While extending his best wishes and blessings to 2,503 couples who tied the knot during Samuhik Vivah in Kushinagar on Monday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that ‘kanyadaan’ in the Indian tradition was the greatest gift and the biggest achievement for any individual and it was an honour for all to be a part of such an auspicious ceremony.

Congratulating the Labour and Employment Department, the chief minister said that his government was working on the mantra of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas aur sabka prayas’ as a result of which today government schemes were benefitting every needy and was uplifting every deprived without any discrimination on the basis of caste, language, religion and region.

Emphasising that his government was committed to serving the weaker sections, the chief minister said that the aim of the Central and state governments was to uplift every poor, develop every village, benefit every crop-grower, provide employment to the youth and establish a safe environment for all the daughters and women in the state.

He congratulated 2,503 newlyweds, including 138 Muslim couples who tied the knot at a mass wedding ceremony solemnised in his presence.

There was a buzz at Buddha Park grounds in Kushinagar, where priests chanted Vedic vows under one roof, setting another example of communal harmony in the state. Each married couple was given financial aid, including insurance and social security cover at the event.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that through Samuhik Vivah not only malpractices such as dowry and child marriage were put to an end, but also, it conveyed a message of social harmony and unity.

Chief Minister Yogi, however, urged people across the state to strictly follow COVID-19 protocols and use hand sanitisers and masks. The marriage ceremony was organised in compliance with the Covid rules, including physical distancing.

Stating that labourers were the builders of the nation, the chief minister said, “The foundation of a country lies in the strength of the labourers and workers. The stronger our workers are, the more well-built the nation will be.”

The chief minister further said that the government took every possible measure for the welfare of the poor as no state could develop without uplift of the weaker sections.

The government has ensured basics like food, water and shelter to provide relief to the street vendors and the poor with ‘sustenance allowance’. To cater to over 54 lakh vulnerable migrant labourers, the government initiated the concept of community kitchens. Besides, the government also distributed free-of-cost gas cylinders to the needy. Health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh is being given to the workers.

“The Centre and the state are working in a phased manner to provide a better life to our workers,” the chief minister said.

Speaking about the Atal Residential Schools in all 18 divisions, Yogi said all the children of the registered labourers would be provided free facilities which would lead students towards self-reliance.

Labour and Employment Minister Swami Prasad Maurya said that the previous governments had not taken care of the workers who shed blood and sweat for building the nation.

The interests of the workers were taken care of by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and the Yogi government of the state. Today 18 schemes have been dedicated for the betterment of the workers. Workers are getting the benefits of these in a very transparent way, he said.