Why Kalyana Lakshmi is not benefiting Adilabad tribals

The Adivasis of Adilabad—Gond, Pardhan, Kolam and Thotti—have at last found a solution to a social problem—wedding of their daughters—that gave them sleepless nights. The tribal tradition is making it difficult for government to execute the Kalyana Lakshmi scheme as it is the bride groom's family that always bear the cost of the wedding and not the bride's family among Adivasis of Adilabad.

The Kalyana Lakshmi scheme of the state government envisages financial assistance only to poor SC, ST families that have performed marriage of daughters but does not recognize an Adivasi bridegroom’s family as deserving to reimburse the wedding costs. The lack of awareness on the scheme and rampant illiteracy has applicants running from pillar to post in search of certificates needed to establish eligibility.

According to tradition among the aboriginal tribes of Gond, Pardhan, Kolam and Thotti, it is the bridegroom’s family which bears the entire burden of a marriage including the expenses of the bride’s side. However, it is the bride’s family which remains eligible to access the financial assistance of Rs. 51,000 under the scheme.

The 70,000 Adivasi families in the district are also the most disadvantaged ones so far as Kalyana Laxmi is concerned owing to lack of awareness on the scheme. There are hundreds of other couples who are finding it difficult to surmount the obstacle posed by their illiteracy in obtaining required certificates as proof.

Until March 26, a total of 444 applications were filed under Kalyana Laxmi by STs of all denominations with the Tribal Welfare department. 300 of the applicants have been sanctioned the financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 1.53 crore against a demand of Rs. 2.26 crore.

So the Telangana government has to take up a campaign and also educate the bride famines of the opportunity to squaw up their relations with grooms and also hold their head high in esteem by providing for the girls welfare and social needs.