At a Praja Seva gathering in Piriyapatna on Saturday, 3 October, farmer Ajay Kumar stepped onto the dais and, with a tremble in his voice, told Chief Minister DK Shivakumar that 35‑to‑40‑year‑old men in his community were left single and on the brink of despair.
Shivakumar, surprised, replied ‘What do you want?’ before promising to bring the issue to the cabinet. He hinted at a review of matrimonial incentives for agrarian families.
The issue echoes a February letter from Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath to former CM Siddaramaiah, where he urged a special allowance and status for women who marry village‑based farmers. Ranganath said the trend of families favoring salaried men has left many farmers over 30 unmarried.
The plea has already reached the ears of rural youth. Ramesh, a 38‑year‑old farmer from Hirekeri, told reporters that he had contemplated suicide after being repeatedly rejected by potential brides. His story, shared in a local press clip, is now a rallying cry for policy change.
Shivakumar’s office has convened a joint committee with the Department of Women & Child Development to draft incentive schemes, with a briefing scheduled for next Wednesday. The committee will present a proposal to the state assembly, potentially reshaping marriage norms for Karnataka’s farmers.