Uttar Pradesh Allocates Rs 200 Crore For Poor Daughters’ Marriages

Lucknow, 20th February 2025: The Uttar Pradesh government has earmarked Rs 200 crore in its 2025-26 budget to facilitate the marriages of daughters from economically disadvantaged families. This significant allocation, announced during the budget presentation by Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, aims to provide financial support to poor families struggling with wedding expenses.

The initiative, part of the state’s ongoing Marriage Grant Scheme, will offer Rs 51,000 to eligible couples, with Rs 35,000 provided as direct cash assistance to the bride’s bank account. This scheme, introduced by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government, has been a cornerstone of the administration’s efforts to support underprivileged sections of society.

In his budget speech, Khanna emphasized the government’s commitment to social welfare, stating, “Our government is dedicated to ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder the joyous occasion of marriage for daughters from poor families. This allocation will help thousands of families across Uttar Pradesh.”

The Marriage Grant Scheme is open to families from Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, minorities, and economically weaker sections. To be eligible, the annual income of applicants should not exceed Rs 56,460 in urban areas and Rs 46,080 in rural areas. The scheme allows benefits for a maximum of two daughters per family.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, commenting on the budget allocation, said, “This initiative reflects our government’s priority to support the underprivileged. We are committed to ensuring that every daughter in Uttar Pradesh, regardless of her family’s financial status, can have a dignified marriage.”

The application process for the scheme has been streamlined, with eligible families able to apply either 90 days before or after the wedding through the official website, shadianudan.upsdc.gov.in. This online system aims to enhance accessibility and transparency in the disbursement of funds.

Since its inception, the Marriage Grant Scheme has benefited over 3,85,514 families, with the government having disbursed Rs 771 crore so far. The increased allocation in the current budget is expected to extend support to even more families in the coming fiscal year.

Social welfare experts have lauded this move. Dr. Anita Sharma, a sociologist at Lucknow University, commented, “This scheme not only provides financial relief but also promotes social equality and women’s empowerment. It’s a step towards reducing the economic burden associated with marriages in our society.”

The budget also includes other women-centric initiatives, such as the Rani Laxmibai Scooty Yojana, which allocates Rs 400 crore for distributing scooters to eligible girls pursuing higher education. These measures collectively underscore the government’s focus on women’s welfare and education in Uttar Pradesh.

As the state moves forward with its Rs 8.08 lakh crore budget for 2025-26, the allocation for the Marriage Grant Scheme stands out as a significant social welfare measure, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting families and empowering women across Uttar Pradesh.