The Omar Abdullah government has enhanced financial assistance under the State Marriage Assistance Scheme (SMAS) for poor girls from Rs 50,000 to 75,000 for the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration card holder families.
According to an order, assistance for Priority Household (PHH) ration card holders remains unchanged at Rs 50,000. New scheme will be effective from April 1, 2025.
The order also states that the financial aid will be directly transferred to the beneficiary’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) before the marriage.
The scheme applies only to eligible AAY and PHH ration card holders, ensuring that economically weaker sections receive support for marriage expenses.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that it is “a step towards dignity and empowerment.
"Our government stands committed to uplifting every household in need. This support will be directly credited before marriage via DBT,” he remarked.
The decision follows Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s Budget Speech on March 7, in which he announced a series of pro-poor initiatives, including the enhancement of marriage assistance for AAY-category girls.
The revised scheme will take effect from April 1, 2025.
To ensure transparency and efficiency, the financial aid will be directly transferred to the beneficiary’s bank account through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system before the marriage.
In another major welfare initiative, the J&K government has approved the distribution of additional food grains free of cost to AAY households with four or more members under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
This move aims to strengthen food security for the region’s most vulnerable families and fulfills a key commitment made in Budget 2025-26