Mandya: In the agrarian district of Mandya, a disturbing social issue is gaining attention as farmers’ sons are increasingly finding it difficult to get married due to reluctance among families to give their daughters in marriage to farmers. What began as a personal struggle has now turned into a larger social concern.
Mandya, known as the “sugar bowl” of Karnataka, is heavily dependent on agriculture. While farmers are already facing financial distress due to poor crop prices and rising input costs, many are now grappling with another challenge — arranging marriages for their sons. Locals say that despite hard work and land ownership, the identity of being a farmer has become a disadvantage in the marriage market.
Recently, several unmarried young farmers undertook a padayatra after taking vows at the Male Mahadeshwara temple, praying for marriage prospects. Their plight has now drawn political attention, with BJP activists stepping in to support them through a unique form of protest.
On Friday, BJP workers staged a symbolic demonstration in front of the Mandya Deputy Commissioner’s office. Dressed like grooms, wearing basings on their foreheads and Mysuru petas on their heads, they highlighted the growing crisis faced by farmers’ families. The protesters demanded that the government introduce a special incentive scheme to encourage marriages within the farming community.
BJP activist Shivu, who addressed the media during the protest, urged the government to provide a ₹5 lakh incentive to women who marry farmers, on the lines of existing “Shaadi Bhagya” schemes. He argued that such a move would help restore dignity to the farming profession and address the deepening social imbalance.
Overall, the difficulty faced by farmers’ children in finding life partners reflects a worrying societal mindset. Despite being the backbone of food security, farmers continue to face neglect — both economically and socially — making the issue a growing concern across rural Karnataka.
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