Bengaluru, 1 Feb

Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday approved some amendments to Hindu Marriage Act to simplify the process of marriage registration by allowing online applications at Bapuji, Gram One and other centres in the State.

“People can now register their marriages online at Kaveri 2 portal of the government,” said Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil while announcing the decisions of a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah here on Thursday. To register the marriage online, the candidates will have to provide Aadhaar authentication. However, if one wishes to not provide their Aadhaar details, they can register offline. 

The online registrations were introduced to encourage more people to register their marriages, the minister said. In Karnataka, only about 30 per cent of the marriages are registered. 

Meanwhile, the new amendment does not apply to people preferring to register marriages under Special Marriage Act. They have to notify the sub-registrar one month ahead of the wedding date, and the groom and bride should be present in person at the office of the sub-registrar to register the marriage.

Other Cabinet decisions

The Cabinet also approved Rs 208.45 crore to Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board for the 110 villages which were added to the jurisdiction of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in 2006. 

A total of Rs 1,200 crore was also sanctioned to BBMP for infrastructure works in the City. The Cabinet also waived off the interest on loans (totalling Rs 440.20 crore) taken by farmers in cooperative banks. Under Urban Infrastructure Development Funds, 34 new gas crematoriums have been approved at a cost of Rs 136 crore. 

The Cabinet also approved the construction works on the premises of KC General Hospital at a total cost of Rs 150 crore. It has also decided to provide a two per cent reservation for sportspeople in civil services. 

New projects under Medical Education

The Cabinet gave the nod for several projects under Medical Education Department, including Human Genome Institute at Raichur University at a cost of Rs 47.32 crore by Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board.

A total of Rs 810 crore was allotted for Chikkaballapur Nandi Medical Science Institute, Rs 416 crore for Yadgir Medical Science Institute and Rs 455 crore for Chikkamagaluru Medical Science Institutes. A 300-bed hospital will be built for Rs 126.90 crore on Gulbarga Medical Science Institute campus.

A hospital in Hassan with a capacity of 450 beds at a cost of Rs 1.42 crore will also be set up. A revised estimate of Rs 499 crore was approved for completing the works on the premises of Haveri Institute of Medical Sciences.

Northern Karnataka Infrastructure Projects

The Cabinet also greenlighted the filling up of 20 tanks in Uchagaon and Santibastavad Hoblis in Belagavi district at a cost of Rs 287.55 crore. Similarly, 61 lakes in Hirebagewadi in Belagavi District are to be augmented at an estimated cost of Rs 519.10 crore.