Gorakhpur – Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that a good government not only accelerates development and welfare schemes but also leads the state towards prosperity. Speaking at a mass marriage ceremony at the Hindustan Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (HFCL) campus, he emphasized that a government must reach the doorstep of the common people and resolve their problems.
The event witnessed 1,200 couples tying the knot under the Mukhyamantri Samoohik Vivah Yojana (Chief Minister Mass Marriage Scheme). This was the first such ceremony after the government increased the financial assistance from ₹51,000 to ₹1,00,000 per couple.
“Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has witnessed transformational development over the past 11 years, and Uttar Pradesh has mirrored this change for the past eight years,” CM Yogi remarked.
A Strike Against Social Evils
The Chief Minister stated that the mass marriage scheme is a powerful counter to social evils such as child marriage, dowry, and polygamy. It is also an extension of welfare programs like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. “If we want to save our daughters, we must educate and empower them,” he added.
CM Yogi highlighted the success of the Kanya Sumangala Yojana, a scheme aimed at supporting the education of girls from birth to graduation. “So far, over 24 lakh girls from economically weaker sections have benefitted under this scheme,” he said. Financial aid is deposited at various educational milestones and even at birth, reinforcing the idea of daughters being a financial asset, not a burden.
Now ₹1 Lakh to Be Deposited for Every Daughter’s Wedding
CM Yogi noted that before 2017, the government offered only ₹20,000 for Scheduled Caste and Tribe girls’ marriages, and the aid was riddled with delays and discrimination. Since then, the assistance has increased incrementally to ₹1 lakh from April 1, 2025. Of this, ₹60,000 will be deposited directly into the bride’s account, while the remaining amount will go toward household items, jewelry, and other wedding necessities.
A Welfare-Driven Governance Model
Highlighting the reach of welfare schemes, CM Yogi cited that under the Modi government, 4 crore homes have been built, 10 crore LPG connections provided, and 45 crore Jan Dhan bank accounts opened. Additionally, 50 crore people now have access to healthcare under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. In the last five years, 80 crore citizens have received free food rations.
6 Crore People in Uttar Pradesh Have Escaped Multidimensional Poverty
Yogi Adityanath also credited the double-engine government for helping lift 6 crore people in Uttar Pradesh out of multidimensional poverty. “To make India the world’s most powerful nation, we must uplift the last person in society,” he asserted.
He further mentioned the implementation of the PM Swamitva Yojana, which provides property ownership rights to rural families to reduce land disputes. So far, 1.06 crore families in UP have received property documents under this scheme.
Support for Street Vendors and Young Entrepreneurs
The Chief Minister also spoke of the government’s initiatives for street vendors, noting that earlier governments neglected this community. Today, loans are being extended to help them run their businesses. Additionally, under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Yojana, youth aged 18–40 are eligible for interest-free loans up to ₹5 lakh, with scope to expand it to ₹10 lakh.
Fighting Prejudices Together
In his concluding remarks, CM Yogi called upon society to fight against regressive practices like caste discrimination, untouchability, dowry, and child marriage. “This mass wedding initiative is not only a celebration but a movement to end these evils,” he stated.
A Personal Commitment
CM Yogi shared that despite his packed schedule, he made it a point to attend the ceremony, skipping several events in Lucknow. “There is an age-old belief that the daughter of a village is everyone’s daughter. This mass marriage symbolizes that belief,” he said.
Gifts and Blessings for the Newlyweds
The ceremony, organized by the Social Welfare Department, included couples from both Hindu and Muslim communities. CM Yogi personally blessed 11 couples on stage and presented them with gift kits. He also interacted warmly with the newlyweds, wishing them a happy and prosperous life ahead.
