Hyderabad: The Poverty harasses people in many ways. Sometimes the traditions will also become burdensome for people who are suffering from poverty. In our society marriage is a costly affair. Hence, the marriage of the girl becomes burden. Due to this burden many parents who consider and respect girl child as their household deity (Mahalakshmi) were being led to psychological situation of considering the girl as burden of responsibility. When the girl is in the womb itself, parents who visualize about the expenses of getting her married are indulging in infanticide and these kind of inhuman incidents are plenty. Sometimes the girls in the houses of poor are remaining as spinsters without getting married. Families are getting into debt trap for getting marriage of their girl child and are financially broken.
The Telangana government, who considered reflecting humanitarian values in every aspect of their administration, endeavored to uplift the girl child and their parents from this financial distress. Even though it is not an assurance given in the election Manifesto, while studying the effects of poverty the severity of the situation has moved us. Hence, we resolve to help financially for the marriage of poor girl and introduced the special scheme by the auspicious name of Kalyana Lakshmi on 2nd October 2014.
The scheme which helped the poor girl child get married had increased the prestige of the Telangana Government. Personally, Kalyana Lakshmi is the scheme very close to my heart and was praised by the people of the state. This scheme brought happiness in the lives of girl child. Firstly that the scheme was started as the “Kalyana-Lakshmi” for SC’s and ST’s, “Shaadi-Mubarak” for the minority community by giving Rs 51,000/- in marriage of Girl child. Later on, with the requisition from the people, this scheme was extended to all sections of the society. With an intention to enhance the benefits of the scheme which was successful, the amount that is given by this scheme was enhanced last year to Rs 75,116/-. Till now 3, 60,000/- people benefitted with this scheme. While taking the cheques of Kalyana Lakshmi in time, the mothers of girl child are blessing this government with joyful tears in their eyes.
The Kalyana Lakshmi/Shaadi Mubarak scheme had achieved other societal milestones. Decision was taken that the minimum age of getting benefit of this scheme is 18 years. For getting benefits of the scheme parents are waiting till their child attains the marriage age of 18 years. Hence, Kalyana Lakshmi/ Shaadi Mubarak scheme is helpful for eliminating child marriages. The marriages that received benefits of Kalyana Lakshmi will get the legal recognition along with the recognition of the government. This is the other benefit accrued through this scheme.
Today through this House I want to convey good news regarding this auspicious scheme. I am happily announcing that the amount given in the marriage of girl child through the Kalyana Lakshmi/ Shaadi Mubarak scheme will be enhanced from Rs. 75,116/- to Rs. 1,00,116/-. I am confident that this good decision taken by government will be applauded by the girl child, their parents and all well wishers of the society. I am humbly reiterating through this august house that with their blessings we are carving Telangana as the welfare state.
