. “The incentive is aimed at breaking caste barriers among Hindus. But it also empowers women as it indirectly checks child marriages and encourages registration of marriages,” a senior official said.
It has been more than 10 years since the amount was increased. Asked if there was any move to increase it further, Kumar said the social welfare department may make a recommendation to the effect to the government if the trend further catches up.
Read more: Inter-caste marriages up in Bihar – The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Inter-caste-marriages-up-in-Bihar/articleshow/7095500.cms#ixzz187OJee1w