‘Shamelessness’: Congress slams Shivraj Singh’s government after condoms, birth-control pills were given to newlyweds

In a recent mass wedding celebration in the Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh, an unexpected controversy arose when makeup boxes presented to the brides contained condoms and contraceptive tablets.

The event, organized by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan under the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah/Nikah Yojana program for women from marginalized communities, saw the distribution of these birth control items among the newlyweds. Senior district official Bhursingh Rawat distanced his department from the distribution, attributing it to the state health department's involvement, possibly as part of a family planning awareness campaign.

The controversial distribution received criticism from the Madhya Pradesh Congress, who took to Twitter to condemn the BJP government for their actions. They shared a video of the makeup kit and accused the government of shamelessness. Rawat clarified that his department was responsible for providing food, water, and a tent, and he was unaware of the contents of the distributed packets.

The Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah/Nikah Yojana, launched in 2006, aims to provide financial support for weddings of women from economically weaker backgrounds. Under the scheme, the bride's family receives 55,000 rupees from the government, with an additional 49,000 rupees deposited directly into their bank account.

However, the program faced criticism last month when some brides were compelled to undergo pregnancy tests at a wedding celebration in the Gadsarai area of Dindori. The tests are usually conducted to verify the age of the couple, screen for sickle cell anemia, and ensure their physical fitness.