Incentive For The Devadasi Children’s Marriage 2026

Launched in September 2020, the "State Welfare Scheme for Purohits" supports financially struggling practicing temple/tribal purohits and Read More... priests from Christian, Jain, and Buddhist communities in West Bengal. Read less

Details

Many religious and community leaders play vital roles in our society. Understanding this, the West Bengal government introduced a special scheme to support those who are facing financial hardships.

What Is This Scheme?

The "State Welfare Scheme for Purohits" is an initiative by the Department of Information & Cultural Affairs, West Bengal. It was started in September 2020 to provide financial assistance to practicing temple or tribal purohits, as well as priests from Christian, Jain, Buddhist, and Parsi communities who are in need.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

This scheme is specifically designed for poor and economically backward priests from various religious communities residing in West Bengal. It aims to help them manage their daily expenses and improve their living conditions.

Why This Scheme Is Important

Purohits and priests perform crucial social and cultural functions that hold significance for many communities. Recognizing their important contributions and often modest financial situation, the state government offers this scheme to ensure they have some support, contributing to their well-being and the continuity of community services.

Objective

Launched in September 2020, the "State Welfare Scheme for Purohits" supports financially struggling practicing temple/tribal purohits and priests from Christian, Jain, and Buddhist communities in West Bengal.

Benefits

Under this scheme, the Social Welfare Department, Government of Karnataka will give incentive to the Devadasi's Children's Married Couple.

The incentive will be provided only to those who have submitted applications within 1.5 years (18 months) of marriage.

The couple who are married on or after 01-04-2018 are eligible for a revised rate of incentive (i.e. 3.00 lakh for men, 5.00 lakh for women)

Sources and references

Devadasi Children Marriage Applicant Manual

Eligibility Criteria

You must be a poor Purohit or a poor priest from Christian, Jain, Buddhist, or Parsi communities living in West Bengal.
You must be a resident of West Bengal when you apply.
You should not be receiving any pension or financial aid from other Social Security pension schemes, government pensions, or any other organization.
To get the housing grant, you should not own a fully built (pucca) house. However, you must own a piece of land for construction. If you don't own land, the State Government may try to provide land.
You must be financially distressed or economically backward and actively practicing as a priest for a place of worship.

How To Apply

To apply for this scheme, you need to follow these steps:

Download the application form from the official website: https://wb.gov.in.
Fill out the form completely and attach all required documents.
Submit your application form to the appropriate authority based on your residence:
- For rural areas: Submit to the Block Development Officer (BDO).
- For municipal/notified areas (outside Kolkata Municipal Corporation): Submit to the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO).
- For Kolkata Municipal Corporation area: Submit to the Municipal Commissioner.
Your application will be verified at the respective BDO or SDO office.

Documents Required

Passport size photograph
Copy of your Digital Ration Card
Copy of your Aadhaar Card (if you have one)
Copy of your Voter ID card
Residential Certificate (you can provide a self-declaration)
Copy of your Bank Pass Book
Copy of Khatian (ROR) or Deed (if applicable for land ownership)

FAQ’s

What is the main goal of this welfare scheme?

The main goal is to offer financial help to practicing temple/tribal purohits and priests from Christian, Jain, and Buddhist communities who are facing financial difficulties.

Which government department is running this scheme?

This scheme is managed by the Department of Information & Cultural Affairs in West Bengal.

When did this scheme officially start?

The scheme was launched in September 2020.

Who is eligible to apply for this scheme?

Any poor Purohit or priest from Christian, Jain, Buddhist, or Parsi communities living in West Bengal is eligible, provided they meet the other criteria.

Do I need to be a resident of West Bengal to apply?

Yes, you must be a permanent resident of West Bengal and provide proof like an Aadhaar Card and residential certificate.

How much money will I get monthly if I am approved?

Eligible beneficiaries will receive ₹1,000 every month as financial assistance.

What is the financial support provided for building a house?

A grant of ₹1,20,000 is available to help eligible individuals build their own house.

Can I get this aid if I am already receiving another pension?

No, you cannot be a beneficiary of any other Social Security pension scheme, government pension, or pension from another organization to be eligible for this scheme.

What if I already own a permanent house?

If you wish to receive the housing grant, you should not own a pucca dwelling house. You must own a plot of land where you plan to build a new house.

Where can I get the application form to apply?

You can download the application form from the official West Bengal government portal at https://wb.gov.in.

To which office should I submit my application?

Submit your application to the Block Development Officer (BDO) if you live in a rural area, the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) if you live in a municipal area outside Kolkata, or the Municipal Commissioner if you live within Kolkata Municipal Corporation limits.

Who checks my submitted application?

The respective offices of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) or Block Development Officer (BDO) will verify the application forms submitted to them.