Bhubaneswar, Dec 6: The Odisha Government has introduced the Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana, a welfare scheme aimed at financially assisting economically weaker families. Under this initiative, eligible brides will receive a financial support of Rs 51,000 to ensure that their marriages are celebrated with dignity, cultural respect, and in compliance with legal norms.
Key Features of the Scheme:
Total Financial Assistance: Rs 51,000, which includes:
· Rs 35,000 transferred directly to the bride’s bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
· Rs 10,000 for a wedding gift kit, which contains essentials such as sarees, bangles, anklets, and rings.
· Rs 6,000 to support the organization of community marriages.
Eligibility Criteria:
Residency Requirement: Both the bride and groom must be permanent residents of Odisha.
Age Requirement:
Bride: 18 to 35 years.
Groom: 21 to 35 years.
Marriage Status: The scheme prioritizes first-time marriages, but widow remarriages are fully eligible.
Family Criteria: Only one eligible woman per family can receive the support. The family should not have benefited from any other State or Central marriage assistance scheme.
Priority Considerations:
The scheme gives priority to the following groups:
Widows seeking remarriage
Persons with disabilities
Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
Low-income households
Application Process:
Eligible couples must submit physical applications to the designated district-level Implementing Agencies. The agencies will verify the applications and documents, after which the cases will be forwarded to the District Level Committee for final approval.
Implementation and Duration:
The scheme will be operational from 2025-2026 to 2029-2030 across all districts of Odisha. Applications will be approved based on the availability of funds in each district's budget.
