Bhubaneswar: In a landmark event symbolizing social reform, and women’s dignity, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today formally launched the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana at the sacred seat of Maa Tara Tarini in Ganjam district.
The scheme, aimed at alleviating the financial burden of marriages on economically weaker families, saw the solemnization of mass weddings for 201 young women, marking a historic step toward building an inclusive and equitable society in the state.
The Chief Minister personally graced the occasion, offering prayers and blessings to the newlyweds by performing rituals at the altar of the revered deity. Addressing the gathering, he described the initiative not merely as a welfare program but as an innovative measure to bolster social security and gender justice. “Our vision is to create an Odisha where no girl is compelled into early marriage due to financial constraints or societal pressures,” Majhi emphasized.
He added that the scheme sends a powerful message: daughters are not a burden but a divine blessing to their families.Eligibility for the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana requires the bride to be between 18 and 35 years old, the groom between 21 and 35, and both to be permanent residents of Odisha.
Eligible couples receive financial assistance of Rs 60,000 — with Rs 45,000 transferred directly to the bride’s bank account and Rs 15,000 allocated for wedding ceremonies. Selections were made transparently at district and block levels, ensuring benefits reach the most deserving families from economically backward sections.
The Chief Minister highlighted the scheme’s broader impact: reducing marriage-related financial strain, enhancing women’s dignity, promoting widow remarriage, and curbing the dowry system. “This program will be rolled out across all districts from 2025-26 to 2029-30, with a budgetary provision exceeding Rs 59 crore,” he announced. Majhi stressed that true development transcends infrastructure like buildings, roads, or industries. “Real progress lies in securing the future of our mothers and sisters, ensuring every girl is educated, every woman is safe, and every family lives with honor,” he said.
He linked the initiative to complementary efforts like the Subhadra Yojana, which together aim to provide comprehensive security and self-respect to women statewide.Deputy Chief Minister Parvati Parida, speaking with warmth, congratulated the couples and lauded the scheme as a brainchild of the Chief Minister. “We promised to stand by Subhadra Maa (women) every day. This step fulfills our responsibility toward Kanya Vivah,” she said, expressing hopes for blessed and joyful married lives under Maa Taratarini’s grace.
Minister of Commerce and Transport, Mines and Steel, Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, called it a “great public welfare scheme” rooted in grassroots realities. He thanked the Chief Minister for choosing Ganjam district for the launch, underscoring its significance in addressing societal challenges. Fisheries and Livestock Development Minister Gokulanand Malik praised the government’s unwavering commitment to women’s respect, stating that the scheme would spark a “social revolution” in Odisha by challenging outdated notions of daughters as family burdens.
Aska MP Anita Subhadarshini expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for the welfare measure and extended heartfelt wishes for happiness to the newly married couples.
The event drew prominent participation from local legislators, including MLA from Kavisuryanagar Pratap Chandra Nayak, MLA from Chhatrapur Krushna Chandra Nayak, MLA from Berhampur K Anil Kumar, MLA from Aska Saroj Kumar Padhi, MLA from Khallikote Purnachandra Sethi, MLA from Digpahandi Sidhhant Mohapatra, MLA from Sorada Nilamani Bisoyi, and MLA from Manoranjan Dyan Samantara. They joined in blessing the brides and grooms, reinforcing cross-party support for women’s empowerment.
Principal Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department, Shubha Sarma, delivered the welcome address. Departmental Director Monisha Banerjee and Ganjam Collector V. Keerthi Vasan coordinated the proceedings, ensuring smooth execution of this milestone program.
The launch at the historic Maa Tara Tarini temple — a site of profound cultural and spiritual importance — added symbolic depth to the event. As Odisha advances its agenda of inclusive growth, the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana stands as a beacon of hope, promising dignity, equality, and brighter futures for countless families.
