Odisha govt announces Rs 2.5 lakh incentive for marrying persons with disabilities; check guidelines

Individuals marrying a person with disabilities will now be eligible to receive a financial incentive of Rs 2.5 lakh under newly introduced government guidelines. The scheme mandates specific eligibility, residential, and legal criteria to streamline the disbursement of the welfare funds across Odisha. Under this framework, the scheme requires that either the husband or the wife must be a person with disabilities. Strict age limits have also been established, requiring the groom to be at least 21 years old and the bride to be 18 years old at the time of marriage, with a maximum permissible age limit capped at 60 years for both parties. Furthermore, the marriage must be entirely dowry-free to qualify for the incentive. To meet the eligibility, either the husband or the wife with disabilities must be a permanent resident of Odisha.  Eligible couples are required to submit their applications online within one year of the solemnisation of their marriage through the official departmental website, www.ssepd.gov.in. Mandatory Documentation  To ensure administrative transparency, applicants must upload a comprehensive set of verified documents at the time of online submission. The mandatory documentation includes: Aadhaar card Disability certificate of either the husband or wife Official marriage registration certificate Recent photograph of both spouses Residential certificate Age proof documents A formal declaration stating that the marriage was conducted without dowry Following the online submission, the department will conduct a rigorous verification process to determine the authenticity of the application. A designated official will physically visit the residential address of the couple to conduct ground-level verification before approving the financial grant. Legal Penalty And Refund Clauses The guidelines also incorporate stringent punitive clauses to deter financial fraud and misuse of the welfare scheme. If an individual who has already availed the benefit under this scheme but attempts to fraudulently secure the incentive a second time, they will face criminal chargs, including imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. Also Read: Institutional framework finalised for VB-G Ram G scheme roll-out in Odisha Additionally, the incentive is tied directly to the stability of the marital union. In the event that the marriage legally ends in a divorce within five years of the solemnisation, the couple will be legally obligated to refund the entire incentive amount back to the state.