Finance
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today formally launched the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana at Maa Tara Tarini’s hallowed seat in Ganjam district, a watershed moment for social transformation and women’s dignity.
The initiative, which aimed to reduce the financial burden of marriages on economically disadvantaged families, resulted in the solemnization of mass weddings for 201 young women, marking a historic step toward constructing an inclusive and egalitarian society in the state.
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 went on to say that the scheme conveys a powerful message: daughters are not a burden, but a divine blessing for their families.Eligibility for the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana needs the bride to be between 18 and 35 years old, the groom to be between 21 and 35, and both to be permanent Odisha residents.
Eligible couples receive Rs 60,000 in financial support, with Rs 45,000 sent immediately to the bride’s bank account and Rs 15,000 set aside for wedding ceremonies. Selections were made transparently at the district and block levels, ensuring that benefits reached the most deserving families from economically disadvantaged communities.
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 program to complementing measures such as the Subhadra Yojana, which aim to give comprehensive security and self-respect to women across the state.Deputy Chief Minister Parvati Parida spoke warmly, congratulating the couples and praising the project as the Chief Minister’s brainchild. “We vowed to support Subhadra Maa (women) every day. “This step fulfills our responsibility to Kanya Vivah,” she stated, hoping for a blessed and blissful married life under Maa Taratarini’s grace.
Minister of Commerce, Transport, Mines, and Steel, Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, described it as a “great public welfare scheme” based on grassroots reality. He praised the Chief Minister for selecting Ganjam district for the event, emphasizing its importance in solving societal issues. Fisheries and Livestock Development Minister Gokulanand Malik commended the government’s consistent dedication to women’s rights, claiming that the initiative would start a “social revolution” in Odisha by addressing outmoded beliefs about daughters as family responsibilities.
Aska MP Anita Subhadarshini thanked the Chief Minister for the welfare package and wished the newlyweds happiness.
Local legislators such as Pratap Chandra Nayak from Kavisuryanagar, Krushna Chandra Nayak from Chhatrapur, K Anil Kumar from Berhampur, Saroj Kumar Padhi from Aska, Purnachandra Sethi from Khallikote, Sidhhant Mohapatra from Digpahandi, Nilamani Bisoyi from Sorada, and Dyan Samantara from Manoranjan attended the event. They joined in blessing the brides and grooms, demonstrating bipartisan 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 took place at the famous Maa Tara Tarini temple, which holds deep cultural and spiritual significance. As Odisha pursues its vision of inclusive prosperity, the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana shines as a light of hope, offering dignity, equality, and brighter futures for countless families.
