BANGALORE: The Legislative Committee on the Welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes led by P M Narendraswamy has strongly opposed the proposal to make marriage certificates mandatory to avail Bhagyalakshmi scheme benefits.
In a report tabled in both the Houses of the Legislature on Saturday, the 19-member committee has recommended the government to delete the proposal from the list of conditions mentioned to avail the benefits of the scheme.
Maintaining that a majority of couples who get married in villages do not register their wedding at the Sub Registrar offices, the committee has suggested to rely on the voter ID cards and other documents to disburse bonds. The committee, which has sought clarifications from the officials of the Social Welfare Department on the issue, said marriage certificate is being sought to know the veracity of the marriages.
The committee, which has also taken a serious note on the delay in disbursing the Bhagyalakshmi bonds to beneficiaries, has recommended the government to release `300 crore to the department. The government, needs over `295.90 crore to issue the Bhagyalakshmi bonds.
‘Strengthen Law on Female Foeticide’
The committee, which has reviewed the gender ratio in the state, expressed serious concern over the increasing gap between men and women population and recommended the government to strengthen the Act related to prevention of female
foeticide. It has recommended the government to undertake an intensive awareness campaign deploying Anganwadi and Panchayat workers to reduce the gender ratio gap.
The committee also noted that the imbalance in the male and female ratio is
increasing among SCs and STs. The committee has recommended the government to maintain transparency in the procurement and distribution of supplementary nutritious food being supplied to children through Anganawadis. It has expressed concern over a report of sub-standard supplementary food being distributed in some villages in Mysore, Nanjanagud and other taluks in the region.