In an unusual proposal aimed at addressing social and demographic challenges in rural areas, Kunigal MLA HD Ranganath has urged the Karnataka government to introduce a special allowance and confer a distinct status for women who marry men engaged in agriculture and living in villages.
In a letter dated February 18 addressed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Ranganath highlighted the growing concern of unmarried farmers, noting that many men dependent on agriculture remain single even after the age of 30 due to reluctance among women to marry into rural farming households.
The legislator from Kunigal said the issue reflects a broader rural challenge, particularly in agriculture-dependent regions where farming continues to be the primary source of livelihood. He urged the government to consider the proposal during the upcoming Assembly session.
In his communication, Ranganath argued that introducing a targeted allowance and granting formal recognition to such women could help ease social pressures on farming families while encouraging stronger rural settlement patterns.
He further said the initiative could play a role in bridging the widening rural-urban divide and bring attention to the economic and social hardships faced by agricultural communities. According to the MLA, such a measure would not only support farmers’ families but also strengthen the long-term sustainability of agriculture-based societies.
The proposal, submitted to the state government in Bengaluru, is expected to spark wider debate on rural welfare, gender-linked incentives, and policies aimed at supporting farming communities if it is taken up for discussion in the Assembly.
No official response from the state government has been issued so far.
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