Bengaluru has most number of intercaste marriages

By Gururaj B R
Government’s idea of promoting intercaste marriage by offering monetary incentive to low income groups has worked wonders. The trend, initially considered a taboo, has now become a huge hit.
Bengaluru stood first in the number of intercaste marriages registered in 2015-16. A total of 442 people belonging to the Scheduled Caste — 264 men and 178 women — got married outside their caste in that period.
The social welfare department released an incentive of `1.83 crore for them in the same period. While a man belonging to the SC gets `2 lakh as incentive, a woman belonging to SC receives `3 lakh.
However, their annual income should be less than Rs 2 lakh to get the monetary benefit. Women in the age group of 18 to 40 and men between 21 to 45 years are eligible to avail the benefit from the government.
The government will release money in two installments. While 50 per cent of the amount will be given in the form of national savings certificates (NSC), the remaining will be given in cash. Beneficiaries should avail the facility within a year of their marriage.
Davanagere and Shivamogga districts came second and third respectively. While a total of 208 people got intercaste marriages in Davanagere district, Shivamogga, the door for Malnad region, reported 185 such marriages.
According to the sources in the social welfare department, a total of 2,041 people belonging to SC (1,172 men and 869 women) got married outside their caste in the state for which the department released Rs9.37 crore in 2015-16.
Social welfare department joint director Urmila said: ”Bengaluru has the highest number of intercaste marriages because of exodus of people from other states. People from many communities stay in the city”.
The department will release incentive on the basis of list of caste announced in the state. Those whose caste has not been enlisted in the list the department has, their application will be forwarded to the union government for verification of the caste and they will take a call on it, she explained.