PATNA: Patna district administration on December 17 is going to hold a mega camp at the Patna Collectorate for the distribution of beneficiary money to the married couple who married inter-cast. In a bid to stop dowry practice and to encourage inter-caste marriage, the state government pays Rs. 1 lakh to couples who have gone for inter-caste marriage.

Earlier, the amount was Rs. 25,000 which was increased to Rs. 50,000 a couple of years back. Following the latest amendment, a couple who has done inter-caste marriage will get Rs. 1 lakh from August, 2015. The incentive scheme was first launched in 1979. Later government in 1999 increased the amount from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000.

Patna DM Sanjay Kumar Agarwal said, “Around 200 applications of couples who have done inter-caste marriage have been pending with the administration for last two years. However due to the scarcity of fund, we will be able to provide the cash reward to only 12 couples. Most of the couples will get Rs. 50,000 and few of them Rs. 25,000. We have received applications from couple who married on and after August, 2015 but their payments are due.”

According to the eligibility condition for getting the cash reward is both the bride and bride-groom have to be Hindu by caste and native of Bihar. They have to apply for the incentive of inter-caste marriage within two years since the registration of their marriage date.

The sum of incentive would be deposited in the name of the bride. The amount to be deposited in the bank can be withdrawn or the term of fixed deposit extended only after the will of the couple. An official of the district administration said, “Despite the government’s announcement of special incentives for inter-caste marriages, the state witnessed very less number of inter-caste marriages in 2014. However the reason for the low number of inter-caste marriages could be that the couple often go to temples to perform the rituals. But to get the government incentive they have to register their marriage legally.”