Tamil Nadu government's Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Ninaivu Marriage Assistance Scheme-1 has been closed. It was a state welfare scheme that gave a cash grant of ₹25,000 and an 8-gram 22-carat gold coin to brides from poor families to help with marriage costs. As of 2022-23, this scheme was rebranded and replaced by the Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance Scheme (Pudhumai Penn), which now pays ₹1,000 per month to girl students from government schools till they finish their college education.
Notice: Scheme has been closed or it was a one time scheme which has been closed by the government. Girl students may look at the Pudhumai Penn (Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance Scheme) for the new benefit. Families looking for marriage support can check other options in the Tamil Nadu Marriage Assistance Schemes guide.
Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Ninaivu Marriage Assistance Scheme-1 Overview
Run by Tamil Nadu's Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department, this scheme was made to give money help to poor parents for the marriage of their daughters. It also pushed girls to study at least up to Class 10 before getting married. It covered lawful marriages held from 17th May 2011 onwards, and was one of five marriage support schemes offered by the state at that time.
Under two categories, non-graduate brides got ₹25,000 and graduate or diploma-holder brides got ₹50,000. Both groups also got an 8-gram 22-carat gold coin to make the Thirumangalyam for the wedding. Payment went partly through Electronic Clearing Service (ECS) and partly as a National Savings Certificate (NSC).
Current Status in 2026
Tamil Nadu government stopped this marriage support scheme and rebranded it as Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance Scheme in the 2022-23 state budget. Under the new scheme, popularly known as Pudhumai Penn, girl students who studied from Class 6 to 12 in government schools and are now doing UG, diploma or ITI courses get ₹1,000 per month till they finish their course. Full details and the login option are on the official Pudhumai Penn portal at penkalvi.tn.gov.in.
Families still looking for wedding-related support can look at other Tamil Nadu schemes that are still running, such as Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Ninaivu Inter Caste Marriage Assistance Scheme, E.V.R Maniammaiyar Ninaivu Scheme for Daughters of Poor Widows, Dr. Dharmambal Ammaiyar Ninaivu Widow Remarriage Assistance Scheme, and Annai Therasa Ninaivu Marriage Assistance Scheme for Orphan Girls.
Scheme Highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Ninaivu Marriage Assistance Scheme-1 |
| Launched By | Tamil Nadu Government |
| Nodal Department | Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department, Tamil Nadu |
| Current Status | Closed and rebranded (from 2022-23) |
| Replaced By | Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance Scheme (Pudhumai Penn) |
| Earlier Benefit | ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 cash grant plus 8g 22-carat gold coin |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Official Website | tnsocialwelfare.tn.gov.in |
| Helpline Number | 044-24351891 |
Benefits That Were Offered
Eligible brides got a cash grant along with a gold coin for the wedding. The amount was different for graduate and non-graduate brides. Payment came partly as cash through ECS and partly as an NSC. Full split was as below:
- For Non-Graduate Brides: Total ₹25,000 support, with ₹15,000 sent through Electronic Clearing Service and ₹10,000 as a National Savings Certificate, along with one 8-gram 22-carat gold coin.
- For Graduate or Diploma Holder Brides: Total ₹50,000 support, with ₹30,000 sent through ECS and ₹20,000 as an NSC, along with one 8-gram 22-carat gold coin.
- If parents were not alive: Full support amount was released straight to the bride's own bank account instead of the parents'.
Who Was Eligible
To get money under this closed scheme, the bride's family had to fit into a set of income, age and education rules. Only one girl per family could apply. The main rules were:
- Family had to be a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu.
- Bride's age had to be 18 years or more, and the groom's age had to be 21 years or more on the date of marriage.
- Bride had to have passed at least Class 10. For Scheduled Tribe brides, a minimum Class 5 pass was accepted.
- Total family income in a year could not be more than ₹72,000.
Application Process (When Scheme Was Active)
Applications were taken only through the offline mode at the District Social Welfare Office. Rural applicants could apply through the Panchayat Union Commissioner's office. Steps followed at that time were:
STEP 1 - Bride's family visited the nearest District Social Welfare Office and asked the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) for the official application form for this scheme.
STEP 2 - Form had to be filled with all details, a passport-size photo signed across the front had to be pasted, and self-attested copies of all required documents had to be attached.
STEP 3 - Filled application along with the documents had to be submitted at the DSWO office. An acknowledgement receipt was given at the time of submission and had to be kept safely.
STEP 4 - District-level Screening Committee checked the papers and decided on approval. Approved amount was released through DBT to the bride's bank account before or after the wedding.
Applications had to reach the office at least 40 days before the wedding date. Submissions were accepted up to one day before the date of marriage.
Documents That Were Required
Along with the filled application form, families had to submit self-attested copies of a set of papers. Required documents were: current income certificate, community certificate, marriage invitation card, school transfer certificate, Class 10 marksheet, ration card copy, age proof or transfer certificate for the groom, passport-size photos of the bride, groom and both sets of parents, bank passbook copy for the fund transfer, and Aadhaar card copies of the bride's mother and father.
Complaint Help and Contact
At the district level, applicants could contact the District Collector or the DSWO for any complaint. At the state level, they could reach the Director of Social Welfare at 044-28545728, Chennai-5. Tamil Nadu Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department's main helpline number is 044-24351891 and the office is at No. 1 Panagal Maligai Building, 2nd Floor, Jeenis Road, Saidapet, Chennai-600015.
References
FAQ's
Is Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Ninaivu Marriage Assistance Scheme still running in 2026?
No. Tamil Nadu government closed this scheme and rebranded it as Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance Scheme (Pudhumai Penn) from the 2022-23 budget. Cash grant and gold coin for marriage are no longer given under this name.
Which scheme has replaced Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Ninaivu Marriage Assistance Scheme?
Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance Scheme, popularly called Pudhumai Penn, has replaced it. It pays ₹1,000 per month to girl students from government schools till they finish their UG, diploma or ITI course.
Are there any other marriage assistance schemes running in Tamil Nadu?
Yes. Tamil Nadu still runs a few other marriage support schemes like the inter-caste marriage scheme, widow remarriage scheme, orphan girls' marriage scheme, and daughters of poor widows scheme. Rules and benefits are different for each.
What was the maximum benefit under this closed scheme?
Graduate or diploma-holder brides got ₹50,000 in total (₹30,000 via ECS and ₹20,000 as NSC) plus an 8-gram 22-carat gold coin. Non-graduate brides got ₹25,000 plus the same 8-gram gold coin.
What was the income limit to apply?
Total family income in a year could not cross ₹72,000. Bride also had to be at least 18 years old, groom 21 years old, and the bride had to have passed Class 10 (Class 5 for Scheduled Tribe brides).
Where can girl students apply for the new Pudhumai Penn scholarship?
Girl students can apply through their college using the official portal at penkalvi.tn.gov.in. Full details are given in the Pudhumai Penn Higher Education Assurance Scheme guide on sarkariyojana.com.