Noida NGO organises ‘cashless’ mass wedding of 72 couples

Noida: In a way of helping out in the weddings of underprivileged families hit due to demonitisation, Bharat Vikas Parishad, a city based NGO formed by the entrepreneurs of Noida, held a mass wedding of 72 couples from the city and its surrounding areas at the Noida Stadium on Saturday.

The organisers ensured that payments of all expenditure for the event were done either by cheque or digital payment system.

Amid colourful ambiance of the venue and showering petals, 72 couples from different castes and communities got married in a mass wedding ceremony. All 72 bridegrooms arrived at the venue on chariot with their relatives dancing to the tunes of the band. Organisers had arranged lunch for the relatives and families of all the couples.

“The event is a collective project by all the citizens of Noida who want to contribute to the upliftment of the poor. This is a symbol of social unification and empowerment of the community. Our role is just to provide that platform and opportunity to the families to begin new a chapter in their life,” Dr Suresh Chandra Gupta, vice-president of Bharat Vikas Parishad, said. Organisers said that they have provided this platform so that the poor of the city should not feel burdened with the wedding of their daughters during demonetisation.

“There were many poor families who were severely hit due to demonetisation and were unaware of any digital payment facilities. We registered such brides and bridegrooms in the mass marriage event,” Dr Keshav Dutt Gupta, the regional head of Bharat Vikas Parishad, said.

Each couple has been provided with gifts like jewellery, wedding trousseau, kitchen utensils, TV, and mattresses. The couples were gifted a kit with domestic utensils. “There are many entrepreneurs associated with the NGO who have also offered job assistance to the couple if they wish. We also take care of the newlywed couples for the next one year,” added Mr Dutt.

“After strict screening process, the couple eligible for the mass marriage was selected. Verification of background has been done and the marriages have been legally registered. We have spent around Rs 85 lakh in the event. We are also giving gifts worth Rs 90,000 to each couple to set up new home,” said Manoj Awasthi, a member of the NGO.