SRINAGAR, OCT 29 (Times of Kashmir): In a rare move aimed at promoting transparency, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has released the names of 5,478 brides from Budgam district who have received financial aid under the State Marriage Assistance Scheme (SMAS). Each beneficiary received financial support of ₹50,000, the government said in a written reply to a question raised by MLA Ali Mohammad Dar in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.
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According to the Social Welfare Department, the scheme provides financial assistance to girls from poor families possessing Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) or Priority Household (PHH) ration cards. The move marks one of the first instances where such beneficiary details have been publicly disclosed in Jammu and Kashmir.
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Detailed Figures
As per official data, 2,654 brides benefited in the fiscal year 2023–24 out of 3,158 applicants, while 2,824 brides received aid in 2024–25 out of 3,107 applications. In total, 5,478 women from Budgam have been covered under the scheme so far, while 787 applications remain under process.
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However, between April and October 2025, at least 113 applicants were denied assistance for not meeting the minimum educational qualification of Class 8, as mandated under the 2022 guidelines.
Qualification Bar Relaxed
Addressing the issue, the Minister in charge of the Social Welfare Department informed the assembly that the government has now removed the educational qualification condition. The decision, approved by the Council of Ministers and concurred by the Finance Department, allows all eligible women to avail benefits irrespective of their education level until March 31, 2028.
The relaxation applies retrospectively from April 1, 2025, ensuring no deserving woman is excluded due to academic limitations. The revised order amends Government Order No. 49-JK(SWD) of 2022, which governs the implementation of the Marriage Assistance Scheme.
Revised Assistance Structure
Under the amended rules, beneficiaries from AAY families will receive ₹75,000, while those from PHH families will continue to get ₹50,000. The financial assistance will be directly credited to the beneficiary’s bank account prior to marriage.
Officials clarified that the decision to publish the list of beneficiaries was taken as a “transparency measure”, although such disclosures remain uncommon in welfare-related initiatives across the Union Territory.
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Source: Kashmir Life