KATHMANDU, July 13 Nepal's government said on Monday it would provide almost $1,300 to inter-caste couples when they marry to discourage discrimination against the lowest Dalit caste.

Finance Minister Surendra Pandey said inter-caste marriages were still frowned upon, and he hoped that the 100,000-rupee ($1,270) payment would help such couples.

“Society still rejects inter-caste marriage between Dalits and non-Dalits and the initial days of couples thus married are normally tough,” he told parliament as he presented the government's new budget.

“To encourage such inter-caste marriage, the government will provide a grant of 100,000 rupees to the newly married couple within 30 days of marriage registration.”

Discrimination against Dalits, who make up around 13 per cent of Nepal's population, was outlawed in the 1960s. But the tradition of “untouchability” survives, particularly in rural areas.

Pandey also announced plans to help widows, who frequently find themselves ostracised in Nepal, by providing a 50,000 rupee grant to married couples where the wife was previously widowed.—AFP