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The Tamil Nadu CM presented 10 gms of gold and silver ornaments, besides 28 type of gifts to the newly married couples
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday presided over a mass marriage ceremony at Tiruverkadu, a temple town on the outskirts of Chennai. The event, organised by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department is the fifth mega event of this kind held under her government, including those held under previous AIADMK regimes.
As many as 1006 couples got married at Tiruverkadu, famous for its Karumari Amman Temple.
Between 1991 and 1996, the Chief Minister conducted marriages for 2,500 couples in Chidambaram and 5,004 couples in Tiruchi. Her second regime witnessed the mass marriage of 1,008 couples in 2002 and another 1,053 couples in 2003 in Tirverkadu.
“These marriages transcend the barriers of caste and creed,” the Chief Minister said after blessing the couples.
The beneficiaries included 11 differently-abled couples and 611 couples belonging to the Adi Dravidar community, 34 couples from Scheduled Tribes, 183 couples from Most Backward Classes, 132 couples from Backward Classes and 46 from other categories.
Besides ‘mangalsutras’ in gold (four grams) and ‘mettis’ (toe-rings) in silver weighing six grams, the brides and grooms were given 28 types of gifts which included silk saris, dhotis, utensils and ‘kamakshi’ lamps. All the brides and bridegrooms were brought to Tiruverkadu on Saturday evening as the Chief Minister wanted them and their relatives to avoid journeying by night. They came by state transport corporation buses, which were accompanied by a medical team. Though the couples had been selected from all districts, the majority were from Tiruchi and adjoining Srirangam, the constituency of the Chief Minister.
The menu for the marriage — cutlet, milk payasam, chips, sambar, rasam, three types of koottus, appalam — were selected by Ms. Jayalalithaa herself. She also had selected the items for breakfast and other occasions. “Life is a challenge and married life is full of challenges. Those who run away from challenges cannot succeed in life and only those who face them win the race. Society welcomes only those who are prepared to take on challenges,” she said in her address.
Chief Secretary Debendranath Sarangi, Assembly Speaker D. Jayakumar, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister M.S.M. Anandhan and officials of the department participated in the event.
The marriage evoked strong criticism from PMK founder S. Ramadoss, who accused the government of wasting money when innumerable temples in the state lacked resources even for one pooja a day.
Keywords: Mass marriage, Tamil Nadu HR & CE dept, Jayalalithaa
Our tax money spent on the couple have been married earlier or get married for 2nd time or ruling party workers or namesake. Couples selection process should be on merit-based not party line. Selection body should recommends that procedures for selection of couple should be in the hands of a body independent of government and free from government influence. This body should make its decisions in an open and transparent way and the whole process should be open to scrutiny by the public. The selected couple should be live below the recognized standard of living. Monitor atleast some years of time martial stability among inter-caste and same-caste couples.
Yes as lot of opined it a good deed to conduct such mass maraiges, I had from close quarters that nearly 50% of the couples are not genuine in giving declarations, as most of them even beget ted children and due to freebies and pressure from local ward members enjoy this fare which is paid from tax payers kitty only. When Government is extending subsidies to HAJ PILGRIMAGE, we can treat this in the same fashion. But how come GOLD AND SILVER ARTICLES are given at today's prices. For some this may be a yeoman service but for a intellectual is just for a vote bank and appeasement. It is really disheartening people like me who come from the middle class are the cursed lot, we are not eligible for anything on this earth.
"611 couples belonging to the Adi Dravidar community, 34 couples from Scheduled Tribes, 183 couples from Most Backward Classes, 132 couples from Backward Classes and 46 from other categories"- breaking caste barriers?? Really??
Well done by Ms. Jayalalitha for the under privileged. As well as the same way should be followed for the poor people in Muslim community and the marriage should be solemnized in their own custom. There are so many under privileged people who cannot afford their own marriage expenses.
@surya and vishwanath.. i fully accept your views and i second to them..
