The Arundhati scheme announced by the Assam Government in the Budget 2019-20 will not only make the poor parents across the State happy but also likely to reduce social evils like talaq and divorce.
Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said this on Tuesday while adding that the government’s decision to give one tola (10 grams) gold to brides belonging to all such communities of the State where it is customary to provide gold at the time of wedding will also help reducing instances of talaq and divorce.
“The marriage registrar of the concerned area will hand over this one tola of gold to the daughters when the marriage is registered. Irrespective of Hindu or Muslims the marriages have to be registered to claim the benefits under Arundhati. Now when a marriage is registered, it will not be possible to throw away someone by just pronouncing ‘Talaq, Talaq Talaq’. Even if someone wants to go for it, he has to go for a formal divorce, which will require paying alimony to the bride,” the minister said.
“These days we also see problems in cases of informal marriages which are done in temples. Sometimes after problems emulates, the groom threatens the brides and asks them to show proof of marriages. Now as Arundhati makes the registration of marriages a must to claim the benefits, none will be able to take advantage as there will be proof of registration of marriages making it difficult to divorce someone for fear of legal hassle and paying alimony,” he said adding that people will at least think twice before taking such a step.