Launched in 2006 by the Social Justice and Empowerment Department of the Government of Madhya Pradesh, the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana aims to provide financial assistance for the mass marriage of girls, widows, and abandoned women from destitute or poor families. This innovative scheme not only supports the union of eligible beneficiaries but also helps create a supportive social environment by organizing mass marriage ceremonies.
Benefits
- Direct Financial Assistance: Each eligible bride receives ₹49,000 via an Account Payee Cheque on the day of the mass marriage ceremony.
- Support to Organizing Body: The entity organizing the mass marriage receives ₹6,000 per beneficiary to help cover operational costs.
- Total Benefit: A comprehensive package of ₹55,000 per beneficiary is provided under the scheme.
- Empowerment: The scheme promotes social inclusion and financial support for girls, widows, and abandoned women from economically challenged backgrounds.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Native Requirement: The parents of the bride/groom must be natives of Madhya Pradesh.
- Beneficiary Group: Financial assistance is provided to girls, widows, and abandoned women from destitute or poor families.
- Age Criteria: The bride must be at least 18 years old and the groom at least 21 years old.
- Caste Categories: Applicants may belong to the General, Other Backward Class, Scheduled Caste, or Scheduled Tribe categories.
- No Income Restrictions: There are no income restrictions for receiving assistance under the scheme.
- Mass Marriage Participation: Both bride and groom must participate in the mass marriage ceremony organized on the prescribed dates.
- Exclusions:
- The scheme does not extend to single marriage ceremonies.
- The bride must not have been previously married; the marriage should take place exclusively during a mass marriage ceremony.
- Abandoned women who are legally divorced are eligible.
- If the groom is from outside the state, the bride remains eligible; however, if the parents of either party are not natives of Madhya Pradesh, benefits will not be available.
- Minimum Couples: A mass marriage ceremony will only be organized if at least 5 couples apply.
Application Process
Offline Application Process
- Joint Application Submission:
- The bride and groom must jointly apply in the prescribed form to the relevant authority (Municipal Corporation, Municipality, City Council, or District Panchayat) 15 days before the scheduled mass marriage ceremony.
- Collecting the Application Form:
- Applicants should visit the concerned body to collect the application form, which is available free of cost (the format is attached as Appendix 1).
- Filling and Submitting:
- Complete the application form, attach all necessary documents, and submit it to the concerned body where the applicant wishes to participate.
- Post-Application Process:
- A scrutiny committee reviews and selects the eligible applicants.
- The eligibility details are entered into the marriage portal by the local body 7 days before the ceremony.
- The portal then generates acceptance orders for eligible couples and rejection orders (with reasons) for ineligible ones.
- Appeals:
- If an application is rejected, an appeal can be submitted to the concerned Sub-Divisional Revenue Officer, with every appeal to be resolved within 30 days.
- Organizing Authority:
- In urban areas, the authorized bodies are the Municipal Corporation, Municipality, or Municipal Council.
- In rural areas, the District Panchayat is responsible.
- Determination of Dates:
- The dates and the number of mass marriage ceremonies are determined by the district minister in-charge and will be widely publicized on the marriage portal.
Documents Required
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- Native Certificate: Certificate proving that the bride or groom’s guardian is a native of Madhya Pradesh.
- Samagra ID: If not available, it will be provided by the concerned authority (not mandatory if the groom is not a resident).
- Aadhaar Cards: Photocopies of Aadhaar cards for both the bride and groom.
- Age Certificates: One of the following for both bride and groom:
- School Certificate (Transfer Certificate)
- Marksheet with date of birth
- Birth Certificate issued by a competent authority
- Voter list or Voting Identity Card
- Age certificate from a government medical expert
- Job Card from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
- Other legally acceptable documents proving age
- Photographs: Two passport-sized photographs of both the bride and groom.
- Mobile Numbers: Mobile numbers of both the bride and groom (if available), as well as that of their parents.
- Additional Documents:
- For widows (Kalyanis): Husband’s death certificate.
- For abandoned women: Court order for legal divorce.
- If the beneficiary is a registered laborer under the Madhya Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, a photocopy of the labor registration card is required.
- Other Documents: Any additional documents as specified by the scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are the benefits provided under the scheme?
A1: Each eligible bride receives a cash award of ₹49,000 via an Account Payee Cheque, and the organizing body gets ₹6,000 per beneficiary, totaling ₹55,000 per beneficiary.
Q2: Who is eligible for the scheme?
A2: The scheme is open to girls, widows, and abandoned women from destitute or poor families, provided the bride is at least 18 years old and the groom is at least 21, and the parents of the bride/groom are natives of Madhya Pradesh.
Q3: Are there any income restrictions for receiving assistance?
A3: No, there are no income restrictions for beneficiaries under this scheme.
Q4: Can the scheme be availed for single marriage ceremonies?
A4: No, the benefits under the scheme are only available for mass marriage ceremonies.
Q5: What are the requirements regarding previous marital status?
A5: The bride must not have been previously married; the marriage should occur solely during a mass marriage ceremony organized under the scheme.
Q6: What happens if the groom is from outside Madhya Pradesh?
A6: If the groom is from outside the state, the bride remains eligible. However, if the parents of either the bride or groom are not natives of Madhya Pradesh, the benefits will not be available.
Q7: What should the bride and groom do to apply for the scheme?
A7: They must jointly submit the application form along with all required documents to the concerned authority at least 15 days before the scheduled mass marriage ceremony.
Q8: What if an application is rejected?
A8: Rejected applications can be appealed to the concerned Sub-Divisional Revenue Officer, with appeals resolved within 30 days.
Q9: Who organizes the mass marriage ceremonies?
A9: In urban areas, ceremonies are organized by the Municipal Corporation, Municipality, or Municipal Council, while in rural areas, the District Panchayat is responsible.
Q10: What is the minimum number of couples required for a mass marriage ceremony to be organized?
A10: A mass marriage ceremony is organized only if applications are received from a minimum of 5 couples.
Q11: How are the dates and number of mass marriages determined?
A11: The dates and the number of ceremonies are determined by the minister in-charge of the district and are entered into the marriage portal by the District’s Joint/Deputy Director of the Social Justice and Empowerment Department.
Q12: Is there a specific form required for the application?
A12: Yes, applicants must fill out the prescribed application form available from the concerned body, which is provided free of cost.