Chief Minister inaugurates “Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana” from sacred shrine of Maa Tara Tarini

Mass marriage of 201 couples solemnized

Chief Minister performs Kanyadaan

Chief Minister sits as ceremonial guardian in marriage mandap and offers oblations into sacred fire as per Odia rituals

Chief Minister prays to the Goddess for a happy married life of newly wed couples and for well-being of people of Odisha

Daughters are not a burden on parents; they are God’s blessings : Chief Minister

Bhubaneswar, February 2026 : The “Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana” is not merely a routine welfare scheme; rather, it is an innovative initiative of the State Government to strengthen social security, said Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi today while inaugurating the scheme.

The scheme was formally launched today at the sacred shrine of Maa Tara Tarini, where the auspicious marriages of 201 daughters were solemnized.

The Chief Minister personally remained present at the venue, sat in the marriage mandap as the ceremonial guardian, offered oblations into the sacred fire, and blessed the newly married couples.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister stated that the objective is to build an Odisha where no daughter is forced into marriage before attaining the legal age due to financial hardship or social pressure. He added that this scheme would also convey a powerful message to society that daughters are not a burden on parents; they are indeed blessings from God.

It is noteworthy that under this auspicious scheme, which commenced today, the bride must be between 18 and 35 years of age and the groom between 21 and 35 years of age. Both must be permanent residents of Odisha.

Under the scheme, eligible brides are provided financial assistance of Rs 60,000. Of this amount, Rs 45,000 is directly transferred to the bride’s bank account, while Rs 15,000 is allocated towards marriage expenses. Eligible couples are selected at the district and block levels.

Speaking at the programme organized at Adi Shakti Peetha of Maa Taratarini, the Chief Minister said that the scheme would significantly help reduce the financial burden of marriage on economically weaker families, while also promoting women’s dignity, social security, encouragement of widow remarriage, and elimination of the dowry system.

He further stated that the scheme would be implemented across all districts of the State from 2025–26 to 2029–30, for which a budgetary provision of more than Rs 59 crore has been made.

The Chief Minister emphasized that true development does not merely mean construction of large buildings, roads, or industries; real development lies in ensuring the safety of the mothers and sisters of the State and in building a secure future for them. In a prosperous Odisha, every daughter should be educated, every woman should feel safe, and every family should live with dignity. He added that in the coming days, the Subhadra Yojana and the Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana would play a vital role in ensuring comprehensive protection and self-respect for women in the State.

Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Prabhati Parida extended her affectionate congratulations to the newlywed couples and said that this ambitious government scheme reflects the Chief Minister’s vision. She recalled the commitment made earlier to stand by mothers under the Subhadra initiative and said that taking this commitment a step further, the government has now taken responsibility for daughters’ marriages. As an elder sister, she prayed to Maa Taratarini for a happy and prosperous married life for all couples.

Minister for Commerce & Transport, Mines & Steel, Shri Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, described the scheme as a major public welfare initiative of the State Government. He stated that the Chief Minister, understanding grassroots-level issues, conceptualized this scheme and expressed gratitude for launching it from Ganjam district.

Minister for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, Shri Gokulananda Mallik, said that the government has never neglected the dignity of women. He added that this new scheme would bring about a social transformation in Odisha by changing the mindset that considers daughters a burden.

Aska MP Smt. Anita Subhadarshini congratulated the Chief Minister for introducing this welfare scheme and wished the newlywed couples a happy married life.

MLAs Shri Pratap Chandra Nayak (Kabisuryanagar), Shri Krushna Chandra Nayak (Chhatrapur), Shri K. Anil Kumar (Berhampur), Shri Saroj Kumar Padhi (Aska), Shri Purnachandra Sethi (Khallikote), Shri Siddhanta Mahapatra (Digapahandi), Shri Neelamani Bisoyi (Soroda), and Shri Manoranjan Dyan Samantara (Chikiti), among others, were present and blessed the newly married couples.

Principal Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, Smt. Shubha Sharma, welcomed all guests. Departmental Director Smt. Manisha Banerjee and Ganjam Collector Shri V. Keerthi Vasan played key roles in managing and coordinating the programme.