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Haryana Inter-caste marriages on rise

Last Updated 19 October 2018, 21:11 IST

Khap dominated Haryana is witnessing a sudden surge in inter-caste marriages. Many see this rise in inter-caste nuptial knots as a trend emanating out of reasons beyond just love in the air.

Chief Minister Manohal Lal Khattar’s home turf Karnal tops the list of such matrimonial alliances. The spurt in the number of cases of inter-caste marriages for registration in the last 3-4 months has far exceeded all previous records.
Every second day on an average, an inter-caste marriage is being solemnized in Karnal. The BJP government in the state earlier this year had hiked its “shagun” grant under the scheme for inter-caste marriages from Rs 1.10 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh a few months ago.
Officials indicate this trend may have a to do with the government's decision to hike the grant to a couple who enter an inter-caste wedlock. The grant for such marriages has more than doubled.
Karnal district alone has witnessed more than 90 inter-caste marriages in the last six months, against 76 marriages registered last year in 2017-18 from the entire state. In 2016, the number was even less with only 47 inter-caste marriages being registered.
For a couple to avail any such grant from the government, one of the spouses must be a member of the scheduled caste. District welfare officer SK Fuliya said the numbers have grown fast after the government hiked the grant this year.
Jat dominated Haryana has been ridden by stereotypes where its natives, especially in the hinterland, are arguably averse to such marriages. Many see the rising trend as an increasing manifestation of one’s liberty even in the face of challenges that they may encounter because of ‘pigeonhole’ mindset.
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(Published 19 October 2018, 15:31 IST)

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