The ward chairpersons of Sarawal Rural Municipality-6 and 7 in Nawalparasi district have been donating part of their salary to help poor families conduct the marriage of their daughters in their constituencies.

 Kailash Yadav and Hayat Ali said the amount that they donate goes to those parents who are too poor to marry off their daughters in a dignified manner.  

 “I get Rs 22,000 a month. Part of that money is spent to carry out the wedding of the women whose parents cannot afford it,” said Yadav.

He has donated around Rs 100,000 to help conduct the weddings of 10 women so far.

“I donate Rs 10,000 from my salary every month as part of my electoral pledge to support the poor and also end the burden of dowry on poor families,” said Yadav.

Ali also donates up to Rs 10,000 every month to the same cause.

“With our involvement in the weddings we are also ensuring that there are no instances of giving or receiving of dowries,” he said.

“We want to eliminate dowry system which is widespread among impoverished Madhesi community here.”  

Local residents have hailed the initiative taken by the two ward chairpersons.

“It was high time that the local bodies did something about dowry system. The two ward chairpersons have started a noble campaign, they should be encouraged and supported by everyone,” said Suraj Kewat, a local man.