Deputy CLP leader in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has expressed fears that the flaws in ‘Shaadi Mubarak’ and ‘Kalyana Laxmi’ scheme might increase the instances of divorces in Telangana State.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Legislature Party office here, Shabbir Ali alleged that despite repeated reminders, the State Government has failed to frame proper guidelines for the ‘Shaadi Mubarak’ scheme, which is aimed at providing financial assistance of Rs 51,000 for the girls belong to minority community at the time of marriage. The guidelines prescribed in the GO Ms No 4 dated 25.09.2014 are not only cumbersome, but makes impossible for almost all poor minority girls to match the eligibility criteria. Similar is the status of ‘Kalyana Laxmi’ scheme.
Thousands of poor families are trying in vain to make online applications for the scheme, as asked by the authorities. However, the given website http://epasswebsite.cgg.gov.in has no link to the Marriage Scheme, so far, although the scheme is to be implemented from October 2. Consequently, poor parents of would-be-brides are running from pillar to post to submit their applications. Further, the poor are finding it difficult to arrange a set of about 9-10 documents to be enclosed along with the application.
Accusing Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of deliberately creating confusion about the scheme, Shabbir Ali feared that the same confusion would lead to a new social problem. In some cases, the bridegrooms would agree to marry a girl hoping to get Rs 51,000/- from the government under the scheme. If the authorities, for some reasons like lack of proper documents, reject an application then the same marriage would be at stake. “If the girls are sent back to their parents or faces divorce due to non-payment of money under the scheme, then I will take all those girls to stage a protest in KCR’s house,” he warned.
Shabbir Ali informed that it was the Congress Government which first introduced the scheme for mass marriages of poor Muslims girls in 2008. While Rs 15,000 was spent on each marriage, the amount was enhanced to Rs 25,000 on April 24, 2012. The guidelines were quite simple. The parents were asked to enclose either White Ration Card or Income Certificate along with a certificate from President and Imam of the nearest mosque to confirm the genuineness of the marriage. The applications were directly received by the AP State Wakf Board and no complications, whatsoever, were involved in the process. Entire proceedings from receipt of application to conduct of marriage were supervised by a State-Level and District-Level Committees.
The Congress leader also condemned the linking of ‘Shaadi Mubarak’ schemes with Aadhar Card. He said the poor girls would be deprived of Rs 51,000/- if she or the bridegroom does not possess Aadhar card. He reminded that the Supreme Court has issued clear directions in 2013 itself that Aadhar Card should not be compulsory for availing government schemes or subsidies. This argument stands valid as nearly 70 lakh people in Telangana does not possess Aadhar card.
Instead of playing with the sentiments of poor people, Shabbir Ali advised the Chief Minister to simplify the procedures and ensure that the benefits of scheme reach the deserving beneficiaries at the time of marriage itself. (INN)