An UAE-based NRI Forum will be organising 50 marriages of girls from economically backward classes in Vatakara taluk in Kerala on December 24 as part of its campaign against dowry.
"The Abu Dhabi-based Forum will be organising the weddings of women belonging to economically-backward classes have been selected from the districts of Kozhikode, Wayanad, Palakkad and Kannur," the Forum's Organising Committee Chairman, Basheer Ahamed told reporters in Kozhikode.
The Forum will spent Rs 80,000 each for the marriages and will provide Rs 5,000 to each of the couple in cash along with other necessary items.
It has also proposed to conduct another 50 weddings in a similar manner in next phase of its campaign, he said.
Priority was being given to orphans, the handicapped and aged women, Basheer said.
The Vatakara chapter of the NRI Forum was formed in 2001 to promote welfare activities in the area, he said.
Besides MNCs, several leading businessmen from the Gulf had come forward to sponsor the marriages, Basheer added.