Berhampur: In a significant move toward social reform and financial inclusion, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi officially launched the Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana today during a mass marriage ceremony at the Maa Taratarini shrine in Ganjam district. The scheme is designed to alleviate the financial burden on economically disadvantaged families, with a particular focus on Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities.
Under the new guidelines, each eligible couple will receive total assistance valued at 51,000 rupees. The core of this support is a 35,000 rupee cash grant transferred directly to the bride’s bank account via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. In addition to the monetary aid, the state will provide a wedding gift kit worth 10,000 rupees. This package, supplied through Utkalika, includes traditional bridal essentials such as a saree, ornaments like anklets and toe rings, and various household utility items. The remaining 6,000 rupees are allocated toward the logistical costs of organizing the group marriage events, covering food and decorations.
To qualify for the scheme, the bride must be between 18 and 35 years old, and the groom must be between 21 and 35. Both must be permanent residents of Odisha. While the program primarily targets first-time marriages, it uniquely includes support for widow remarriage to promote social dignity. The government has made marriage registration mandatory for all beneficiaries to ensure legal security and combat child marriage.
While Odisha has previously offered targeted marriage assistance—such as the Kanya Vivah Sahayta Yojana for registered construction workers and specific incentives for inter-caste marriages—the Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana is the first large-scale, comprehensive state-wide initiative of its kind that covers all economically backward families regardless of their professional sector. By centralizing this aid under the Women and Child Development Department, the government aims to create a streamlined, universal safety net that discourages the practice of dowry and provides a dignified start for daughters in low-income households.