Summary:
It spoilt the plans of all those who were hoping to get their daughters married during the auspicious wedding season. Nainital: More than 14,000 families are still waiting for Rs 50,000 as their daughters’ wedding expense to be provided by the State Social Welfare Department.Threat looms as the amount, if not provided by the end of this financial year which will be on March 31, will be lapsed. The money was paid later when the elections got over and model code of conduct was removed in March 2017.“We have been coming to the office in Haldwani almost every week since past four months but to no avail,” said an applicant from Ramnagar of Nainital district. I hope to get the money soon to be able to pay back otherwise it will become an unbearable burden.”Rekha Bisht (name changed), resident of Almora said, “My daughter was supposed to get married this month but I had to postpone the wedding as the money, which the state government would provide, is awaited.”In February 2017, marriages of almost 3,000 BPL families were postponed or cancelled as government halted financial aid citing code of conduct before state assembly elections.Imposition of the model code of conduct in January 4, 2017 in the state had put a break on release of funds. Director of Social Welfare Directorate, Haldwani, Vinod Giri Goswami said, “Budget has been already allocated and will be provided to the applicants soon.”The state government, through the social welfare department, provides financial assistance to families with income less than Rs 1,250 per month along with minorities, scheduled caste and tribes.With 792 applicants, Haridwar has the maximum number of such pending applications making it 14,631 across 13 districts of the hill state.Following Haridwar district, 780 applicants are from Udham Singh Nagar, 637 from Dehradun, 373 from Nainital, 300 from Almora, 209 from Bageshwar, 208 from Pauri, 202 from Tehri, 176 from Chamoli, 167 from Pithoragarh, 154 from Rudraprayag, 140 from Uttarkashi and 107 from Champawat district.Chandni Arya (name changed), who works as a domestic help and daily wager in Champawat said, “I took Rs 20,000 loan from a local merchant and now interest is adding on..