GHAZIABAD: The UP government’s mass marriage scheme has few takers, despite the state raising the annual incentive from Rs 35,000 to Rs 51,000 for each couple.Though the government has set a target of 1,500 mass marriages for 2018-19 for Ghaziabad district, it has so far been able to get only 188 couples to tie the knot. The number, however, includes 97 mass marriages that were solemnised in the district on Saturday.“On Saturday, 97 couples exchanged vows in the district under the Mukhya Mantri Samuhik Vivah Yojna. At 23, the maximum marriages took place in Bhojpur block,” said Sanjay Kumar Vyas, the district social welfare officer. Across the state, 15,380 marriages were solemnized on Saturday.Asked about the possible reason behind such reluctance, an official said: “Marriage in any household is a matter of prestige. Families, even though they’re poor, don’t want to give an impression in the society that they can’t afford the marriage of their daughter. This could be a reason behind people not coming forward for the scheme.”Vyas expressed hope that the number of couples would increase the next time the government organised such a programme. But achieving the target of 1,500 this year would be easier said than done.

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