Mukhyamantri Nikah Yojna a welcome step

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Mukhyamantri Nikah Yojna a welcome step

By Muslim Saleem

Bhopal, October 23, 2011

Mr. Shivraj Singh Chouhan thinks about welfare of every section of society and launches various innovative schemes for them. Latest in the series is Mukhyamantri Nikah Yojna, which is being hailed by cross sections of Muslims in Madhya Pradesh, reports SMS News & Features.

Actually, Muslim couples were also married off during the functions under Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojna. But due to some reservations by a section of Muslim community, they were not taking part in the scheme as enthusiastically as expected. It is perhaps with this in view that Chief Minister Mr Chouhan has decided to launch Mukhyamantri Nikah Yojna. The announcement was made by him during a review meeting of Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department the other day.

It may be mentioned that about two lakh lakh girls of Madhya Pradesh have entered the bliss of married life due to the State Government's Kanyadan Yojna, launched for marrying off daughters of poor families. So far, Nikahs of 4100 Muslim girls have also been solemnised under the scheme, which covers girls of all the sections of society. A sum of more than Rs. 93 crore has been spent on the scheme.

Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan had launched Kanyadan Yojna for marrying off girls of poor families in 2006-07 in the state with a view to putting and check on killing of girl embryo and ending sex-based discrimination in the society. The scheme was not only lauded in the state, but also in the entire country. Recently, the Uttrakhand Government has also launched Kanyadan Yojna on the lines of Madhya Pradesh Government.

Under Kanyadan Yojna, 9200 girls belonging to general category, 36 thousand 496 girls of scheduled castes, 60 thousand 792 of scheduled tribes and 39 thousand 230 girls belonging to backward classes have entered wedlock.

During the last five years, about two lakh girls have been married off through Kanyadan Yojna. In the year 2006-07, thirteen thousand 276 girls got married on which the State Government spent Rs. seven crore 3 thousand. In 2007-08, a sum of Rs. 13 crore 59 was spent on the marriages of 32 thousand 621 girls. As many as 43 thousand 297 girls tied the nuptial knot in the year 2008-09 against an expenditure of Rs. 26 crore 18 lakh. A sum of Rs. 14 crore 24 lakh was spent on the marriage of 19 thousand 578 girls in 2009-10 and Rs. 32 crore 02 lakh on the marriage of 39 thousand 647 girls. Thus; a total of Rs. 93 was spent on Kanyadan Yojna during the last five years.

Apart from Mukhyamantri Nikah Yojna, Muslim girls are being extended benefits of various schemes of Madhya Pradesh government Ladli Laxmi Yojna.

At a recent function where 81 Muslim girls were married off, Mr Chouhan extended blessings and good wishes to the newly wedded couples. Addressing the function, Mr Chouhan said that contribution of Ashfaqullah in the freedom struggle and the bravery and courage of martyr Hameed during Indo-Pak war of 1971 are unforgettable. He further stated that in order to help poor sections of the society, "Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojna" has been implemented in the state to help poor people and no reservations as regard to caste or religion has been made in the schemes.

While appealing not to discriminate between the boy and girl, Chouhan expressed happiness over steps taken by Muslim community towards modern education. He also reportedly assured to provide all the necessary assistance for modern education through madarsas.