Srinagar, Feb 03: The government on Tuesday acknowledged that payments under the Marriage Assistance Scheme are pending for thousands of approved beneficiaries, even as it denied any inordinate delay in disbursement.
In a written reply to a question tabled by legislator Javid Hassan Baig, the Social Welfare Department said that during the current financial year, an amount of Rs 163.93 crore has been disbursed to 31,524 beneficiary girls under the scheme.
The department further disclosed that sanction has already been accorded for around 12,777 additional beneficiaries. However, bills amounting to Rs 70.08 crore are still pending in the treasury for payment since October 2025.
The government response stated that these cases have been sanctioned and are under process, with payments awaiting treasury clearance. However, it maintained that there is no undue delay on its part, attributing the pending payments to procedural processing of bills.
On another query over financial support to specially-abled individuals, the government said that financial support is already being provided to specially-abled individuals, including children, through existing social security schemes.
- “Eligible beneficiaries are receiving monthly financial assistance under the Integrated Social Security Scheme and the National Social Assistance Programme”, the minister incharge Social Welfare Department said—(KNO)
