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Government eases norms as Dr. Ambedkar Foundation Scheme for Inter-Caste Marriages fails to take off

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Encouraging Inter-Caste marriages has been one of the ways by which the Government aims to reduce caste prejudice and caste based discrimination. Central Assistance has been extended to states for many years now to encourage inter-caste marriages. But the dedicated scheme of the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation has failed to achieve even 10% of the targets.  The government has now eased the norms in a bid to find more takers for the scheme. 

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Encouraging Inter-Caste marriages is one of the ways by which the Government aims to reduce caste prejudice and caste based discrimination. The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has been funding a centrally Sponsored Scheme where in Central assistance is provided to the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, towards incentive for inter-caste marriages, where one of the spouses belongs to a Scheduled Castes. This scheme was part of the implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of atrocities) Act, 1989.

Rajasthan provides Rs 5 lakh as incentive, the highest in the country

A key element of the central assistance to states is to provide incentive for inter- caste marriages, where one of the spouses is a member of a Scheduled Caste. The quantum of incentive amount is decided by the state government. It is currently between Rs 10000 and Rs 500000 in various states. Rajasthan provides the highest incentive for an inter-caste marriage (Rs 5 lakh) followed by Rs 2 lakh in Madhya Pradesh and Rs 1 lakh in Goa. Most other states provide Rs 50,000 as incentive. West Bengal, Jharkhand, Sikkim & Assam provide less than Rs 50,000 as incentive for an inter-caste marriage.

Most beneficiaries from Maharashtra

The center released assistance to the tune of Rs 29.71 crore in 2013-14, Rs 42.22 crore in 2014-15, Rs 51.08 crore in 2015-16 and Rs 50.63 crore in 2016-17. Government data also indicates that 15711 beneficiaries were covered under the scheme in 2014-15 and 14681 beneficiaries were covered in 2015-16. The government estimates that the number will cross 20000 in 2016-17. Maharashtra received the highest amount of central assistance during this period and it is also the state with most number of beneficiaries under the scheme. An estimated 13000 odd couples have benefitted from this scheme in Maharashtra between 2014-15 and 2016-17, the home state of Dr. B R Ambedkar. Though Rajasthan provides the highest quantum of incentive, only 1000 odd couples have benefitted from the scheme between 2014-15 and 2016-17. Bihar received only Rs 1 lakh as central assistance in 2014-15 under this scheme and the state did not seek a single rupee of central assistance in both 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Dedicated Scheme launched by Dr. Ambedkar Foundation

While this central assistance is still in place, Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, an institution under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has come up with a dedicated central scheme; ‘Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration through Inter-Caste Marriages’ for encouraging inter-caste marriages.

The scheme was initially launched in 2013. The following documents must be submitted along with the application.

  • Name, Aadhaar number & address of the couple (self attested copy of Voter ID/Driving License/Passport has to be enclosed)
  • Self attested copy of the birth certificate of both the husband and wife
  • Self attested copy of the caste certificate of both the husband and wife
  • An affidavit of their being legally married and in matrimonial alliance on a plain paper
  • Self attested copy of the marriage certificate registered under the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955
  • A certificate to the effect that it is the first marriage of both the bride and the bridegroom
  • Recommendation letter by sitting MP/MLA or District Collector

The dedicated scheme of Dr. Ambedkar Foundation fails to take off

Despite the high incentive amount of Rs 2.5 lakh (more than what is provided by most state governments), the scheme has failed to take off. Only about 19 couples received benefit in 2015. In 2016-17, only 59 couples received the incentive  against a target of 500. As per a government press release, only 126 couples benefitted under the scheme in three years against a target of 1500 in three years.

Despite the relatively high incentive amount of Rs 2.5 lakh, lack of awareness coupled with the stringent norms resulted in less than 10% achievement under the scheme. With the government now easing norms by removing the income ceiling and the need for the state government to forward the proposal, one hopes that the scheme will be utilized by eligible beneficiaries in the years to come.

Featured image: icons from Indian Wedding by Adam Mullin, Indian Bride, Brahmin by Sitara Shah from the Noun Project

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Rakesh has been working on issues related to Right to Information (RTI) for a decade. He is a Data/Information enthusiast & passionate about Governance/Policy issues.

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146 Comments

  1. k vamsi kumar on

    sir i have sent the Application form but there is no ecknoledgement i have been sent in augest 2015 pls verify my application status

    • pritesh jadhav on

      Dear sir,
      I am pritesh(sc) married to siddhi(obc) on 8 june 2016 in panjim Goa. Are we able to apply for scheme pls rply me details of how to apply & what is the exact process,how to get application form and where to send, this helps us alot
      REPL
      priteshpgj@gmail.com
      8698696630

      • Manojnarnoliya on

        Sir I am monu Kumar (SC) manvi(obc) Sir I ambedkar yogjana K tehat khaa from jema kerwau or mujhe kitne rupee mileage state in haryana

    • Tan Bhise on

      Sir,
      if you have the proforma of the “recommendation either by sitting Member of Parliament or Member of Legislative Assembly or the District Collector/ Magistrate”
      then please send me@ tanubhise@gmail.com Mob: 09975629941

      Thank you in advance…

    • muthu meena on

      sir, How to apply ‘Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration through Inter-Caste Marriages’ incentive Extended.