Absolute atrocious. Jayalalitha thinks that the money is comeing from tress. Why can't she think that she is wasting tax payers money for these type of actvities? Abasolute careless attitude. Let her spend the money from our own kitty. I am absolute against such activities and these people should conduct the marraiges on their own. As a society we should encourage such activities in future and Jayalalitha is trying to claim that she has helped the poor. On the contrary she is wasting tax payers money and no body is there to question her. There are so many things she can do from the Govt side providing good and free medical facilities to the needy people, developing education and building good and claen to all the houses all the 24 hours. Providing electrical energy to all the residents all the 24 hours, development of green energy, proving agricultural growth. Absolute useless and senseless.
A good gesture from Government provided real poor people benefit from such schemes.
In a diversified country like India, government should initiate social welfare schemes to all needy ones like Tamilnadu initiated.novel ideas generate more employment opportunities to newly weds and live them happily.Again exchequer or taxpayers money to be spent cautiously. Newly wedded couples should live a pleasant and joyful life. Blessings to newly wedded couples.One more suggestion the scheme should be implemented to all religions who are not in a position to afford to spend money from their livelihoods.
After Jayalalitha became a CM, TN people were suffering by price increase and etc. But by doing these type of Great help to the people, she did a wonderful things for TN, these type of help need to be continued for all the poor people of all the religions. Whoever got good heart will really appreciate her, there is no doubt. Best regards to all the couples. Thanks.
I am only too happy if my tax money is used for such noble causes. Rather than spending the money for modifying bunglows of netas or for effecting their statues or for chartering netas and their relatives to distant places under the guise of state-visit or govt.-delegation or study-tour.
Well done! Why not we fail to appreciate good things done by Govt?
10 Gms of Gold and Silver along with TWENTY EIGHT Gifts
is not a very big deal when it comes to help the life of 1006 young couple.
I am happy my taxes are not fully into the belly of corrupt politicians.Let a part of it go into the hands of the needy public.
I see people shouting at someone who tries to do something good.Why is there nobody to question the lavishly spent marriages of sons or daughters of corrupt politicians.Is that not our tax money too?!
I am not a supporter of any political party.I only feel happy when any elected representative does something good out of our tax money that benefits the poor.
Is it not good to see our tax money going in to the hands of those who really need it for a living?
Let us not please waste time opposing this. There are lot more corruptions going on with our tax money and let us raise voice against them.
Shamefull indeed! and people who are supporting this gesture of ms.
jaylalitha should think seriously. When so many homeless people are
dying on streets and slums in lack of food and proper medical
facilities, increasing child labour, Instead govt. should provide these
young people with work not gold! Its really pathetic. I feel most of the
marriages would be fake or re-marriage just to take the advantage. No
government has got the right to waste money like this.
congratulation to all married couple who broke the boundation of caste.we must encourage for intercaste marriage
Caste barriers are broken on wedding day alone. They reappear with renewed vigour when
the first child is born. The same government will then insist on a caste certificate for the
children of these couples.
This is indeed a good gesture by a person if one spends money earned by him or her. Being the head of a government if Ms.Jayalalitha has spent so much money, may be around four crores, from the government treasury,then this act is highly objectinable. I do not think she has the right to spend the peoples money like this as this is not a common cause. As Mr. Mohammed puts it let the government sepnd money for providing basic infrastructure facilies such as water, electricity, good roads, educational facilities for poor etc. There must be strict laws curbing expenses like this by the elected people to the government.
God save India from these politicians who think they are the emperors. Whose money was used by buy the gold, silver and other gifts? I am sure Jayalalitha did not pay for these "gifts" from her own personal wealth. How can the government spend taxpayers' money on something like this in a country where there are millions go hungry every day?
There goes my tax money spent on couples who have been already married or get married for namesake to get the freebies which has made them so lazy that getting a labour for any job including agriculture, construction, house maid is becoming expensive as poor people are spoilty with free tv, grinder, fan, health insurance, free marriage with gifts & money for new borns. Whuile I don't balme the poor for using up the freebies, why can't the government provide work (fishing rod) to work for their well being instead of spoiling them with freebies (fish) just to get their vote while the midd class continues to struggle with rising expenses.
