BENGALURU: An unusual Bill that Parliament is likely to take in the next session has sent India’s Rs 1 lakh-crore wedding industry into a tizzy.
The Marriages (Compulsory Registration and Prevention of Wasteful Expenditure) Bill – introduced by Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan, wife of MP Pappu Yadav – seeks to put a limit on the number of guests invited and dishes served at weddings. It also proposes that those spending above Rs 5 lakh must contribute at least 10 per cent of this amount towards the wedding expense of poor girls.
The Bill is likely to be taken up as a private member’s Bill when Parliament resumes after a break on March 9. While experts believe the Bill might fall through because of the legal issues that could crop up if a law is introduced to regulate personal affairs of citizens, stakeholders of the wedding industry are worried the Bill might get support given its populist tone.
“We charge anything between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 30 lakh for planning weddings. During the wedding season, there is so much demand that it is difficult to incorporate every client if they do not make bookings beforehand.
If the Bill is passed in Parliament, it is going to be a big blow for us since the minimum threshold that is being kept is Rs 5 lakh,” said Grewal Patel of Elegant Wedding in Bengaluru.
He noted that wedding planning happens with collaborations with other firms.
“We have tie-ups with caterers, decorators, DJs, beauticians, choreographers and many others. If profits fall, the ones at the bottom of the pyramid will end up losing their jobs and lakhs of people across the country will be rendered jobless.”
Echoing similar views, Vrithika of Divya and Vrithika Wedding Planners said unskilled labourers would be the hardest hit. “Do they have an idea as to how many people are employed in this industry? We are a small firm and still have around a hundred helping hands in the city. They earn anything between Rs 5,000 and ‘30,000 a month. Most of them are unskilled and help in setting up the venue, decoration and doing other backend chores which are a part of the wedding setup.”
According to her, the government will have to think about some alternative mode of employment for these people. “The Bill targets the social fabric but the casualty will be economic. If it is passed we have to brace for a downslide in profits which may be almost 60-70 per cent.”
Rupesh Gowardhan of Gowardhan Printers in Bengaluru, is of the opinion no law can stop the influential from flaunting their wealth. “The rate of wedding cards for the premium or luxury segment is between Rs 800-2,000. If this Bill wants to stop this section from flaunting their wealth, it is completely misdirected.”
Anjali Bakshi from Wed Me Good also feels the proposed law would render many jobless. “We are expecting a reduced demand with lesser number of programmes being organised. Like for wedding choreographers who charge 50,000-1,00,000. Most of them will be unemployed.”
Saptagiri Joshi of Saptagiri Caterers doesn’t hide his bemusement at the proposed law. “It is funny that someone would want to curb the number of dishes to be served at weddings. Our range is from Rs 800 to Rs 2,000 a plate because people are opting for variety. Out turnover can fall 20-30 per cent.”
He said if spending restrictions are imposed, people doing odd dispensable chores will be hit. “We can’t do away with the cooks but some of the people helping in preliminary preparations can be affected.”