    • Vinay kumar on

      sir i have sent application form on 10.03.2016 but i did not receive acknowledgement.i want to know whether the application has been received by the foundation

    • prashant on

      Ho karu shakto.. Zp chya samaj kalyan office madhe..pn nntr tyanchya touch madhe rahave lagte kiva political vjn thevave lagte mgch piase bhettat

  5. dibia on

    sir i have sent application form on 10.03.2016 but i did not receive acknowledgement.i want to know whether the application has been received by the foundation

  7. Ashish D Satpute on

    Sir pls tell us It’s can not for the maharashtrian nd if it is for us then tell too how can apply for this

  11. edelli balakrishna on

    sir i have sent the application form but there is no reply sir i have been sent in 28/10/2015 in telangana state hyderabad distic 500013. sir please verify my application status please sir we apply on hyd social welfair dept. so please verfy and give me details reply sir.thanking u edelli balakrishna

  12. shweta rao on

    Sir I have done an intercaste marriage this year as I am a Christian and belong to general category and my husband belongs to st (sechdule tribe)category.I want to know that whether we are eligible for intercaste marriage benefit i.e rs 5 lakh.plz let me know as soon as possible

  13. ARPAN MANDAL on

    Dear Sir,

    Please explain the process to apply and please mention the address to sent the applications.

  14. raju.chitupaka on

    Please explain the process to apply and please mention the address to sent the applications.

  15. kandavelu.r on

    Sir i am living at puducherry i was inter cast marriage before two month i am SC my wife MBC how to apply this scheme please sent application sir

  16. Naresh on

    hello SIR I have sent the Application to ur Ambedkar foundation department in DELHI.on 9 months before. but i did not received any information.from ur DEPARTMENT.so SIR plz inform any details about this. THANKING YOU

  18. sandip on

    Hello Sir/madam my Name Is Sandip Am Belong SC And My Wife belong Open please explain The Process to apply And Please Mention The Address to sent The Application

  19. sivaramakrishnan on

    sir,
    i am sivaramakrishnan from tamilnadu,i have this application,my marriage is inter-cast so this scheme very useful my life plz help me,am hindu my wife is muslim

  21. Rahul Gautamrao Akode on

    Dear sir, I am rahul(sc) married to pallavi(obc) on 20 june 2016 at amravati, maharashtra. Are we able to apply for schema pls rply me details of how to apply & what is the exact process,how to get application form and where to send, this helps us alot

  22. Anantharaj k on

    Dear Sir, I’m Anantharaj from tamilnadu. how to apply this scheme? Pls Reply sir…………….

  23. Chaitanya cherukunuru on

    Haie sir,
    I am Chaitanya (hindu ,balija, oc) Muslim girl sajani how to apply schem tell me sir

  25. Vijayalakshmi on

    Hi sir , I’m vijayalakshmi, how to apply for this sir? I got marriage on 2012, can l eligible to apply sir?

  28. Vijay on

    I also apply for this scheme and also receive the acknowledgement letter, but our state govt. not coordinates with me so can you tell me to get this grant how much time will take.

  29. Vijay on

    I want to share information with those couple who done there marriage under the law of Hindu Marriage Act 1955 and one of the spouses must belongs to SC caste and other one is from non SC caste regarding this we have to get in touch with the foundation otherwise they will ignore us they are think that (SC) dalit people are biggers but we are asking them which govt. provide to us.

  30. T.Varun on

    Hello Sir,
    Since 1-1-2016 i got married it is a inter caste marriage, My Name is T.Varun(SC-Madiga), My Nmae is Saritha(BC-Lakkamarrikapu). I already applied the inter caste marraige scheme in goverment of india, after appyling i get a received letter from GOI.My Reg.No Is 37-205/2016DAF. Please find it and release the fund, In case if any problem in mmy application please suggest me further process. send through an email

    • Rajulu on

      Dear Sir, I Rajulu 4m Andhra pradesh we got inter caste Marriage June/ 2017.
      I applied for this scheme and i got sanction order copy of Rs.2.5 lack from Ambedkar Foundation on 09/01/2018.They asked Mandatory Form like Bank Details and 10 Rupees non judicial Bond for Rs.1.5 lack and one Xerox copy of Bank cheque leave. I sent reply with all documents which they required on 23/01/2017. i didn’t get money till date. if you know any details of this scheme please let me know Sir.

