SRINAGAR: The beneficiaries of state marriage assistance scheme (SMAC) is yet to get any aid from the past four years as they claim that even after getting married, they have been deprived of the promised monetary assistance by the government.
The social welfare department has received 6000 cases of the beneficiaries in district Srinagar in which more than 1600 are pending cases. Over 1300 cases are under process.
As per the official of social welfare department, only the beneficiaries surveyed in the year 2014 have received the aid. He said that they have also held survey in 2015, 2016, 2017 – but those beneficiaries are yet to get anything.
“What is the fun of introducing such a scheme when the assistance does not reach the beneficiaries at an appropriate time,” said an official in the social welfare department.
He added, “Every day these beneficiaries come to our office to get aid, but what can we do? Court has ordered us to held fresh survey.”
The official said that they have appealed to the finance department to release funds so that they can rehabilitate the deserving girls, but nothing has been done so far.
Deputy Director of social welfare department told Kashmir Reader that the department is not getting money on time that is causing delay in payment to the beneficiaries.
The State Marriage Assistance Scheme (SMAS) is a social assistance scheme meant for those unmarried identified girls of Jammu and Kashmir living below poverty line who may not find themselves in a position to marry due to financial constraints. Such deserving cases, under the scheme, are entitled to receive one-time financial assistance under the scheme. The eligible girls above 18 years of age can receive one-time financial assistance of Rs 25000 and cost of 5 grams gold from the competent authority after due verification.

NAZIMA SIDIQ