What was intended to be a boon almost turned out to be a curse for some recipients of the Ladli Laxmi scheme, considering the fact that the very scheme which was aimed at providing solace ended up offering pain, misery and even death.
Vanita Gaonkar, who was married to Videsh Gaonkar of Malkarne, was forced to end her life in September 2016, barely a year of her marriage, following alleged harassment from her in-laws who demanded money from the Ladli Laxmi Scheme.
While the intention of the BJP-led government to disburse Rs 1 lakh at the time of a girl’s marriage received many accolades its misuse by some in-laws has led to the tarnishing of the scheme’s image and in some case even converted it into an instrument of harassment and torture.
Vanita’s episode was not an ordinary suicide as the case details reveal. It is learnt that she often complained to her mother regarding the harassment of the in-laws, who persistently demanded money from the Ladli Laxmi scheme. Unable to bear continuous torture she took the drastic step of consuming poison, thus triggering a massive debate on the issue.
NGO Savera that took up Vanita’s case on a priority basis, demanding justice for the 23-year-old, argued that neither her husband nor his family has any authority over the money received by a girl.
“The government’s scheme is for the girl and her family who spend on marriage ceremonies. The real need is for them, and not the husband or his family. The in-laws have no authority over the girl’s money,” NGO chairperson Tara Kerkar said.
While she is still in favour of continuing with the scheme, considering that it has been very helpful to especially girls’ families in the remote areas, another NGO Bailancho Saad urged that the amount should be utilized far more effectively.
“It is a temporary relief at the time of the marriage ceremonies but thereafter the married women goes through torture. The government should draw a mechanism to ensure its effective use. “We had predicted that the schemes could lead to marital problems and warned the government,” Convener Sabina Martins said.
The NGO had encountered around three cases wherein a woman was subjected to domestic violence primarily due to the scheme money. “Husbands fight with their wives to share the money. They fail to understand the financial issues a girl’s family goes through at the time of marriage,” she added.
