Odisha Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana: Rs 51,000 marriage assistance to women; know eligibility, details

The Odisha government recently introduced the Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana (MKBY), a marriage assistance scheme that provides financial support of Rs 51,000 to eligible women from economically weaker families.

The scheme is aimed at easing marriage-related expenses, encouraging education among girls and preventing child marriage, with priority extended to widows and other vulnerable groups.

What The Scheme Offers

Under MKBY, each eligible beneficiary will receive a total assistance of Rs 51,000. Of this amount, Rs 35,000 will be transferred directly to the bride’s bank account as cash assistance. 

An additional Rs 10,000 has been earmarked for essential marriage items such as a saree, jewellery and basic household utensils. The remaining Rs 6,000 is meant to cover marriage-related arrangements, including decoration and refreshments.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify for the scheme, the bride must be between 18 and 35 years of age, while the groom must be between 21 and 35 years, in accordance with the legal age of marriage.

Both individuals must be permanent residents of Odisha. Income-related criteria apply, with the scheme largely targeting families from the BPL and economically weaker sections.

How The Scheme Will Be Implemented

The Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana will be implemented by the Women and Child Development Department with support from Anganwadi workers and local Block Development Officers.

Non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations with relevant experience will also be engaged to identify beneficiaries, verify documents and place eligible cases before the district-level committee constituted under the Subhadra scheme. These agencies will also be responsible for organising mass marriage ceremonies where applicable.

The MKBY will be implemented from the financial year 2025–26 to 2029–30. The state government has earmarked a budget of Rs 59.30 crore for the scheme during this period, stated official reports.