The NC Government’s Marriage Assistance Scheme, A Betrayal of the Poor in J&K: Rajni Sethi
Jammu, 30th April 2025: When the National Conference (NC) government came into power, it promised a government for the poor and vulnerable of Jammu and Kashmir. A wide range of welfare schemes were announced with much fanfare, claiming to uplift economically disadvantaged sections, especially under the AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) and PHH (Priority Household) categories. However, these promises have largely proven hollow, particularly in the case of the State Marriage Assistance Scheme for Poor Girls.
This was stated by Rajni Sethi, Spokesperson, J&K BJP.
The recent restructuring of the scheme introduced a highly problematic eligibility criterion: only girls who have passed at least 8th grade can now avail of the assistance. While the financial assistance has been enhanced from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000, the education requirement has effectively shut out many deserving beneficiaries, especially in rural and backward areas. The decision, effective from April 1, 2025, has sparked widespread criticism and disappointment among the public.
This new eligibility condition is fundamentally unfair. In a region where many families live in extreme poverty and girls often lack access to even basic education due to poor infrastructure, socio-cultural constraints, or family responsibilities, such a requirement is discriminatory. For many poor families, education—especially for girls—has always taken a back seat to immediate survival needs. Expecting girls from these backgrounds to meet an 8th-grade qualification just to access marriage assistance is both insensitive and unjust.
Many deserving girls who fall under AAY and PHH categories are now being denied this crucial support, despite facing the very conditions this scheme was meant to address. The NC government’s decision is being seen as a mockery of the poor. Promises made to the public about inclusivity, development, and support for the underprivileged have not just been broken but openly contradicted by this new rule.
This scheme, originally intended to provide relief and dignity to poor families during marriage ceremonies, is now causing panic among those who had marriage plans for their daughters who haven’t completed the 8th grade. The grace period for transitioning into this new eligibility framework has expired, and many families feel betrayed and helpless.
People are now questioning the government’s intentions. Why has a scheme designed for the poor become exclusionary? Critics argue, and rightly so, that such criteria defeat the very purpose of welfare. At a time when the Modi government at the Centre emphasizes women empowerment and inclusion, the Omar Abdullah-led government appears to be turning a blind eye to the ground realities of women in J&K.
Moreover, the NC government has failed to fulfill several other promises, such as providing 200 units of free electricity, enhancing various social welfare pensions, and distributing 10 kg of ration per person. The public is not blind. In today’s age of social and digital media, every broken promise is being tracked and documented. People are watching and waiting for accountability.
The government must reconsider the 8th-grade eligibility criterion for the marriage assistance scheme immediately. Policies that ignore the socio-economic conditions of their beneficiaries cannot bring real change. The poor of Jammu and Kashmir demand more than token gestures—they demand justice, dignity, and genuine governance. It’s time the NC government lived up to its word and served the people who placed their trust in it.
