Chandigarh Administration mulls ‘Shagun’ scheme for girl’s marriage

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 12

The UT Social Welfare Department is mulling over introducing ‘Shagun’ – a scheme for providing financial aid for marriage of daughters.

The formulation of a scheme for women for marriage of their daughters on the pattern of Aashirwaad Scheme of the Government of Punjab was recommended by the Advisory Council Committee recently.

The Aashirwaad Scheme was examined by the department. Accordingly, a new scheme, Shagun, is being formulated by the department.

Navjot Kaur, Director, Social Welfare Department, said, “It is in a preliminary stage. We are currently studying the Punjab scheme. The matter is under process.”

The Punjab Government had launched the Aashirwad Scheme to provide Rs51,000 as financial assistance for the marriage of girl child. The scheme is also applicable to Muslims girls aged 18 years or above, along with girls belonging to Scheduled Castes, Christian, Backward Class and economically weaker section families and daughters of widows of any caste. Under the scheme, Scheduled Caste widows/divorcees are also entitled to the benefit at the time of their re-marriage.