Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Oct 30: The Social Welfare Department has announced a major relaxation in its Marriage Assistance Scheme, officially extending the waiver of the minimum educational qualification requirement for female beneficiaries until 2028.
The decision was revealed in a written response to MLA Khan Sahib Saif-ud-Bhat during the ongoing Autumn Session of the Legislative Assembly.
According to Government Order No.95-JK(SWD) of 2025, which amends a prior 2022 directive, the mandate for a beneficiary to have passed the 8th grade has been formally suspended. The waiver will be effective from April 1, 2025, and remain in force until March 31, 2028, after which the original educational criterion will be reinstated. A copy of the document is in possession of Kashmir Convener.
To address previous cases affected by the now-relaxed rule, the government has outlined a clear procedure. District Social Welfare Officers (DSWOs) have been instructed to personally review all applications that were rejected solely due to the educational requirement for marriages solemnized on or after April 1, 2025. These applications will be re-evaluated provided all other conditions of the scheme are fulfilled.
Furthermore, girls who were married between April 1, 2025, and the issuance of this new order but did not apply because of the educational requirement are now eligible. They can submit their applications through offline mode via their respective Tehsil or District Social Welfare Officers or the Deputy Commissioner. The verifying officer must certify that the marriage occurred within the eligible period and that the applicant was previously deterred from applying due to the qualification bar.
The order also includes a 35-day “breathing period” for marriages solemnized shortly after its issuance, allowing such applicants to apply offline.
The government stated that this policy revision is expected to benefit a significant number of girls and their families across Jammu and Kashmir, thereby enhancing the accessibility and reach of the financial assistance scheme.
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