Eluru, November 06: West Godavari Zilla Parishad Chairman Meka Seshu Babu said that the State Government was spending Rs 4.25 crore every year for conducting marriages of poor Muslim girls. The government was implementing the programme under the supervision of Minority Welfare Department, he added.
Participating as chief guest in the fifth phase of the mass marriages of Muslim girls at Suresh Bahuguna Kalyana Mandapam here today, he said as many as 46 couples entered into a wedlock in the earlier four phases in the district. Former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy introduced the mass marriage scheme for the benefit of poor girls belonging to Hindu, Muslim, Christian and other communities, the chairman said.
The government was giving material worth Rs 15,000 to the newlywed couples, he stated. In-charge Joint Collector O Seshaiah said the Government was giving Rs 2,000 to the bride and groom, Rs 400 for purchasing Quran, two gms gold of Lachha, Rs 2,000 for Kalipoth, Rs 3,000 for a cot and utensils worth Rs 3,000, Rs 3,000 for providing meals to 50 members and Rs 3,000 towards Qazi fee. He advised Muslim leaders to spread awareness among their community about the scheme.
Oil and Gas Corporation Rajahmundry Asset executive director AA Khan said that the organisation would give Rs 15,000 to each of the 18 newlywed couples for selfemployment.
ONGC is in the forefront in extending help to the needy whenever necessary, he said and added that Rs 2.70 lakh would be given to the Collector for the purpose.
ONGC is spending 2 per cent of its profit for socio economic development activities. About Rs 2 crore has been spent in this regard in East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna districts.
–Agencies