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In what is a revolutionary step towards equality and curbing the mindless and extravagant showing off of wealth, a bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha to put a cap on expenditure on weddings.

This bill was proposed by MP Ranjeet Ranjan, wife of Bihar MP Pappu Yadav. It proposes to put a limit on expenditure on the matrimonial event at Rs. 5 lakh. Along with this, there might also be a probable cap on the number of guests to be invited and the dishes to be served in the menu.

If someone still intends to spend an amount larger than the prescribed limit, they will need to register beforehand and donate a 10th of the amount for help in marriages of girls from poor and underprivileged families. A fund will be established for the same.

She stated that, "These days, marriages are more about showing off your wealth and as a result, poor families are under tremendous social pressure to spend more. This is needed to be checked as it is not good for society at large.”

The purpose of the bill, she told the Press Trust of India, is ‘to prohibit extravagant and wasteful expenditure on marriages and to enforce simpler solemnization.’

This is a very progressive step and may be taken up when the Parliament resumes session after break on March 9. The “Marriages (Compulsory Registration and Prevention of Wasteful Expenditure) Bill” will be introduced as a private member’s bill.

Should it be passed, the bill will also make it mandatory to register a marriage within 60 days of solemnization. It may also lead to the government fixing limits on guests and the number of dishes to be served for the marriage ceremony or for the reception thereafter as it may see fit to curb wastage of food.