Bhubaneswar. Authorities in Odisha have launched an inquiry into alleged irregularities under the Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana after claims surfaced that already married couples were enrolled in a government-sponsored mass wedding programme to claim financial assistance. The case, reported from Sundargarh district, has raised questions over beneficiary verification, documentation and monitoring in welfare schemes.
Mass Wedding Event Under Scrutiny
According to officials, a mass wedding ceremony was organised on March 12 at Kalyan Mandap in Sundargarh town, where 61 couples participated. Subsequent scrutiny reportedly found that at least four cases involved beneficiaries who were already legally married before joining the programme.
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Authorities are now examining whether beneficiaries, local facilitators or others involved manipulated records to obtain financial assistance under the scheme. The Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana provides ₹60,000 in marriage assistance to eligible brides from economically weaker families.
The scheme is meant for couples entering marriage for the first time. Preference is also given to widows seeking remarriage, differently-abled women and women from vulnerable tribal communities. Eligibility conditions require women to be between 18 and 35 years of age, while men must be between 21 and 35 years.
Names of Already Married Couples Surface
Among the cases under inquiry is that of Puja Tanti from Balishankara block. Family members reportedly said she had already married in February, but later she and her husband were taken to participate in the government-sponsored mass wedding programme in March.
Similar allegations have surfaced in the cases of Madhuri Tirkey and Amritra Toppo, where couples allegedly joined the ceremony despite being married earlier.
The most controversial case involves Sibani Minz from Bisra block. According to her statement, she married her husband in 2021 and the couple has two children. She further claimed that neither she nor her husband attended the mass wedding event, yet their names allegedly appeared in official records linked to the scheme.
Officials Examine Verification Process
District authorities said the inquiry has been assigned to the concerned Child Development Project Officers. Officials are examining the online application process, document verification system and final beneficiary approval procedures to determine how ineligible participants were cleared.
Preliminary information also indicates that a private agency was engaged for online registration, documentation and beneficiary processing. Its role may now come under detailed scrutiny as investigators assess whether forged documents, identity misuse or record manipulation were involved.
Officials said strict action would be taken if the inquiry confirms fraudulent enrolment, identity misuse or manipulation of official records. The district administration has indicated that beneficiaries as well as individuals responsible for approving or processing suspicious applications could face legal proceedings after the investigation is completed.
