Mukhyamantri Kanya Samuhik Vivah Yojana is a flagship scheme launched by the Uttarakhand government. The main objective of this scheme is to promote mass marriages of underprivileged girls in the state. Under this scheme, the state government provides financial assistance for the mass marriage of girls belonging to poor families. This scheme aims to reduce dowry practices and the financial burden on the girl’s family during the wedding.

Objectives

The key objectives of Mukhyamantri Kanya Samuhik Vivah Yojana are:

• To promote mass marriages of underprivileged girls in Uttarakhand
• To provide financial support to brides’ families to meet wedding expenses
• To curb social evils like dowry system, child marriage etc.

Eligibility Criteria

To avail of the benefits under the Mukhyamantri Kanya Samuhik Vivah Yojana, the applicants must fulfill the following eligibility criteria:

• The girl must be a permanent resident of Uttarakhand
• The girl’s family income must not exceed ₹1.80 lakh per annum
• Only legally permissible marriages will be approved under this scheme

Required Documents

The following documents are required for registering under the mass marriage scheme:

• BPL certificate of the girl’s family
• Age proof certificate of brides indicating age to be 18 years or above
• Aadhaar card, voter
• Income certificate of girl’s parents
• Bank account details of the applicant
• Photos of bride and groom
• Aadhaar linked bank account details

Key Features

Financial Assistance for Mass Marriage

• The Uttarakhand government provides financial assistance of ₹20,000 to each couple taking part in the mass marriage ceremony
• This financial aid is provided to meet wedding expenses like clothes, food, tent, etc.
• The amount is directly transferred to the bank account of the bride

Apply for Mass Marriage

• Girls interested in registering for mass marriage can apply either individually or as a group
• The minimum number of brides required for mass marriage is 10
• Mass marriage applications can be submitted at the office of the District Magistrate

Application Procedure

The step-by-step application procedure under the scheme is explained below:

Step 1: Registration

• Eligible applicants can register for mass marriage at the office of the District Magistrate or Block Development Officer
• Applicants have to submit their application form along with required eligibility documents
• A registration number is generated after verification of documents

Step 2: Verification

• The applications undergo thorough verification at two levels – district and state level
• The income, age, residence proof and other details are cross-checked
• Only applications meeting all eligibility norms will be approved

Step 3: Selection of Beneficiaries

• Based on the number of approved applications, beneficiaries will be selected for mass marriage
• The final list of selected brides will be published on the portal and applicants will be informed
• Venue and date of mass marriage event will be announced

Wedding Ceremony Arrangements

Mandap Arrangements

• Mandaps or wedding pandals will be erected by the district administration at the marriage venue
• Seating arrangements for invitees along with basic lighting and sound facilities will be provided

Food and Refreshments

• Refreshments, lunch/dinner will be organized for all attendees at the mass marriage venue
• Food stalls and drinking water facility will be made available

Transportation Facility

• The district administration will arrange transportation from home to the wedding venue for brides and their families
• Vehicle facility will also be provided to ferry guests during the ceremony if required

Benefits of the Scheme

Promote Mass Marriages

• Mass marriages help in removing the burden of high expenditure on individuals
• Group weddings reduce the extravagant spending on weddings to a great extent

Empower Women

• This scheme promotes gender equality by supporting girls from economically weaker sections
• It ensures that girls are not deprived of their rights due to lack of money

Reduce Dowry System

• The practice of dowry is eliminated as mass marriages do not involve dowry exchange
• Social evil like dowry system can be controlled through this initiative

Helpline Number

For any queries or assistance regarding the mass marriage scheme, applicants can contact the following helpline number:

Toll-Free Number: 18001808026

Email ID: cm.uk@nic.in

Conclusion

The Mukhyamantri Kanya Samuhik Vivah Yojana is a progressive scheme that will immensely benefit underprivileged girls of Uttarakhand. Mass marriages will help in upholding the dignity of women and promoting gender equality in the state. This scheme ensures that girls are not deprived of their basic right to marriage due to financial constraints. It also curbs social evils like dowry and child marriage. The financial assistance and arrangements provided by the government will help alleviate the wedding expenses of poor families. This scheme will empower women and strengthen the socio-economic fabric of the state.

FAQs

Q1. What is Mukhyamantri Kanya Samuhik Vivah Yojana?

Ans. Mukhyamantri Kanya Samuhik Vivah Yojana is a mass marriage scheme started by the Uttarakhand government. It aims to provide financial assistance to poor families for organizing mass marriages of their daughters.

Q2. Who launched this scheme?

Ans. This scheme was launched by the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Mr. Pushkar Singh Dhami in 2022.

Q3. What is the eligibility criteria under this scheme?

Ans. To be eligible, the girl must be 18 years or above, belong to BPL family with annual income less than 1.8 lakhs and be a permanent resident of Uttarakhand.

Q4. What is the financial assistance provided under the scheme?

Ans. The Uttarakhand government provides ₹20,000 financial assistance to each couple taking part in mass marriage.

Q5. How can one apply for assistance under the scheme?

Ans. Eligible applicants can submit their application form along with required documents at the District Magistrate’s office for registration.