Haryana govt announces incentive for brides of mass marriages

To check social evil of dowry, Haryana Government will soon launch a new scheme under which an incentive of Rs 11,000 will be given to each bride during mass marriages, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said today.
An organisation of at least 11 marriages at a time will be construed mass marriage for the purpose of Kanyadan scheme, he told reporters after presiding over a meeting of State Cabinet here.
At present, marriages entail an expenditure which many poor people cannot afford and hence, it is a burden on the family, he said.
"If mass marriages are encouraged and organised, expenditure on the part of individual families can be minimised and social evils like dowry can be controlled," he said.

The beneficiaries can not entail the benefit in case of re-marriage. An affidavit will be obtained from the bride that she will not use the funds for re-marriage, he said.
The affidavit must be counter-signed by the concerned organisation conducting the mass marriage, Hooda said.

"The funds would be alloted to the girl only. To avail the benefit of the scheme, the beneficiary should be a Haryana domicile and must be above 18 years of age. She should be marrying a male of legal age.
"The beneficiary will be required to provide either the birth certificate or matriculate certificate as the proof of age," he said.

"This incentive will be given for mass marriages to be held by the Red Cross Societies or NGOs registered in the state of Haryana under Societies Registration Act, 1860. The incentive will be given to all, irrespective of the caste, race, creed, religion or income of intended beneficiaries, he said.
The marriage will be solemnised as per the custom and wish of the beneficiary, the chief minister added.