Financial Incentive For Inter-Caste Marriages Under Protection Of Civil Rights Act 1955 And Scheduled Castes And Scheduled Tribes (Prevention Of Atrocities) Act 1989 In Assam
State: Assam
Ministry: null
Department: Directorate of Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes
Category: Social welfare & Empowerment
Beneficiary Type: Individual

The scheme aims to encourage inter-caste marriages in Assam. It provides a one-time financial assistance of ₹2,50,000/- in a joint fixed deposit for eligible couples where one spouse belongs to a Scheduled Caste and the other to a General Caste Hindu.

Benefits:
- A one-time financial assistance of ₹2,50,000/- is provided to the eligible inter-caste marriage couple.
- The financial assistance is granted directly in the form of a fixed deposit.
- The fixed deposit is opened jointly in the name of the couple in a Government or Nationalized bank.

***Conditions***
_*The opening of joint accounts for the eligible inter-caste marriage couple will be initiated by the_ ***Office of the Director Welfare Of Scheduled Castes And Backward Classes, Assam***_._
_*The first name on the joint fixed deposit account must exclusively be that of the woman._
_*The financial incentives provided are strictly subject to the availability of budget provision and the sanction of funds from the Government._
_*The joint fixed deposit has a mandatory lock-in period of three years._
_*There is absolutely no facility permitted for the premature encashment of the fixed deposit amount during the lock-in period._
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Eligibility:
- The applicant must be a spouse in an inter-caste marriage.
- The applicant must ensure that one spouse of the inter-caste marriage belongs to the Scheduled Caste.
- The applicant must ensure that the other spouse of the inter-caste marriage belongs to the General Caste Hindu.
- The applicant must have had their marriage officially performed between 1st January 2025 and 31st January 2025.
- The applicant must be applying for their first marriage, as there will be no incentive provided for a second or subsequent marriage.
- The applicant must have a combined annual income of the couple from all sources of income of ₹5,00,000/- and below.

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Application Process:
[Offline]
Step 1: The interested applicant should take a printout of the prescribed format of the application form.
Step 2: In the application form, fill in all the mandatory fields, paste the passport-sized photograph (signed across, if required), and attach copies of all the mandatory documents (self-attest, if required).
Step 3: Both the bridegroom and the bride must personally sign the declaration section at the end of the application form to authenticate all the details provided. This acts as a formal and legally binding certification that all the furnished particulars are accurate and true.
Step 4: Submit the duly filled and signed application form along with the documents, within the prescribed period (if any), to the Office of the Director, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, Assam.

Documents Required:
Self-Attested Digital Caste Certificate of the Husband or Wife Issued by the Deputy Commissioner.
Self-Attested Proof of General Caste of the Husband or Wife in the Form of an Affidavit from a Notary.
Self-Attested Marriage Certificate Issued by the Office of the Sub-Registrar.
Self-Attested Marriage Certificate from a Gazetted Officer Confirming that It Is the Couple's First Marriage.
Self-Attested Digital Income Certificate of the Couple from the Concerned Circle Officer (In Case the Person or Persons Are Unemployed).
Self-Attested Salary Statement Signed by the Employer (In Case of Private Sector Employees).
Self-Attested Salary Statement Generated in Fin Assam (In Case of Government Employees).
Self-Attested Affidavit from a Notary Stating that the Wife Is a Homemaker Without any Income Source (If Applicable).
Self-Attested Aadhaar Card of the Couple as Identity Proof.
Self-Attested Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card of the Couple as Identity Proof.
Self-Attested Voter Identity Card, Driving Licence, or Ration Card as Residence Proof of the Couple.
Self-Attested Joint Photograph of the Couple.