Inter-caste cash
The government wants to encourage inter caste marriages The Indian government has suggested financial incentives of $1,100 should be offered to people who marry members of the lowest Hindu castes. Many states in India already pay some money to those who marry Hindus from the two lowest castes. But the amount differs from state to state - in Gujarat a couple gets the full $1,100 (50,000 rupees) - whereas in West Bengal state the amount is $45. The government says it now wants the sum to be the same throughout India.
BBC NEWS | South Asia | India in low caste marriage plan
I am all for encouraging inter-caste marriages, but with such a large sum of money (yes, for many in India it is enticingly large, don’t argue with me on this) the government must be watchful of fraud.
Just think of how US citizens enter into sham green card marriages for a suitable fee. Its usually white gal plus less than disarmingly handsome third world guy, who together go through agni pariksha at an INS office, proving their "love" through silly intimacy tests. If the scheme works out, lady gets paid. Here I am more worried about caddish men taking advantage of unwitting "low caste" women, charming them with ladoos and flimsy scams, leaving them when the govenment check arrives. Admittedly, I don’t know the procedural safeguards in place here.
Also, what if everybody started lining up for this? Where are they getting the money from?
But then, for a couple legitimately committed to each other, facing casteism requires an adamantine will, especially if you are settled outside the cities or if your family is fixated on the purity of its stock. It’s not just a question of one petulantly casteist aunty or two throwing their dupattas back and doing a 180 when you walk into the room. The whole tribe could turn on you, and your friends, and maybe even your co-workers. Inter-village wars are fought over things like this.
This way the couple stands a chance of actually making it in the world.
Good on you, Indian Government. Now, if this goes through, please do monitor the program carefully, and provide data demonstrating its efficacy over time.
I think this is a nice idea. Lets hope to get rid of the evil caste with this atleast !
Comment by Nivedita — September 15, 2006 @
I agree! Caste - particularly the consciousness of hierarchy - has got to go.
Comment by vikram — September 16, 2006 @
Agreed on the good idea and need to monitor implementation.
Many of the comments at Sepia Mutiny on this subject express concern that the system will be abused - that people will get married, get the cash, and immediately divorce.
I wonder, though, whether the stigma associated with divorce and remarriage will, in some regions, overcome the temptation to abuse this system? What do you think?
Or maybe another unintended outcome will be that everyone abuses it, gets divorced, and all of a sudden the stigma disappears! :p
PS: Great blog!
Comment by vivek — September 17, 2006 @
Vivek,
Thanks mate! Yeah, the stigma against divorce IS a natural contraint in Indian culture. I’m liking this more and more, its a viable assault on the caste system.
Comment by vikram — September 17, 2006 @