Jammu

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para on Friday questioned the non-release of ₹70 crore under the Marriage Assistance scheme and ₹200 crore under the Ladli Beti scheme over the past three financial years, including the current one.

Taking aim at the National Conference-led government in Jammu and Kashmir, Para said welfare schemes meant for economically weaker sections were being undermined by delays in actual payments. In a post on X, he claimed that of the ₹300 crore shown as “disbursed” under Ladli Beti, ₹200 crore was still pending, while ₹70 crore marked as disbursed under the Marriage Assistance scheme had not moved out of the treasury.

“If ₹70 crore and ₹200 crore have not even left the treasury and remain stuck with finance, how can this be called disbursal?” Para asked, describing the exercise as paperwork rather than real relief. “The poor need money in hand, not figures on files,” he said, seeking accountability from the government.

The issue was also raised in the Assembly, where the government informed members that more than ₹364 crore had been disbursed under the Marriage Assistance and Ladli Beti schemes over the last three financial years, including the ongoing one.

In a written reply to an unstarred question by Para, the government said ₹130 crore each was released under the Marriage Assistance scheme in 2023–24 and 2024–25, benefiting about 26,000 people annually. For the current financial year (2025–26, as on date), ₹234 crore has been shown as disbursed among 44,301 beneficiaries, though bills worth ₹70.08 crore are pending payment in the treasury.

District-wise data showed Baramulla had the highest number of beneficiaries under the Marriage Assistance scheme, with 2,721 cases in 2023–24, 2,472 in 2024–25 and 3,855 in 2025–26 so far. Other districts with substantial coverage this year include Budgam, Anantnag, Kupwara and Pulwama.

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Under the Ladli Beti scheme, the government said 1,41,085 beneficiaries were sanctioned in 2023–24 with ₹213.75 crore disbursed, while 1,76,126 beneficiaries were sanctioned in 2024–25 with ₹150 crore released. In 2025–26 (as on date), 1,98,024 beneficiaries have been sanctioned and ₹300 crore shown as disbursed, though ₹200 crore remains pending.