The government scheme, Mangalya Nidhi, for the marriage of girls in poverty stricken families, has become a headache for the poor. Finance Minister K M Mani had announced setting up of the fund in his budget speech. As per the budget instructions, those who conduct luxurious marriages have to contribute not less than 3 per cent of the expense to the fund.

However, the order issued by the office of the Deputy Commissioner of commercial tax, extracts the charge from those who organise low budget marriages as well. The government order instructs the proprietors of auditoriums to collect Rs 5,000 as tax for marriages having budget ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 200,000.

Projected as the flagship programme of the government as a resource for fund mobilisation, the scheme has drawn criticism as it contains vague instructions and has added to the woes of the low class and middle class people.