Comment by N Mohd very unfair; marriages are solemnised with support of Govt funds to help less privileged conduct it well and live a happy life; Why IS HAJ pilgrimage subsidised
Very good and inspiring work. It is true, gifts are not from her pocket but, it has been given to very eligible people and she has not kept it for herself. Negative thinking people find fault in every thing.
Nothing to feel shame here sir!! the Copuples who got married in this event are poor . there are many families who cannot afford this 10 gms gold and silver. And moreover you should feel proud that you are also the one who made this event posssible.
this is very good thing for the society up-liftment. This is no wastage of money..its just using the money to the cause if needy....one or the other.
Congrats Jaya. Let God bless the new couples and also you to conduct such marriages more and more. Somebody has said wasting money like this, isn't it better than Free TV set when people have no money to buy food ? Ask your PMK and DMK enthusiasts.
Mr. Mohammed, I am sure we would all agree that marriage is also a very important aspect of our cultural welfare and family is crucial for any stable society.
While I agree that issues such as poverty and infrastructure need to be addressed, governance needs to balance between the social and cultural welfare against the economic prosperity of people. One cannot exist without another.
The elected officials are robbing Peter to pay Paul perhaps hoping that they would get more votes in the future. Decades ago my father told me a story in which a Nawab gave money to someone to buy horses for the chiefdom. That someone was an ardent devotee of Lord Rama and with the money construceted a temple for Rama. He was incarcerated by the Nawab for misappropiation of state funds. Then Rama appeared in front of the Nawab and asked him to release the devotee. When the devotee was released he cried to Rama, " How can you give your darshan ( appearance ) to the Nawab and not to me. I was the one who constructed the temple for you. " Lord Rama replied, " After all with whose money did you construct the temple ? It was with Nawab's money and not your money ".
This is as such a blessing for Tamil Nadu. Such occassions are called as "Social Inclusions". Although I am not ADMK fan, I do support and congratulate selective policies from JJ led government.
People without financial potential should be helped to lead a normal life. This is really really a great blessing to Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Minister should make sure that all these 1006 marriages should be registered properly and Marriage Certificate be issued free of Charge to the new families.
If I am being made the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, I shall continue this wonderful scheme.
I wish all the newly weds, a Happy and Blissful Blessfull Matrimony Life. May the Almighty Bless you all abundantly with love and wealth.
Amen to that Nouman!
This is a pathetic publicity stunt. Focus on the areas which are more important than getting two adults married. For eg: child labor. The list is long but you can start with this Ms Jayalalitha.
Whether a populist move or otherwise,such humane acts go a long way in reducing the burden of costly weddings on economically weaker sections of society.Kannada playwright & humourist late TP Kylasam defined matrimony as a matter-of-money. In some parts of Karnataka,some philonthropists conduct their own children's marriages alongwith mass meddings at huge costs which some affluent people spend for a single wedding.Let us hope other state govts will emulate this example.
TN chief Minister is following the tradition set by her mentor MGR in arranging mass marriages!It is a great boon to the Adi Dravida,SC,ST,BC & other Dalit communities who will not be able to arrange their weddings independently! Offering 10gms of gold at the present cost & other gift items to each couple is something which they would not have imagined!!Jayalalitha has been fulfilling her poll promises one by one slowly but steadily!!
I think the expenditure to carry out the marriage ceremony must be from the govt exchequer.What message Ms,Jayalalithaa want to give to the public by conducting such marriages?
The general public of Tamil Nadu is robed by increasing three fold of electrical charges in one hand and in the other hand the hard earned money is being wasted by giving freebies and in mass marriage functions,there should be some justifications.
10 Gms of Gold and Silver along with TWENTY EIGHT Gifts!!! whose money was used for this purpose? I think My Taxes are being wasted when many are still hungry on streets and our cities lack in basic infrastructure. What a Shame.
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