  33. sandhya on

    sir I am Sandhya M.A., (SC) from Kerala, i had been intercaste married in Februvary 2004, how can i apply for this scheme. please explane me and its fully details on my email:
    tamannasenan@gmail.com, and tell the address of intercaste marriage unions in Kerala

  34. Falguni Pagdhare on

    Dear Sir,

    Pls explain the process to apply and please mention the address to sent the applications.

  35. Nila on

    Dear sir,
    I got married on 06/09/2012.I m from tamilnadu.I am not aware of this scheme at that time.now am I eligible for that scheme?please reply me sir…

    • aditi on

      mine is the same situation … even I wasn’t aware of the scheme. we got married in 2013 jan. lemme know too if we can apply after 4-5 yrs.

  38. Ashutosh Das on

    Sir, I, am from west Bengal submitted my Application to the District Collector Office on May, 2016 and local enquiry already done but no further status informed from the authority..

  40. Mahesh on

    Dear Sir,
    I have already applied for this scheme with valid documents but till date I didn’t get any acknowledgement,please could you tell me the process of knowing acknowledgement no

  43. rajashekar reddy on

    hi sir im rajashekar reddy iam o.c my wife is s.c ..im telangana (state), khammam (dst)i have no help both family ..we are eligible this schem plz send tha application form sir
    my marrage date is feb-2016..pls help me sir..mob no 8522994484.mail rajas.reddy1431@gmail.com

  45. Tan Bhise on

    Sir,
    if you have the proforma of the “recommendation either by sitting Member of Parliament or Member of Legislative Assembly or the District Collector/ Magistrate”
    then please send me tanubhise@gmail.com Mob: 09975629941

    Thank you in advance

  46. Yamini on

    Hello Sir,
    I have a recommendation member of our District Collector, I can send you whenever you need but i have a clarification, since i’m from Tamilnadu whether we are eligible to apply for this scheme or not ? plz reply me to yaminirekha1993@gmail.com. i’ll be thankful to you forever.

  51. Nithish Karthik. E on

    hello sir,
    i am geetha hindu Brahmin(OC) and my husband nithish was from Hindu SC caste. can you please tell us we are eligible for Ambedkar scheme?

  52. suneeta yadav on

    Dear sir,
    I am nitin (sc) married to suneet a(obc) on 3dec 2015 in mumbai. Are we able to apply for scheme pls rply me details of how to apply & what is the exact process,how to get application form and where to send, this helps us alot
    our email id was suneetayadav1167@gmail.com
    plz replay asap.

  53. Leena on

    Hi Sir, I am from Maharashtra. I am OBC and my Spouse is SBC.
    Are we eligible for this scheme? or is there any other scheme where we can apply?

    Thank you.

  54. BHASKAR on

    sir, I am bhaskar SC madiga, and my wife belonging to SC mala . Are we able to apaly for this scheme ???

  55. Karthik Kalimuthu on

    We are from Tamilndadu I got marriage 21 April-2017 I am SC Hindhu and my wife is OBC Christian we are eligible for (Dr. Ambedkar Foundation to gift Rs 2.5 lakh to couples in inter caste marriages) please advise, If yes please guide us how to apply online or government office.

  56. Tunikesi Narsimha Reddy on

    Sir I am T V Narsimha reddy (oc) Sir. My wife is rama bc-b How is apply my elegility or not elegility APPLACTION FARM

  57. amit jaywant pawar on

    Dear sir,
    I am AMIT (sc) married to SEEMA (obc) on 12 FEB 2017 in MUMBAI. Are we able to apply for scheme pls rply me details of how to apply & what is the exact process,how to get application form and where to send, this helps us alot
    REPLY
    mtpawar506@gmail.com
    9867203950
    829195350

  58. Aladiyaan.J on

    sir,
    i am ALADIYAAN from tamilnadu,i have this application,my marriage is inter-cast so this scheme very useful my life plz help me,am SCmy wife is MBC

  59. Nikhil Balasaheb Dhavale on

    Sir, I got married on 28 November 2016, but i was not known of this scheme, Can I get benefit of this now? If yes, what I need to do? Please advice.

  60. G RAGHAVENDER on

    IM RAGHAVENDER MARRIED ON 24 NOV 2017 WANT TO CLAIM SUBSIDY GIVEN BY AMBEDKAR FOUNDATION CAN U PLEASE GIVE ME DETAILS HOW TO APPLY MY MOBILE NO 9177365313

  62. pradeep singh on

    My name is pradeep singh my contact no 9757383415 can anyone explain how to apply for the benefit

  63. Pingback: Social Inclusion Initiative: Earn Rs. 2.5 Lakh For Marrying A Dalit | Indians 4 Social Change

  64. suresh on

    sir am suresh bc.d, my wife ST how to apply this sceme….. i want telangana state aplication form pis help me……9618755293

  67. venu on

    I am Venu, OBC from Telangana. I got married SC from AP in August 2013. Can I avail the benefits now. Please let me know the details.

