SRINAGAR (KIMS) — The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced a relaxation in the minimum qualification bar under the Marriage Assistance Scheme for Poor Girls, allowing beneficiaries to avail of the scheme benefits irrespective of their educational status up to March 2028.
According to an order, “sanction is hereby accorded to the relaxation of minimum qualification bar of 8th Class Pass or equivalent up to 31.03.2028 under Marriage Assistance Scheme.”
The order states, “The minimum qualification of the beneficiary girl has to be 8th Pass or equivalent. However, in case of school drop outs, following guidelines shall apply: (i) Upto 31.03.2028, restructured guidelines shall be implemented irrespective of the qualification status of the beneficiary girl. (ii) From 01.04.2028 onwards beneficiary girl has to compulsorily produce a certificate for having passed 8th Class or equivalent.”
The order also directs officials to reconsider applications that were earlier rejected due to the qualification requirement.
“The DSWO shall personally ensure that all cases where marriages were solemnized on or after April 01, 2025 are reviewed in terms of all other conditions outlined in the scheme guidelines. Only those applications which were rejected solely on the basis of the qualification bar between April 1, 2025 till the date of issuance of the Government Order shall be considered.”
It further adds, “For applicants whose marriage were solemnized w.e.f 01.04.2025 to the issuance of Government Order relaxing the qualification bar but were unable to apply due to the qualification bar, their applications shall be accepted via offline mode through TSWO/DSWO/Deputy Commissioner of their respective districts who will verify and process these applications by certifying that the marriage was solemnized on/after 1st April 2025 and the applicant could not apply due to the qualification bar. The verification process shall include due inquiry, and the applications shall be duly approved by the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district before sending the same to Administrative Department for payment.”
The order emphasizes that the relaxation will benefit poor girls who were earlier unable to apply due to the education bar.
“This order shall be effective from 01.04.2025 onwards,” the document concludes. — (KIMS)