No plan to give incentives for inter-religious marriages: Govt

NEW DELHI: Clearing the stand of the government on inter-religious marriages, the government has said that as of now there is no plan to provide incentives for inter-religious marriages, similar to the sops given for inter-caste marriages.

Also, the government has made it clear that there is no plan to incentivise marriages solemnised without taking any dowry.

In reply to the question raised by parliamentarian Gaurav Gogoi during Question Hour as whether the government is planning to launch any scheme to do away with social stigma attached to inter-religious marriages, Union Minister Vijay Sampla said, “As of now, there is no plan to extend the Dr Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration to inter-religion marriages.”

Gogoi represents Kaliabor parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha. The Con- gress MP has also brought into the notice of the House about poor approval rate of applications under the scheme. “Out of some 700 applications received for grant of incentive in the year 2016-17, only 45 were approved,” the member stated.

Under the centrally-sponsored scheme for implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, incentives for inter-caste marriages, where one spouse is a member of SC is provided.

The marriage has to be registered under the Hindu Marriages Act, 1955, Sampla said, adding that as per the scheme, the incentive of Rs 2.5 lakh is shared on 50:50 basis between the central and the state governments, while the Union Territory administrations get 100 per cent central assistance.

“There is no proposal to increase the existing incentive amount of Rs 2.5 lakh to an eligible couple,” the minister said.

When asked about the possibility of providing a similar incentive to a couple which enters into the wedlock without taking dowry by Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan remarked, “If such a scheme is implemented, it will be a dowry from the government”.

However, Sampla informed the house that there is no such proposal to incentivise marriages solemnised without dowries.