Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, announced on Wednesday the release of 141.60 crore for financial support to poor girls from the SC, ST, OBC, and minority communities, as well as families of construction workers and disabled people, through the YSR Kalyanamasthu and YSR Shaadi Tohfa program.
In total, 18,883 girls who married between April and June 2023 will receive the money, which will be deposited directly into their moms’ bank accounts.
SC, ST, and minority recipients would each receive one lakh rupees, while OBC beneficiaries would receive 50,000 rupees. The differently abled would receive 1.50 lakh, while construction workers’ families would receive 40,000 each.
Similarly, SC and ST beneficiaries who chose inter-caste marriage would receive 1.20 lakh, while OBC beneficiaries would receive 75,000 apiece for inter-caste weddings.
The chief minister said the plan was designed to help girls from poor SC, ST, BC, minority communities, construction worker families, and the differently abled pursue their education. He released the funds into the accounts with the click of a mouse from his camp office in Tadepalli.
“We’ve made it mandatory for both the bride and groom to have completed at least their 10th grade in order to be eligible [for the marriage].” “Education is the primary means of breaking free from poverty,” the chief minister said, adding that it would allow parents to offer education for their children and facilitate honourable marriages.
He added that it will also assist reduce dropout rates and enhance enrolment ratios in schools and institutions.
Reaffirming that education is the remedy for eradicating poverty and other societal ills, Jagan stated that the initiative also aims to keep disadvantaged families from falling into debt traps.
Social Welfare Minister M Nagarjuna, Women and Child Welfare Minister KV Usha Sricharan, Energy Minister P Ramachandra Reddy, Revenue Minister D. Prasada Rao, Endowments Minister K Satyanarayana, Chief Secretary Dr KS Jawahar Reddy, and other key officials attended the occasion.
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