[sumangal.odisha.gov.in] Odisha Inter Caste Marriage Scheme 2021: Online Registration, Objectives, Eligibility & Benefits

• In a bid to encourage inter-caste marriage in the state, the Odisha Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe development minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi announced a hiked incentive of Rs. 2.5 lakh from Rs. 1 lakh.
• Odisha govt launches web portal for inter-caste marriages; couples to get Rs 2.5 lakh

• Scanned photo copy of the registered marriage Certificate.
• Scanned photo copy of caste certificate of both spouses stating there in the community and the sub-caste to which they belong;
• Scanned joint photo of couple( husband & wife ).
• Scanned photo copy of Declaration form duly signed: ANNEXURE II & Annexure-IV.
• Scanned photo copy of joint bank passbook of couple in any Govt./Nationalized Bank.

• Inter-caste marriages solemnized between the caste Hindus and the Scheduled Castes belonging to the Hindu community. The marriage should be valid as per the law and duly registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
• Both the spouses should be citizens of India permanent residents of Odisha and should be professing the Hindu religion.
• One of the spouses should be belonging to the scheduled castes as defined under Article 341 of the Constitution of India.
• The incentive would be given for the purchase of lands/essential articles for house-hold or for starting a business.
• The grant shall be given only once i.e. persons marrying for the first time only will be entitled to the grant except in the case, where the bride is a widow or the bride-groom a widower and this should be clearly mentioned in the marriage registration certificate.
• Award of grant and the above facilities shall be admissible in case of marriage solemnized only after date of issue of Resolution issued by Govt. from time to time.
• No incentive is available on second or subsequent marriage.

Inter-caste marriages can be one of the significant steps to reduce the caste-prejudices, abolish ‘untouchability’ and spread the value of liberty, equality, fraternity in society. The portal has been developed by the ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department. Meanwhile, the incentive for such marriages has been increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh.

Important: Inter caste marriage rules- The marriage should be valid as per the law and duly registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. One of the partners mandatorily should belong to the scheduled castes as defined under Article 341 of the Constitution of India.

• To get the one-time incentive, the marriage should be between upper-caste Hindus and Hindus of scheduled castes.
• Through this scheme, the discrimination of inter-caste among the people will be eliminated.
• Through this portal, the beneficiaries of inter-caste marriages will also get the support of the Odisha government.

• The grant would be given only to people marrying for the first time.
• Launching a web portal called the Sumangal portal virtually, Patnaik also announced an incentive hike of Rs 1.5 lakh, from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh.
• The incentive amount would be deposited in a joint account of the couple in any nationalized bank and they would be able to withdraw the amount only after three years of marriage.
• If the bride is a widow or the bride-groom a widower, they would also stand eligible for the incentive. An incentive would also be provided for the purchase of lands/household objects or for starting a business.

• The incentive was increased to keep pace with the times and encourage more inter-caste marriages for social equality and removing untouchability.
• The portal has been developed by the ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department.
• In order to avail of the one-time grant, the marriage should be between upper-caste Hindus and Hindus of scheduled castes.
• The amount would be given to the beneficiaries irrespective of their economic background
•  In 2018, the incentive for such marriages has been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh.
• In 2017-18 fiscal, as many as 543 couples availed the benefit, for which the state government spent Rs 2.65 crore as an incentive.