Category: Schemes (Welfare Schemes (Yojanas))

The Himachal Pradesh government gives a one-time marriage grant of ₹40,000 to destitute girls and women under the Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana. Inmates of Nari Seva Sadan and Nari Niketan receive a higher grant of ₹51,000. The scheme, run by the Department of Women and Child Development, has been in place since 2006.

The grant helps families who cannot afford a daughter’s wedding, and it is paid directly to the beneficiary.

Who can apply

  • The girl must be a bonafide resident of Himachal Pradesh and above 18 years of age.
  • Her father should not be alive, or the father should be physically or mentally incapacitated or bedridden.
  • The annual income of the guardian should not exceed ₹35,000.
  • Deserted and divorced women are also eligible for the grant.
  • Girls living in Nari Seva Sadan or Nari Niketan institutions get ₹51,000.

The amount has been raised over the years. Older documents show lower amounts — ₹25,000, ₹21,000 and even ₹2,500 at different times — but the current grant is ₹40,000 for destitute girls and women and ₹51,000 for inmates of Nari Seva Sadan and Nari Niketan, as per the scheme’s latest rules.

How much has been given

By June 2025, the state government had paid ₹1,989.31 lakh to 3,956 girls under the scheme. In the last few years, thousands of families have used the grant to arrange a daughter’s marriage.

How to apply

  • Apply through the Anganwadi worker, Supervisor, District Programme Officer (DPO) or Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) in your area.
  • The application is made on the prescribed form, with documents showing the girl’s age, domicile, the father’s status, and the guardian’s income.
  • For help, call the Women and Child Development Department helpline on 1800-180-8076 (toll-free).

Two related schemes for girls

The Kanyadan Yojana sits alongside two other Himachal schemes for girls:

  • Mukhyamantri Shagun Yojana: a shagun of ₹31,000 for girls of BPL families at the time of marriage. By June 2025, it had reached 12,192 girls with ₹3,779.52 lakh paid.
  • Beti Hai Anmol Yojana: ₹21,000 is deposited in the name of a girl child born in a BPL family, up to two girls per family. The money can be withdrawn when the girl turns 18, and she also gets scholarships while studying.

Families should note that the Kanyadan Yojana is for marriage expenses, while Beti Hai Anmol is for a girl child’s birth and education. A family can benefit from more than one scheme if it meets the conditions of each.

Source: Government Schemes India and IndiaFilings summaries of the Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana rules; Keekli report on the scheme’s reach, June 2025; Himachal Pradesh Women and Child Development Department. Confirm the current amount and documents with your local CDPO or Anganwadi worker before applying.

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