A 'big fat Indian wedding' might be what many people dream of, but not everyone is able to afford one. A Member of Parliament wants the government to control people's wedding expenses as well, by way of a law.
A private member bill seeking, "prevention and prohibition on the extravagant expenses incurred on marriages" across the country was introduced in Lok Sabha on Friday.
Gopal Chinayya Shetty, MP from Mumbai North introduced the bill. The bill seeks "to provide for the prevention and prohibition of sheer extravagance and unlimited expenditure being incurred on marriages and related ceremonies in various parts of the country and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto".
Talking to DNA over phone, Shetty said, "The intention behind introducing such a bill is to initiate a conversation on the subject. It might not necessarily become a law, but at least people will think about the issue when it is discussed in Lok Sabha. There are some people who spend huge amount of money and then there are others who hardly have any money to even get married. There should be some equality at that front also."
"In my constituency I have been urging those who are having extravagant weddings to help a poor person get married as well, and some of them have even helped. I am not saying that those who have money should not spend, but some kind of equality should be there," he added.
As many as 98 private members' bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 29 including the one to constitute a board for protection and control of stray cows.
The rate of private member's bill being passed in the Parliament is significantly low. As per an analysis, only 14 private member's bills have passed since Independence.
Private member’s bill
- Gopal Chinayya Shetty, MP from Mumbai North introduced the bill to control wedding expenses.
- As many as 98 private members’ bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha.
- Since independent, only 14 private member’s bills have passed
