Inter Caste Marriage Scheme Goa: Benefits, Eligibility, Apply

Inter-caste marriage is a marriage between two people who belong to different castes or communities. It is a way of promoting social integration and reducing caste discrimination in India. However, inter-caste couples often face many challenges and difficulties from their families and society. To encourage and support such couples, the government of Goa has launched a scheme to provide financial assistance to them.

The scheme is called the Award for Inter Caste Marriage with Scheduled Caste or Inter Caste Marriage Incentive Scheme. It aims to provide an incentive of Rs 2.5 lakh to the inter-caste couples where one of the spouses belongs to the Scheduled Caste community. The scheme is operated by the Directorate of Social Welfare and covers 500 marriages in a year. In this article, we will tell you how to apply for this scheme online, what are the benefits and eligibility criteria, and what are the documents required.

Overview: Inter Caste Marriage Scheme Goa

Inter-caste marriage is a beautiful way of celebrating diversity and breaking the barriers of caste discrimination in India. However, it is not always easy to overcome the challenges and prejudices that such couples face from their families and society. That is why the government of Goa has introduced a scheme to provide financial support and recognition to inter-caste couples who marry a Scheduled Caste person. The scheme is called the Award for Inter Caste Marriage with Scheduled Caste and it is operated by the Directorate of Social Welfare. In this section, we will present you with a table that summarizes the main features of this scheme.

Aspect	Details
Name of the scheme	Award for Inter Caste Marriage with Scheduled Caste
Objective	To promote social integration and reduce caste discrimination by providing financial assistance to inter-caste couples
Implementing agency	Directorate of Social Welfare, Government of Goa
Online application portal	Seva Sindhu
Grant amount	Rs 2.5 lakh per couple
Number of beneficiaries	500 marriages per year
Official website	Social Welfare Portal
Office Address	Directorate of Social Welfare, Next To Digital Point, 18Th June Road, Ozari, Panaji, Goa, 403001
Phone Number	Phone: 0832 223 2257 (Fax: 2228172)
Email Address	socialwelfaregoa@rediffmail.com

This table has provided you with a brief overview of the Award for Inter Caste Marriage with Scheduled Caste scheme in Goa. This scheme is a great opportunity for inter-caste couples who want to get financial support and recognition from the government. If you are eligible and interested in this scheme, you can apply online through the Seva Sindhu portal. You can also visit the official website of the Directorate of Social Welfare for more details and guidelines. If you have any queries or complaints regarding this scheme, you can contact the customer care number or email address given in the table. 

What is Inter Caste Marriage Scheme Goa?

The Award for Inter Caste Marriage with Scheduled Caste Scheme is a social welfare scheme launched by the government of Goa to provide financial assistance and recognition to inter-caste couples who marry a person belonging to the Scheduled Caste community. The scheme aims to promote social integration and harmony among different castes and communities in the state and to reduce caste discrimination and prejudice. The scheme is one of the five pre-poll guarantees of the Congress party, which came to power in the May 2023 assembly elections.

₹2.5 Lakh Incentive (50% in Demand Draft-DD & 50% after Five Years

The scheme has several features that make it attractive and beneficial for inter-caste couples. The scheme provides an incentive of Rs 2.5 lakh to each inter-caste couple where one of the spouses belongs to the Scheduled Caste community. The scheme covers 500 marriages per year on a first-come-first-serve basis. The incentive is given in two instalments: 50% in the form of a demand draft (DD) in joint name of the couple and the balance 50% after five years of marriage. The scheme is applicable only for the first marriage of both bride and bridegroom. The scheme is supplementary to any other employment generation or poverty alleviation scheme.

Encourages More Inter-Caste Marriages & Financial Help For Couples

The scheme also has several benefits that can improve the lives and well-being of inter-caste couples. The scheme helps inter-caste couples to overcome the financial and social challenges that they face due to their marriage. The scheme encourages more inter-caste marriages in the state, which can lead to greater social cohesion and diversity. The scheme empowers women who belong to the Scheduled Caste community by giving them equal status and dignity in their marital life. The scheme also contributes to the eradication of untouchability and caste-based discrimination in the society.

Benefits & Features of Intercaste Marriage Scheme in Goa

Inter-caste marriage is a marriage between two people who belong to different castes or communities. It is a way of promoting social integration and reducing caste discrimination in India. However, inter-caste couples often face many challenges and difficulties from their families and society. To encourage and support such couples, the government of Goa has launched a scheme to provide financial assistance to them. The scheme is called the Award for Intercaste Marriage with Scheduled Caste. In this section, we will discuss the benefits and features of this scheme.

Benefits of the scheme

The scheme has several benefits that can improve the lives and well-being of inter-caste couples. Some of the benefits are:

• The scheme
  • Helps inter-caste couples to overcome the financial and social challenges that they face due to their marriage.
  • Encourages more inter-caste marriages in the state, which can lead to greater social cohesion and diversity.
  • Empowers women who belong to the Scheduled Caste community by giving them equal status and dignity in their marital life.
  • Also contributes to the eradication of untouchability and caste-based discrimination in the society.

