KADAPA: District minority welfare department conducted mass marriages to 21 Christian couples at Arogya Mary Matha church here on Saturday.
District joint collector M Rama Rao, who participated in the programme, said the government has sanctioned Rs 25,000 to each couple as gift and out of this Rs 14,005 is for the ring and the remaining Rs 10,995 was handed over in the form of a cheque, which should be deposited by the new couple in a joint account.
In 2013-14, total 419 couples got married in mass marriage functions conducted by the minority welfare department, he said. Out of this, 208 couples belonged to Christian community.