CM blesses 251 couples at mass marriage function near Surat.
Mass marriage gains social acceptance among affluent as well as tribal families, needs scientific management: Shri Narendra Modi
Dikro-Dikri Ek Saman should be the motto that we should follow: Shri Modi
Package of Rs. 40,000 crore for Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana: Shri Modi
On Thursday, 17th May 2012, Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi blessed 251 couples at a mass marriage ceremony. Shri Modi expressed satisfaction that the concept of mass marriage has begun to gain acceptability among all sections of society. He also called for scientific management of such events so that they can be practiced further. The Sahara Manav Kalyan Trust Vadi at Jhankhav organized the ceremony, which is near Surat. Shri Modi pointed out that the Government has doubled the incentives to brides from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 to encourage mass marriages.
Shri Modi congratulated the newly weds and also congratulated Speaker Ganpatbhai and his team for the superb effort that had put in. The Chief Minister added that he gets to attend 25- 30 mass marriages in a year spread across all parts of Gujarat some of which are caste functions some multi- caste ones but the arrangements here have been among the most organize he has seen. He cited instances of earlier mass marriages where the bride took 15 minutes to locate the groom! Thankfully, this function was different in Shri Modi’s opinion. He asked Speaker Shri Ganpatbhai to take out a booklet on how to organize mass marriages and the need for mass marriages along with the various do’s and don’ts involved as this can help the entire Gujarat.
On the occasion, Shri Modi explained the need of embracing mass marriages on a larger scale. He affirmed that the Gujarat government is encouraging mass marriages and even helping them. Shri Modi indicated that he knew that if there were no mass marriages, youngsters would not remain unmarried but through mass marriages, the added stress of heavy expenditure on the poor families would be greatly reduced. He further said that if mass marriages become the norm, the days to take money at heavy interest or to sell land would become history for the poor.
Shri Modi shared insight into how mass marriages not only prevent vulgar display of wealth but also eradicate social evils. They are attempts to end blind faith. He gave instances of how in the earlier times well off families would be hesitant to embrace mass marriages as they thought it to be a prestige issue but thankfully that was changing. He narrated the example of how a young IAS officer from Gujarat got married in a similar mass marriage ceremony some time ago. He urged the families of the groom and the brides to spend the money saved due to mass marriages on their future.
During his speech, Shri Modi expressed concern over issue of female foeticide but expressed happiness in the fact that this was not the case among Vanbandhu community, where the gender ratio is not skewed. He gave the mantra of ‘Dikro- Dikri Ek Saman’ to those present.
Shri Modi said that it was wonderful to see more and more sections of Vanbandhu society taking to education. He termed it as a greatest leap for the community in a century and added that he could see a strong contribution by Adivasi youth in the development of Gujarat.
The Chief Minister spoke on the stress the Government had given to education. He reminded everyone of the earlier days when Governments would give the carrot of reservation to win votes but asked what is the point of that reservation if there is no stress on higher education, Class XII exams? To be a good doctor or engineer, one needs to do well in Class XII exam first otherwise any amount of reservation would be counterproductive. The same governments that gave promises of reservation built virtually no higher education schools in 90% of Vanbandhu talukas, the Chief Minister shared, adding that the first thing they did was to put in pace a mechanism for higher education in these areas. This why today, Vanbandhu children are becoming doctors, engineers and even training to fly aircrafts and helicopters.
Citing the example of Gujarat’s agriculture progress, Shri Modi said when he conceived of the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana, the Congress said he is flying castles in air. They asked how would he manage to give Rs. 15,000 crore package? But the Government gave a package of Rs. 18,000 crore. Now the package is Rs. 40,000 crore. Shri Modi attributed it to the spirit of the Vanbandhu people and their thirst for development that inspired them to work harder. Today, Vanbandhu farmers are cultivating cashew nuts as well whereas in the earlier times they were given only 5 hens to ‘grow’, spoke Shri Modi. He also expressed great joy in the fact that more and more Vanbandhu youngsters were turning to the army and serving Bharat Mata.
Speaking on the occasion, Acharya Avichaldasji Maharaj of Sarsa made a fervent appeal to the society to stop thinking daughters as a burden and check female feticide.
Speaker of Gujarat Legislative Assembly Shri Ganpat Vasava said the tribal culture is the root of India’s heritage and he exuded confidence that tribal people in Gujarat would prosper under the leadership of Chief Minister Modi.
MP Shri Bharatsinh Parmar said that stressed on the need to make education compulsory among tribal. He hailed the blessings of sants and mahants to the newlyweds. Over Rs.12-lakh collected on the occasion was donated to Chief Minister’s Kanya Kelavani Nidhi.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Trust founder Shri Amarsinh Vasava, Parliamentary Secretary Shri Harshad Vasava, Shri Kishore Vankawala, Shri Bharti Rathod, MLAs, Surat District Panchayat President Shri Ashwin Patel, Shri Ajay Choksi, families of the newlyweds, chairmen of State Corporations, ex-MPS, community leaders and District Collector Shri A. J. Shah.
