Akola sees 140 inter-caste marriages in a year, 11 couples awaiting grants
Under a state scheme to promote inter-caste marriage in Akola district, 140 couples have received grants while 11 remain stuck in document verification
In Akola district, 140 couples have received a grant of Rs 50,000 each over the past year under the state government's scheme to promote inter-caste marriage. The scheme is run under the state government's untouchability eradication programme, aimed at encouraging inter-caste marriage to reduce social discrimination and strengthen social equality.
According to the district council's social welfare department, a total of 175 applications have been received in the district so far. Of these, 124 applications were filed by March 31, while 51 more came in after April 1. Of the 175 applications, 56 couples benefited under the scheme in the 2025-26 financial year and 84 in 2026-27, taking the total to 140 couples who have received the benefit.
Of the remaining 35 applications, 8 have been found eligible after verification of original documents. Another 11 applications are still awaiting verification of original documents, though they are considered eligible. The remaining 16 applications have some deficiency or the other, the district council's social welfare department said.
The social welfare department said such cases need to be prioritised and the stalled grant process completed quickly, in keeping with the government's goal of social equality. However, for the 11 couples whose original documents are still to be verified, repeated attempts by the office to contact them have gone unanswered, the department said.
Under the scheme, couples must apply for the benefit with the required documents after marriage. Once eligibility and documents are verified, the grant amount is deposited into the beneficiaries' accounts. For 2026-27, the government has approved a total of Rs 42 lakh for eligible beneficiaries, the department said.
Of the 175 total applications in the district, 140 have been settled. The documents of some eligible beneficiaries are still being verified, and the office is in constant contact with them, but has not received the response it should, said Tushar Jadhav, social welfare officer, Akola.
