Korba, Chhattisgarh : As many as 260 couples tied the knot on the same day under the Chhattisgarh government’s Chief Minister Kanya Vivah Yojana, but the mass wedding ceremony in Korba district drew criticism after newlyweds were made to sit for nearly four hours in intense sunlight due to inadequate arrangements.
The event was organized by the Women and Child Development Department. Although tents were installed at the venue, most of the couples were seated under makeshift cloth canopies that offered little protection from the heat. Proper shaded seating was arranged mainly for guests and dignitaries, leaving the brides and grooms exposed to the sun for several hours.
Participants also complained of poor availability of drinking water and snacks. Several attendees said the refreshments ran out early, and each couple received only one bottle of water despite the long wait and rising temperatures.
Some brides and grooms reported feeling dizzy due to heat exposure, and a few were on the verge of fainting.
Voices from the Ground
Preeti Kumari, a bride from Banwar village, said she belongs to the Christian community but got married following Hindu rituals at the ceremony.
“The arrangements were okay overall, and we received clothes and bridal items. But we had to sit in the sun for nearly three to four hours. After noon, the heat became unbearable. Guests had proper shaded tents, but we didn’t,” she said.
Rajkumar, a groom from Chotiya village, echoed similar concerns.
“The facilities were average. Breakfast was finished by the time we arrived. I came here at 8 a.m., and it’s past 1 p.m. now. There wasn’t enough shade, and the heat was extreme. Water was also limited,” he said.
Government Response
State Industry, Excise, and Labor Minister Lakhanlal Dewangan, who attended the event as the chief guest, acknowledged the shortcomings and said instructions had been issued to improve arrangements in future programs.
He stated that the government assumed cooler weather conditions and therefore did not anticipate the need for additional tents.
“We will ensure better arrangements in the future,” the minister said, adding that the Chief Minister Kanya Vivah Yojana remains a strong initiative aimed at social equality, dignity for daughters, and financial support for economically weaker families.
Chief Minister Joins Virtually
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai participated in the ceremony through virtual mode and extended his blessings to the newly married couples. In his address, he described the scheme as an important step toward ensuring dignified marriages for daughters from poor and needy families.
Financial Assistance Details
Under the scheme, each bride is entitled to ₹50,000 in total assistance.
- ₹35,000 is provided directly through a cheque or bank draft
- ₹7,000 is spent on clothes and bridal items
- ₹8,000 is allocated for wedding arrangements
In Korba, all 260 couples received their cheques, certificates, and wedding photographs as memorabilia. The ceremony also highlighted social inclusion, with two differently-abled couples and two couples from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) participating in the event.
While the scheme’s intent received appreciation, the execution raised questions about planning and basic comfort for beneficiaries, prompting calls for better management in future mass wedding ceremonies.