What this scheme offers
The Mangalya scheme encourages widow remarriage in Kerala by giving a one-time ₹25,000 to a widowed or legally divorced woman who marries again. It is listed by both the Women and Child Development Department and the Social Justice Department. The woman must be between 18 and 50 years old and belong to the BPL or priority category, and the remarriage must be registered before the Registrar, since the remarriage certificate is the core document. Application forms go through the Child Development Project Officer of the local ICDS project, which forwards them to the District Women and Child Development Officer and the Directorate. A woman whose husband deserted her can also qualify if a Village Officer certifies that he has been absent for more than seven years.
Who is eligible
- A widow or a legally divorced woman aged 18 to 50 years who has remarried.
- She must belong to the BPL or priority (pink card) category, with proof.
- The remarriage must be registered before the Registrar and a remarriage certificate produced.
- A deserted woman can apply with a Village Officer's certificate that the husband has been away for over seven years.
Documents required
- Proof of the first marriage
- Death certificate of the first husband (widow) or legal divorce document (divorcee)
- Proof of BPL or priority category
- Age proof — school-leaving certificate or a certificate from a competent authority
- Remarriage certificate
- Village Officer's certificate of desertion for over seven years, where applicable
- Copy of the bank passbook
How to apply
- Get the Mangalya application form from the Child Development Project Officer (ICDS office) of your area or from the WCD Department website.
- Fill it in and attach all the documents, including the remarriage certificate.
- Submit it to the Child Development Project Officer, who forwards it to the District Women and Child Development Officer.
- The office verifies the case and the Directorate sanctions the assistance.
- The ₹25,000 is paid by transfer to the bank account whose passbook you attached.