UP govt to honour 20 couples

Lucknow, May 17 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh National Integration Department will honour 20 couples for their courage to defy barriers of caste and religion to tie nuptial knots.

Last year, 15 inter-caste and 5 inter-religion marriages were solemnised in Lucknow, Meerut, Jhansi, Kanpur, Hardoi, Bareilly, Basti, Agra, Allahabad and Bahraich districts.

The state government would present each couple with a citation and a cash prize of Rs 10,000.

In these marriages, either the groom or the bride was a dalit.

To promote national harmony and dalit upliftment, the government has also decided to provide them with interest free loans.

UNI