Bhubaneswar: Couples seeking financial assistance under Odisha govt’s marriage incentive scheme for persons with disabilities (PwD) will now have to submit a declaration stating that no dowry was given or received.The new requirement has been introduced by the department of social security and empowerment of persons with disabilities (SSEPD) under the revised Award of Incentive for Marriage between Persons with Benchmark Disabilities and Other Person, 2026, guidelines notified on Saturday.According to the notification, one of the eight mandatory documents required to avail the incentive will be a “dowry-free marriage declaration”. Applicants will have to furnish a signed declaration affirming that neither party exchanged dowry as part of the wedding.The state govt provides an incentive of Rs 2.5 lakh for a marriage where at least one person has a benchmark disability, irrespective of the category. The scheme aims to mainstream persons with disabilities in society and encourage social inclusion.The latest notification strengthens the anti-dowry provision by making a formal declaration mandatory, rather than merely listing a dowry-free wedding as an eligibility condition.Officials said the requirement is intended to ensure that public funds support socially progressive marriages and reinforce the state’s commitment to eliminating the illegal practice of dowry. The declaration will form a key part of the verification process before any financial assistance is sanctioned, officials said.The SSEPD department has also prescribed stringent penalties for false declarations. Applicants found to have obtained the benefit through misrepresentation or by attempting to avail it more than once may face imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, or both under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The govt will also recover the disbursed amount with 12% interest under relevant legal provisions.The revised guidelines introduce additional safeguards to prevent misuse of the scheme. The incentive amount will remain locked in for three years after sanction. Beneficiaries will be allowed to withdraw only 10% of the amount after the first year of marriage, another 10% after the second, and the remaining 80% only after completion of three years.The govt has also linked the incentive to the durability of the marriage. If a couple divorces or the marriage is dissolved within five years of receiving the first instalment, the undrawn amount will be cancelled and returned to the govt treasury. Any amount already withdrawn will be recovered from the beneficiary along with interest.
