Srinagar, April 30 (KNS): Youth President of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC), Mudasir Karim, has raised serious concern over the newly enforced eligibility criterion requiring girls to have passed 8th grade to avail benefits under the State Marriage Assistance Scheme. Terming the move as “deeply unfair” and “exclusionary,” Karim appealed to the government to urgently revisit and revise the guidelines to ensure that no deserving girl is left unsupported due to factors beyond her control.
“The aim of this scheme was to assist poor girls who face financial barriers in their journey toward marriage. Unfortunately, many girls from rural and economically weaker sections have historically been denied access to education due to socio-economic hardships, lack of infrastructure, or family circumstances,” Mudasir Karim said.
Karim emphasized that while promoting education is critical for the long-term development of the region, linking essential financial aid to educational qualifications in a poverty-focused scheme is “punishing the most vulnerable twice.” He noted that the newly enforced requirement, effective from April 1, 2025, could potentially exclude up to 30% of otherwise eligible girls, especially from remote and underdeveloped areas.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“This criterion contradicts the very spirit of the Marriage Assistance Scheme. It risks alienating the very sections of society the scheme was created to empower. We must not allow educational disadvantage, often caused by systemic poverty, to become another hurdle in the lives of these young women,” Karim added.
Calling for immediate government intervention, Mudasir Karim urged the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo to amend the eligibility norms to make the scheme more inclusive and humane.
He further suggested that alternative pathways, such as offering financial incentives for girls who pursue education, could be explored without denying urgent assistance to those currently in need.
“The government must listen to the voices of the marginalized and act swiftly. Our collective duty is to uplift, not abandon, those who are already fighting against multiple odds,” Karim concluded.(KNS)