A large number of marriages were solemnised in refugee relief camps between September and December last year. A large number of marriages were solemnised in refugee relief camps between September and December last year.

Intended to bring relief to the riot-affected families, the Uttar Pradesh government's scheme providing Rs 1 lakh as financial assistance to the women refugees getting married has turned into a bitter story for many of them.

A large number of marriages were solemnised in over 20 refugee relief camps of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts between September and December last year. If one goes by unofficial estimates, out of the more than 400 marriages which took place in the refugee camps in the presence of local government officials, who handed over the amount to the newly-wed couples, 200 women have been divorced in less than one year.

Disillusioned, these women, who mostly come from extremely poor families, have returned to their maternal homes. Chhoti Bano, 19, who was living in a relief camp of Shahpur, was forced by her parents to marry another riot victim Mohammad Imran because the government had announced the financial assistance scheme.

"My husband was extremely sick at the time of marriage and his family needed the money. My parents couldn't understand this at that time. Then they began demanding more cash from my parents. They said Rs 1 lakh was given by the government and my parents should also give them an equal amount. When I resisted, my husband divorced me. There is a large number of girls in my locality who met the same fate. But they are silent to protect the honour of their families," she said.

"I had refused to get married just because the government was giving money to us. But our elders started saying that I was turning rebellious against my parents. So, I agreed (to get married). The result is before us," she added.

Same is the story of Sonia Bano of Shahpur, who was sent back to her maternal home by her husband in February.

"They (her in-laws) have got the money and so they don't need me now. May be my husband will marry some other woman after taking dowry," she said. Afsana Begum, whose marriage was solemnised with one Shah Alam at the Fugana relief camp, was ill-treated and then forced to leave by her in-laws.

But this is not the only appeasement programme of CM Akhilesh Yadav that failed in Uttar Pradesh. It is a widely known fact that the financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh, which was meant for riot victims whose houses were destroyed also did not benefit several of the targeted beneficiaries. More than 2,000 riot refugees have claimed that the government assistance was fraudulently received by others.