Karwar: The Minority Welfare Department (MWD) of the Karnataka government has launched a special incentive scheme aimed at encouraging simple and mass marriages among minority communities, with the objective of reducing the financial burden caused by extravagant wedding practices.

Under the scheme, economically backward families belonging to minority communities—Muslims, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs and Parsis—will be provided financial assistance for conducting simple or mass marriages. As per official guidelines, a financial aid of ₹50,000 per couple will be granted for marriages conducted under mass marriage programmes organized through registered trusts, non-governmental organizations or approved institutions. Additionally, organizers of mass marriage events will receive ₹5,000 per couple towards administrative and organizational expenses.

To avail of the benefits, both the bride and groom must be permanent residents of Karnataka. The bride must be aged between 18 and 42 years, while the groom must be at least 21 years old. The combined annual income of the couple should not exceed ₹5 lakh. The scheme can be availed only once in a lifetime by one member of a family. It will not be applicable if the groom has a living spouse or if the bride has a living husband.

Applicants are required to submit their applications at the District Minority Welfare Office at least seven days prior to the date of marriage. In the case of mass marriages, a minimum of five couples must participate. If five couples belong to a single community, at least three couples from minority communities will also be considered eligible under the scheme.

The sanctioned incentive amount will be directly credited to the bride’s bank account. For further details, beneficiaries may contact the Minority Welfare Department helpline at 8277799990 or the District Minority Welfare Office, Karwar, at 08382-220336.

District Minority Welfare Officer Ashok Gaddigouder stated that no ceiling has been fixed on the number of beneficiaries under the scheme in Uttara Kannada district. All eligible applicants will be extended assistance. He also urged organizations, institutions and individuals organizing mass marriages in the district to make use of the scheme for the benefit of minority communities.