Odisha enhances incentive for marrying person with disabilities to ₹2.5 lakh

The incentive amount under the scheme has now been enhanced from ₹50,000 to ₹2,50,000 per eligible couple, Bhaskar Sharma, commissioner-cum-secretary of SSEPD wrote.

The Odisha Government has enhanced the amount of incentive for marrying a divyang person from ₹50,000 to ₹2,50,000 per eligible couple, an official said.

While both of the spouses should be residents of Odisha, they can apply online at sspeed@gov.in, the official said. (Stock image: Getty)

The incentive amount under the scheme has now been enhanced from ₹50,000 to ₹2,50,000 per eligible couple, Bhaskar Sharma, commissioner-cum-secretary of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department, wrote to all the district collectors.

The department also issued a revised guideline for facilitating and encouraging such marriages.

Sharma in the letter to district collectors on February 23 mentioned that during implementation of this scheme, some operational problems were brought to the notice of the department, for which the incentive for marrying persons with benchmark disabilities has been enhanced from ₹50,000 to ₹2.5 lakh.

A cash incentive award can be given to either of the spouses with benchmark disability if the other person marries a person with benchmark disability. The bridegroom and the bride must have completed 21 years and 18 years of age, respectively at the time of the marriage, the guideline said.

The guideline clearly mentioned that spouses should not have availed of the incentive award under this scheme earlier and such wedding should be dowry free.

While both of the spouses should be residents of Odisha, they can apply online at sspeed@gov.in, the official said.