Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participated in a mass wedding event held in Gorakhpur under the Chief Minister Mass Marriage Scheme.
During the ceremony, CM Yogi distributed gifts to 1,200 newlywed couples who were beneficiaries of the initiative.
Addressing the gathering, CM Yogi explained his presence at the event, saying he made a special effort to attend. “I cannot attend individual weddings, but for this mass wedding ceremony, I left all the work in Lucknow and came to bless the brides,” he said.
He highlighted the inclusive and progressive nature of the scheme, pointing out that it is free from outdated social practices. “In these marriages, there is no dowry and no child marriage, also there are no restrictions on caste, region or religion,” he said.
Promoting the mass wedding initiative, he encouraged wider participation. “As per their rituals, wherever ten or more couples will register their marriages, the administration is ready to support the mass wedding ceremonies,” he said.
Reflecting on the evolution of government support, the Chief Minister shared how the scheme has improved over the years. “Before 2017, only Rs 20,000 were offered as support for marriages of SC/ST women. The amount was always delayed and sometimes not even received by the beneficiaries. But today, the bride gets Rs 60,000 in the bank along with clothes and jewellery for the couple,” he said.
He further elaborated on the scheme’s growth. “We started the scheme in 2017, at that time we decided Rs 35,000 as the amount, which was later raised to Rs 51,000. Today, this amount has been raised to Rs 1 lakh since April,” he said.
Praising the broader governance model, CM Yogi emphasized the transformative impact of development-focused leadership. “A good government does development, welfare of the poor, paves the way to the public's prosperity and improves security. We have witnessed change under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Government schemes have uplifted 25 crores nationwide from poverty, while 6 crore people have been uplifted in Uttar Pradesh,” he noted.
He also cited the success of the PM Swamitva Yojana in ensuring housing rights. “If someone's house is broken, goons would not let them make a house in the same place again. Now, under the PM Swamitva Yojana, the government has ensured that people get the right to their houses. In UP, we have provided 1.06 crore people with the benefits of the scheme,” he said.
Calling the mass wedding programme a reflection of forward-thinking governance, CM Yogi congratulated the couples and urged the public to reject regressive social norms. “The CM Mass Marriage Scheme is a symbol of a progressive thought,” he said.