Rammurti Rana, 60, of Chalola village is glad about good things happening in his life lately. His daughter, Sakshi Thakur, 22, got married on February 22, 2023, and she was blessed with a son on December 4, 2023.
On March 5, 2024, came the news that Una district administration’s wedding aid for poor women has been increased from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000. Rana believes this is a good thing that will help people like him.
“(The then Deputy Commissioner [DC]) Raghav Sharmaji ne hamara dard samajha. Rs 15,000 was a big help. Otherwise, the wedding of my daughter would not have been possible,” says Rana, who has not been keeping well for the last many years and not earning. It is his wife, Prem Lata, who works under MGNREG (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee) scheme and supports the family.
Apart from money, Rana had got five-six new women’s suits, one sari, eight kg desi ghee and one ceiling fan. For all these, he is thankful to the Una district administration and the managing committee of Mata Shri Chintpurni Temple.
His daughter appreciates the “great gesture”. “Until my wedding, I didn’t know the district administration helps people in need as well,” says Sakshi.
Ravinder Kumar, 50, of Bhaira village, too, is grateful for Rs 15,000 that he got for the wedding of his daughter, Simran Kaur, 22, which was held on February 23, 2024. “We’re happy about whatever we got from the temple. But we didn’t take any food ration,” says Kumar, who thinks “instead of being a breadwinner, he has become a burden to the family” as he has been facing serious health issues.
Rani Devi, 43, of Andora Upper village, received Rs 25,000 for the November 6 wedding of her daughter, Monika, 23. “Monika was two when I lost my husband. A bus driver, he was killed in an accident. I had to struggle a lot to raise Monika and her two brothers. The temple help lessened the wedding worries of our family,” says Devi, adding that they also got five-six women’s suits, four-kg desi ghee, 10-15 kg rice and two kg dal from the temple.
The temple committee, formed on March 17, 2008, started providing help for the wedding of poor women the same year. According to the temple records, from April 2009 till March 2024, they have spent Rs 13.48 crore on such weddings. Since the recent increase in the amount in March, they have already extended a help of Rs 3.25 lakh.
Story continues below this ad
From Rs 2,100 to Rs 25,000, the wedding amount has witnessed a substantial raise, with the first step in this direction being taken by the then DC, Onkar Chand Sharma, as per the temple records.
“I was there (in Una) very briefly. The monthly revenue of the temple doubled after pilferage was plugged. The priests didn’t object when we started extending monetary help for the wedding of poor women,” says Sharma, who is now Additional Chief Secretary.
On July 24, 2008, the amount was increased from Rs 2,100 to Rs 3,100 during the tenure of P S Chauhan, who is no more now.
The second hike — to Rs 5,100 — came on December 18, 2009, during the tenure of Chauhan’s successor K R Bharti. “It was a token help. Welfare of the poor was the main concern,” says Bharti, who has retired as Secretary (Finance).
On May 17, 2016, then DC Yunus effected a third hike (Rs 11,000) “Bhagwan ke ghar se kisi ki madad ho rahi hai, to achchhi baat hai (It is good if help is being rendered from the house of God),” says Yunus, who is now Director (Industries).
Story continues below this ad
The fourth hike — to Rs 15,000 — was effected by Vikas Labroo on September 30, 2016. “It is not possible to solemnise the wedding with Rs 11,000. That is why the amount was enhanced,” says Labroo, who has retired as Secretary (IPH).
Interestingly, the amount tripled from Rs 5,100 to Rs 15,000 in just five months of 2016.
A fresh hike, the fifth, was recorded on March 5, 2024, under incumbent DC Jatin Lal, who joined in February last year. “I do not want my sisters of Una to feel uncared for. They should know the district administration is there for them,” says Lal. “If need be, we can increase this amount.”
How to apply
“During the wedding season, we receive around five to ten applications a day from economically weaker families. Around 90 per cent of them fulfil the criteria,” says temple officer Ajay Singh.
Story continues below this ad
According to him, the families whose annual income is below Rs 50,000, and are not part of BPL Antyodya can avail themselves of the scheme. They are supposed to provide the following documents:
- An application verified by the pradhan.
- A copy of the ration card.
- The bride’s date of birth certificate.
- A copy of the bride’s Aadhaar card.
- A wedding invitation card.
- The eligibility certificate verified by the block development officer.
