Bill In Lok Sabha Seeks To Limit ‘Wasteful’ Wedding Expenses: Allow 50 Baraatis,10 Dishes

New Delhi: Congress MP Jasbir Singh Gill has introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha that seeks to put a limit on the number of “baraatis” to be invited to 50 people and dishes to be served at weddings to 10 in a bid to prevent “wasteful expenditure”.

The Congress MP introduced ‘The Prevention of Wasteful Expenditure on Special Occasions Bill 2020’ in the Lok Sabha on August 4. “The Bill aims to prevent wasteful expenditure on special occasion such as weddings and festivals with a view to bring positive change for the lives of the underprivileged and destitute,” he told the Parliament.

He highlighted the key provisions of the Bill in a tweet, that restricts the number of attendees in a baraat, which is capped at a maximum of 50 people. The Bill also proposes a limitation on the number of dishes served on such occasions, with a cap set at no more than 10.

Another crucial feature of the Bill focuses on restricting the monetary value of “shagan” or gifts exchanged during special occasions, setting the limit at Rs 2,500. In addition, the proposed legislation seeks to contribute positively to the improvement of the sex ratio and tackle the issue of foeticide.

The MP from Khadoor Sahib in Punjab aims to eradicate the culture of lavish weddings that burdens the bride’s family financially. According to an Indian Express report, the MP said stories of people selling their properties or taking bank loans to finance extravagant marriages have prompted the introduction of the Bill. By curbing unnecessary spending on weddings, the legislation hopes to combat female foeticide and shift perceptions of girls from being seen as “burdens”, he said.

Gill’s inspiration for Bill came from attending a wedding in Phagwara back in 2019. Witnessing an excessive display of 285 trays of dishes, he observed that a staggering 129 trays remained untouched, resulting in food wastage.