Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the flagship ‘Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivaha Yojana’ on Tuesday, describing the scheme as a transformative initiative to bolster social security rather than a standard welfare program.
The scheme was launched during a mass wedding ceremony at the Maa Tara Tarini temple in Ganjam, where 201 couples tied the knot in a group marriage function. CM Majhi personally participated in the festivities, performing the ‘Kanyadan’ ritual and offering his blessings to the newlyweds.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister said, “Our aim is to build an Odisha where no girl is forced to get married before reaching the legal age of marriage due to financial hardships or social pressure. This scheme will also convey a new message to society that the daughters are not a burden on their parents; they are a blessing from God.”
Under the scheme, brides must be aged between 18 and 35, while bridegrooms must be between 21 and 35. Only permanent residents of Odisha are eligible to avail the benefits of the scheme.
Under the financial structure of the program, the state is providing Rs 60,000 assistance to per eligible bride. Of this total, Rs 45,000 is deposited directly into the bride’s bank account via a direct benefit transfer, while the remaining Rs 15,000 is allocated to cover marriage-related expenses.
ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀର ପଦବୀ ମୋତେ ଦାୟିତ୍ୱ ଦିଏ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଆପଣମାନଙ୍କ ଭଲପାଇବା ମୋତେ ପରିବାରର ଅନୁଭବ ଦିଏ ।
ଆଜି ମା’ ତାରାତାରିଣୀଙ୍କ ପବିତ୍ର ପୀଠରେ ମୁଁ ଜଣେ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଭାବେ ନୁହେଁ, ବରଂ ଜଣେ ପିତା ଓ ଭାଇର କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ଓ ସ୍ନେହ ନେଇ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ଥିଲି। ‘ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ କନ୍ୟା ବିବାହ ଯୋଜନା’ର ଶୁଭାରମ୍ଭ କରିବା ସହ ଯେତେବେଳେ… pic.twitter.com/mzHfhPHq7a
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) February 3, 2026
The initiative is designed to offer significant financial relief to economically disadvantaged families, with a particular focus on the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribe, so that the marriage of daughters does not become a financial burden for parents.
On the occasion, CM Mahi stated that the scheme will primarily ease the financial burden related to marriage for financially weaker families. It will also significantly help in ensuring the dignity and social security of women, encouraging widow remarriage, and eradicating the dowry system.
He further added that this flagship welfare scheme will be implemented across all districts of the state during the 2025–26 to 2029–30 financial years, with a budgetary allocation of over Rs 59 crore.
“Development is not just about skyscrapers, roads, or industries. True development lies in ensuring the safety of the mothers and sisters of the state and in building a bright future for them. In a ‘Samruddha Odish’ or a prosperous Odisha, every girl should be educated, every woman should be safe, and every family should live with dignity. In the days ahead, the ‘Subhadra Yojana’ and the ‘Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivaha Yojana’ will certainly help in providing all-around security and self-respect to the women of the state,” emphasised CM Majhi.
