Cong MLA urges special status, allowance for women marrying young farmers in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Seeking to address the growing difficulty young farmers face in finding life partners, ruling Congress MLA H D Ranganath has urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to introduce a special incentive programme.
In a letter dated February 18, Kunigal MLA Ranganath proposed that the measure be taken up in the forthcoming Assembly session.
“My constituency, Kunigal Taluk, is predominantly rural, with a high dependence on agriculture. A large number of young men reside in villages and earn their livelihood through farming. However, many women are refusing to marry them,” he said.
Noting that several such men remain unmarried even after crossing the age of thirty, he said they are facing hardships due to the prevailing social trend.
“Therefore, I request that in the forthcoming session, a special allowance and a special status be announced for women who marry men residing in villages and engage in agriculture,” the MLA wrote.
Ranganath said the measure would help address the difficulties faced by young farmers in rural areas and encourage social support for agriculture-based livelihoods.
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Min. Priyank Kharge to expresses concern over implementation of VB-G Ram G
Bengaluru: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the proposed VB-G Ram G scheme, stating that the MNREGA programme, which has been a lifeline for rural India for nearly two decades, appears to be facing an uncertain future.
Speaking to media, Kharge said that as March 31 draws to a close, there is no clarity on the rollout of the new scheme from April 1. He pointed out that the central government has not yet issued the necessary guidelines for implementing the scheme for rural workers and villages.
He criticised the Centre for its lack of preparedness, stating that there is no clarity on fund allocation, no final parameters for classifying gram panchayats, and key processes such as social audits have not been defined.
Kharge said the situation comes at a critical time, as summer marks a peak period for rural employment demand, when many people depend heavily on wage employment for their livelihood.
He added that reports have emerged of delays in approvals and families not receiving work despite demand.
He further alleged that the Centre’s move to shift from a statutory employment guarantee to a rule-based allocation system is already showing negative consequences.
Kharge also raised concerns over provisions such as a mandatory 60-day halt during agricultural seasons, which he said would further limit employment opportunities for rural workers.
The BJP-led central government had claimed that the new scheme would transform rural India, but in reality it is turning out to be detrimental to people’s livelihoods, he said.
“The crisis in rural India due to the stalling of MNREGA is beginning to unfold. Given the Centre’s past record in handling such situations, there is growing concern over the impact on rural livelihoods,” Kharge said.
