MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government is planning to implement the mass marriage scheme, launched in Vidarbha region to help debt-ridden farmers marry off their daughters, all over the state.
"Going by the good response the scheme has received in Vidarbha, we are planning to take it to rest of the state," Women and Child Development Minister Harshwardhan Patil said.
The scheme, under which over 16,000 marriages have taken place, was introduced as part of government's relief package to six districts in the cotton belt which have witnessed a large number of suicide by farmers.
It was launched in February last year and provides for a subsidy by the state to the tune of Rs 11,000 per marriage, the Minister said.
It stipulates that a minimum of 10 couples should wed during a mass marriage ceremony. Marriage registration certificates are provided to such couple immediately after the wedding by the authorities in every district.
The government has so far made a provision of Rs 24 crore for the scheme, Patil said adding of this, Rs 16 crore had already been spent.
In order to encourage voluntary organisations to come forward in arranging mass marriages, the government gives them Rs 1,000 per couple to meet related expenses, he added.
