Kendrapara: Two girls, who were residing at the Kamalabehn Meheta Kanyashram of Korua, run by Pallishree Mahila Samiti, got married Saturday.
The girls were married off thanks to the initiative of the Samiti, an NGO, with the help of the Child Welfare Committee and the District Child Protection Unit. The Samiti which has been supporting and educating the girls since their childhood finally solemnised their marriages.
Superintendent of Pallishree Mahila Samiti Srikant Nayak said the two inmates of the Kanyasharm, who got married as per Hindu traditions, were Barsha and Bharati. They were brought up and educated at the Kanyasharm. They were studying in Plus II class.
Child Welfare Committee chairperson Smitanjali Mohapatra said Barsha, 20, belonged to the Sukarpada area. Her parents died when she was only two. The villagers later handed her over to the Kanyasharm.
Bharati belonged to Ichhapuram in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. Her parents died in her childhood after which she came to live with her uncle’s family at Cuttack. Her uncle and aunt later handed her over to the Kanyasharm. Although, her uncle and aunt used to visit her for a few years, they stopped coming.
When the girls turned adults, the Kanyasharm decided to get them married, and a proposal was forwarded to the Child Welfare Committee of Kendrapara.
The chairperson and other CWC members accompanied by the secretary of Pallishree Mahila Samiti went to the bridegrooms’ house. Later, the CWC gave the green signal for the girls’ marriage and negotiations were conducted with the families of the two bridegrooms. The marriage date was fixed as per Hindu almanac.
“We are satisfied with the bridegrooms’ families and are sure that the two girls could lead a happy life with their grooms. Both the grooms are earning,” said Hemaprava Nayak, secretary of the Samiti.
The marriage was solemnised Saturday in the presence of the staff of the Kanyasharm and Mahila Samiti, the CWC chairperson, the DCPO, the DSWO and the media.
No dowry was paid to the in-laws. A community feast was also hosted at the Pallishree Samiti premises. The new couples took the blessings of seniors and officials, said Hemaprava Nayak.
Barsha married Aloka Panda, the son of Narayan Panda of Bangari village in Kendrapara. Aloka Panda works as Hindu priest. Bharati, 19, married Bijay Mohaptra, the son of Nityananda Mohapatra of Palada in Sahukheta of Cuttack district. Bijay is a mason.
The two grooms promised to live happily with their brides, said Pravas Kumar Das, Kendrapara DCPO in-charge.
After the marriage certificates are despatched to their office, the government will provide Rs 50,000 each as social security assistance, said Das.
The girls seemed happy after their marriage as they acquired life partners to share their joys and sorrows. The Mahila Samiti had earlier solemnised marriages of 18 orphan girls.
PNN