275 poor girls get married in a common function at Panchkula

Panchkula, Feb 11 (UNI) Over 275 poor girls, belonging to various religions and castes were married according to their religious rites at a mass marriage function here today.

At least 88 couples from Panchkula district, 50 couples each from Kurukshetra, Ambala and Yamunanagar and 40 from Kaithal district, belonging to scheduled caste, backward classes and general category, entered into the wedlock in the presence of Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja.

Out of these, 15 couples belonged to Muslim community, 17 couples were from Sikh community while others were Hindu. The newly-weds were presented with Rs 1100 in cash besides household goods and a pair of festive clothes each.

In addition, the groom was gifted with a wrist watch while the bride got jewellery like mangalsutra, nose-pin, anklets and bichuas.

They were later given registration certificates, now mandatory in the state.

Blessing the newly-weds, Km Selja urged them to take a pledge to not resort to gender descrimination and fight against female foeticide.

The marriage function was organised by Ambala Divison administration, Aggarwal Kalyan Sangh, Panchkula and Ambala Divison Red Cross Samities.

On this occasion, Divionsal Commissioner Ambala, Dr Mahabir Singh informed that under the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Vivah Sagun Yojna, Rs 7.85 lakh had been given to 56 beneficiaries including six of Panchkula, nine of Yamunanagar, 13 of Kaithal, 18 of Ambala and ten of Kurukshetra.

President Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Phool Chand Mullana, Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, Mr Rajinder Kataria and other dignitaries were also present on this occasion.

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