Features of the scheme

The scheme has several features that make it attractive and beneficial for inter-caste couples. Some of the features are:

• The scheme 
  • Provides an incentive of Rs 2.5 lakh to each inter-caste couple where one of the spouses belongs to the Scheduled Caste community.
  • Covers 500 marriages per year on a first-come-first-serve basis.
  • Applicable only for the first marriage of both bride and bridegroom.
  • Supplementary to any other employment generation or poverty alleviation scheme.
• The incentive is given in two instalments: 50% in the form of a demand draft (DD) in joint name of the couple and the balance 50% after five years of marriage.

We hope this section has given you a clear and concise overview of the benefits and features of the Award for Inter Caste Marriage with Scheduled Caste scheme. If you want to know more about this scheme, such as how to apply online, what are the eligibility criteria and documents required, and how to contact customer care, please read the rest of this article. You can also leave your comments or queries below and we will try to answer them as soon as possible.

Eligibility Criteria for Inter Caste Marriage Scheme Goa Application

To apply for the Award for Inter Caste Marriage with Scheduled Caste scheme in Goa, you need to meet some eligibility criteria. These criteria are set by the government to ensure that only genuine and deserving inter-caste couples can avail the benefits of this scheme. The eligibility criteria are:

• One of the spouses should belong to the Scheduled Caste community as per the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.
• The marriage should be registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 or the Special Marriage Act, 1954 and should be valid and subsisting at the time of application.
• The couple should 
  • Not have received any other incentive or benefit from any other source for their inter-caste marriage.
  • Be residing in Goa for at least five years prior to the date of application.
• The annual income of the couple should not exceed Rs 5 lakh.

If you fulfil these eligibility criteria, you can apply for this scheme online through the Seva Sindhu portal. You also need to submit some necessary documents along with your application form. You can find out more about the documents required in the next section of this article.

Required Documents to Apply for Inter Caste Marriage Scheme Goa

To apply for the Award for Inter Caste Marriage with Scheduled Caste scheme in Goa, you need to submit some necessary documents along with the online application form. These documents are required to verify your identity, caste, income, and marital status. The documents are:

• Application form in prescribed format
• Aadhaar card of both spouses
• Caste certificate of both spouses
• Marriage certificate issued by the competent authority
• Income certificate issued by the competent authority
• Bank account details of both spouses
• Passport size photographs of both spouses

You can download the application form from the official website of the Directorate of Social Welfare. You can also get the caste and income certificates from the same website. You need to scan and upload these documents on the Seva Sindhu portal while filling the online application form. You also need to enter your personal and bank details correctly. Make sure you have all these documents ready before applying for the scheme.

How to Apply for Award for Inter Caste Marriage Scheme in Goa

If you are eligible and interested in applying for the Award for Inter Caste Marriage with Scheduled Caste scheme in Goa, you can follow these steps to apply online:

• Visit the official website of Seva Sindhu, which is the common citizen service portal of the Karnataka government. The link is [here].
• On the homepage, click on the link that says “Apply for Service” and then select “Gruha Lakshmi Scheme” from the list of services. This is the same scheme as the Award for Inter Caste Marriage with Scheduled Caste scheme in Goa, as both are operated by the Directorate of Social Welfare.
• Fill in the required details such as name, address, Aadhaar number, bank account number, etc. and upload the necessary documents such as ration card, income certificate, etc. You can find out more about the documents required in the previous section of this article.
• After submitting the application form, an acknowledgment number will be generated, which can be used to track the status of the application.
• You will receive a confirmation message on your registered mobile number and email id once your application is approved and the incentive is disbursed.

This scheme is a great opportunity for inter-caste couples who want to get financial support and recognition from the government. If you have any doubts or suggestions regarding this scheme, feel free to contact customer care or leave a comment below.

Contact Details for Inter Caste Marriage with Scheduled Caste Scheme in Goa

If you have any queries or complaints regarding the Award for Inter Caste Marriage with Scheduled Caste scheme in Goa, you can contact the customer care of the Directorate of Social Welfare, which is the implementing agency of this scheme. The contact details are as follows:

• Address: Directorate of Social Welfare, Next To Digital Point, 18Th June Road, Ozari, Panaji, Goa, 403001
• Phone: 0832 223 2257
• Email: socialwelfaregoa@rediffmail.com
• Fax: 2228172

You can also visit the official website of the Directorate of Social Welfare [here] for more information and guidelines about this scheme. You can also raise a complaint online by visiting the Seva Sindhu website [here] and clicking on the link that says “Raise Your Complaint”. Enter the details such as name, mobile number, email id, service name, complaint type, etc. and submit it.

Conclusion;

Goa’s Inter Caste Marriage Scheme is a progressive initiative by the state government to promote social harmony and integration among different castes and communities. It provides a financial incentive of Rs 2.5 lakh to couples who enter into an inter-caste marriage, where one of the spouses belongs to the Scheduled Caste community. It aims to eradicate the evil of caste untouchability and encourage inter-caste marriages, which are still a taboo in many parts of India.

Couples can apply for the incentive online through the Directorate of Social Welfare website, by submitting some documents and fulfilling some eligibility criteria. The incentive amount is given in the form of a fixed deposit, which can be withdrawn after three years of marriage. The number of beneficiaries has increased over the last few years, as more and more educated and enlightened youth are breaking the barriers of caste and choosing their life partners based on love and compatibility. The initiative is a positive step towards creating a more inclusive and egalitarian society, where people are respected for their individuality and not discriminated based on their caste.