Govt Distributes Rs 394 Crore Since 2015 Under Marriage Assistance Scheme to 1 Lakh Girls

Srinagar, Aug 12 (KNO): Shakeel Ahmad Bhat (name changed) has been saving for the last eight years for the marriage of his lone daughter.

As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the daily wager by profession, the amount he collected, falls too less to manage expenses for a simple marriage.

Much to his delight, Bhat learnt from his relative that the Social Welfare Department was financially assisting the economically poor women under the Marriage Assistance Scheme (MAS).

“The scheme has helped me a lot. With the financial assistance from the government, I purchased a few items for my daughter. This scheme brings a lot of relief for underprivileged families,” he said.

Kashmir’s Marriage Assistance Scheme has emerged as a significant support system for underprivileged families, offering much-needed financial aid for the marriages of poor girls in the region.

Since its inception in the 2015-16 fiscal year, the scheme has provided substantial relief to families, with a total of Rs 394 crore allocated to support 1,04,326 girls up to the 2023-24 period.

MAS is a Social Assistance Scheme implemented by the Social Welfare Department to financially assist un-married identified women in Jammu and Kashmir who belong to the below poverty line category.

The Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Council headed by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha earlier in 2022 restructured the State Marriage Assistance Scheme to provide benefits to all AAY and PHH families.

As per the restructured scheme, any girl of legally marriageable age belonging to the families of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), or Priority Household (PHH) ration card holders, will be eligible for one-time financial assistance of Rs 50,000.

An official from the Social Welfare Department said the number of beneficiaries are increasing as the department raises mass awareness regarding the scheme.

“The department is always at the forefront to help the underprivileged section of the society through various schemes. As far as the Marriage Assistance Scheme is concerned, people belonging to the AAY are coming and getting benefitted under the scheme,” he said.

The official said the awareness is being constantly raised by the department through mass media to educate people about the scheme—(KNO)

Have repaid Rs 28000 Cr power debt of J&K, UT getting cheapest power: LG Manoj Sinha

‘Will give 24×7 electricity to people if they pay; made J&K Bank a profitable institution’

Srinagar, Aug 12: Stating that J&K administration has been able to pay huge power debt bill, J&K LG Manoj Sinha on Monday said people in the Union Territory continue to get cheapest power than other states and UTs.

Addressing a press conference at SKICC on the banks of Dal Lake Srinagar, the LG , as per news agency Kashmir News Observer, said that the J&K administration had got huge power debts worth Rs 28000 crore as a legacy. “We have been able to repay it. I also want to put it on record that J&K people are getting cheapest power and there has been no power hike in the past three years,” the LG said, adding that people have to pay for the government services they avail.

“People must cooperate with us and pay for the power they use so that we can ensure 24×7 power for them,” he said, adding that the metering has been a successful step to prevent power theft.

Speaking about the UT’s budget passed in the Parliament, Sinha said the increase in the allocation shows the Centre’s seriousness towards development of J&K.

On July 23, Rs 1, 18,390 budget was presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for J&K in the Parliament.

Sinha said the J&K administration is committed to give a fillip to all sectors. “We are committed to give a big boost to all sectors whether it is agriculture, horticulture, power, infrastructure etc.,” he said.

The LG said that J&K administration has successfully ensured to pull out the J&K Bank from huge debts and turned it into a profit-making financial institution of the UT—(KNO)

*Detailed copy in bulletin*

Budgam student found dead in Bengaluru, probe launched

Srinagar, Aug 12 (KNO): A Kashmiri student who was studying in Bengaluru was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his rented accommodation on Sunday evening, officials said.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the student from Reva University in Bengaluru, who was living as a paying guest there, was found dead on Sunday evening.

He said that the student has been identified as Tanveer Hussain Rather of Budgam’s Chittargam, while investigation has been initiated—(KNO)