  68. Akash tayade on

    Hi sir I’m akash tayade mai sc caste se hu or meri wife sbc hamare shadi ko 3 month ho gaye hi kya muze koi benefits milega.. Plzz reply me sir my no. 7038582161

  69. Kiran suryawanshi on

    Hi sir I am Kiran suryawanshi , cast sc mai maharastra se hu mere shadi ko 3 manth ho gaye kya muze benefits milega .. Plz plz help me sir my on 9168378246

  71. grishma on

    Hello,

    From where I can apply for this? Can I get bit more information by anyone who has applied before please. I have all the documents ready but have no idea whom to send this application.

  72. Rakesh Kamble on

    SIR, IAM RAKESH KAMBLE AT ARJUNI TAH TIRORA DIST GONDIA, IAM SC CATEGORY, I MARRIED TO OBC CASTE GIRL IN 2008, SO PLEASE TELL ME WHAT CAN I DO, ANY BENEFIT FOR ME, PLEASE ADVICE TO ME

  73. Sunil chandam on

    dear sir,
    we are newly married couple in dec.2017 and we applied for incentive in feb -2018 but nothing any response received from your side and customer care executive not attaining any call so please tell how do i check my application status

    regards ,
    sunil

  74. Shamsher singh on

    I HAVE apply in march 2015 from amritsar but never get the benefit. They said your should be misplace bt this was not my fault .I can submit the file.now what I can do

  76. Nirav Joshi on

    Where to apply i also married last 4 months back i m from Maharashtra need to more detail …

  77. Ratnam Swetha on

    Hi I’m belonging to sc Madiga and my wife belonging to same caste but different sub caste i.e mala so can we apply for this or not

  79. Priyadharshini on

    Hi my name is priyadharshini. I got marriage on 05.03.2018
    My husband is BC christian I am SC hindu…Am i eligible? Please let me know Where to post my application???

  80. Priyadharshini on

    Anyone let me know application submitting address??? please let me know where to apply…

  81. Rajesh on

    Dear sir
    My name is rajesh
    Tell me how i submited a intercaste marrige form online and id proof
    Please help as

  84. Meenakshi on

    Hello sir..me from general category nd my husband from sc category …married in 2017 january 23 nd we have no idea of dis benefit.our family is not with us .please let us know how we can get dis benefit , so dat we can also make our future safe nd secure..help us please

    • Rajulu on

      Dear Madam your marriage have completed almost one year So can’t apply for this scheme. Only you have to apply within one year from your marriage date.
      If you don’t have any marriage certificate now u can register your marriage in Registration office according to Hindu Marriage Act.
      Send your mail id to rajulu4u@gmail. com i will send u details

  85. Manikandan on

    Sir I Intercaste married in 1 year 3 months, Are me eligible for Dr. Ambedkar scheme? Please reply me sir….

  87. Sagar kochale on

    I have done Intercaste marriage in august 2018, are me eligible for Ambedkar Scheme?please reply.thanks

  89. KAPIL on

    SIR, I M FROM JOURNAL CAST (HARYANA CITIZEN) AND MY WIFE FROM SCHEDULE CAST (CITIZEN OF DELHI) AND HER SC CERTIFICATE FROM HARYANA. CAN I ELIGIBLE FOR GETTING SUCH INCENTIVE AND WHERE I APPLY FOR THIS IN HARYANA OR IN DELHI. PLEASE REPLY MY MOB NO. 8950182353

  90. Kuppuswamy M on

    dear sir,
    If You have the proforma of the Recommendation either by sitting MP or MLA ,
    Please send my mail ID,muni.kuppusamy@gmail.com.

    Thank you sir

  91. Chinnapandi on

    Dear sir
    We are theni district village people no awareness of this scheme. We married in 29.05.2017 no get any state or central goverment benifites. Please reply to eligible or not.
    Thank you.
    chinnaran1994@gmail.com

  93. shree on

    Since the scheme started during the year 2013, what about those couples who were already married before 2013 and have been been in the married relation for more than 7 to 8 yrs, aren’t they eligible? Those couples are far more genuine than the ones who would just for the sake of money marry after this scheme is introduced.

  94. PRIYA on

    hello sir we are married in year 2017/23/05 and we are from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and we applied for the central government scheme in 2018/19/04 but we did not get amount by central government. please reply sir.

    • Rajulu on

      Dear Sir/Madam If you keep all related documents while sending the application form then you will get fund from Foundation it will take nearly more time to get the fund bcz they will verify through the SC Corporation and they will come to your village or town to checking purpose. If they didn’t come to verify then may be fund won’t get. If you have any doubt u can contact me on this no.7013280121

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