GUWAHATI: Assam Finance Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma has outlined the benefits of the scheme, ‘Arundhati’ wherein brides will get one tola of gold from Assam government on February 25 in North Lakhimpur.
The finance minister on February 6 had announced one tola gold for brides under this scheme while presenting the Assam Budget 2019-20.
He explained that the benefit under the scheme can be availed upon formal registration of the marriage under the Special Marriage (Assam) Rules, 1954. The benefit will reach the beneficiary right in time for their social marriage.
This scheme is only limited to economically weaker sections of society whose annual income is below Rs. 5 lakh. The scheme is applicable to all irrespective of caste, creed, religion etc.
Sarma announced that the scheme is supposed to begin from April 2019.
He further explained that some of the main benefits of the scheme include reducing child marriage. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act states that a girl in India can’t get married before the age of 18, and a boy cannot get married before the age of 21.
“The benefit can be availed after the formal registration of the marriage in the court. The marriage will be registered as per the decided age of the girl and boy and hence it will help in reducing child marriages,” Sarma said.
With the introduction of this scheme, the government also proposes to fight against the triple talaq practice, gender equality and justice.
“In the Muslim community, there exists the triple talaq practice and women become victims of such societal practices. If someone wants to go for triple talaq, he has to go for a formal divorce, which will require paying alimony to the bride. This scheme would support such women to avail the alimony,” he said.
INR 300 crore has been allocated for this scheme.