Unmarried Individuals in Haryana, India to Receive Monthly Allowance

via The India Express

In Haryana state, India, unmarried individuals will be entitled to a monthly allowance, as announced by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The allowance will amount to 2,750 rupees and will be provided to unmarried men, women, and widowers whose wives have passed away. The announcement was made during a press conference held in Karnal district on Friday, as reported by BBC.

To be eligible for the allowance, unmarried individuals must be between the ages of 45 and 60, with an annual income below 180,000 rupees. Widowers must not exceed the age of 40 or be above 60, and their annual income should be less than three lakh rupees.

The number of unmarried individuals in Haryana is estimated to be 65,000, with 5,687 widowers. The implementation of this plan is expected to cost 200 million rupees per month and 2,400 million rupees annually.

Haryana has a lower female-to-male ratio compared to the national average. According to the 2011 census, there are 877 females per 1000 males in Haryana, while the national average in India is 923 girls per 1000 boys. The BBC highlights that the state faces challenges related to the sex ratio and unemployment, which contribute to a decrease in marriage rates.

Critics argue that the introduction of the allowance scheme is a populist move by the government, especially considering the state's existing debt crisis. It is worth noting that Chief Minister Khattar and Home Minister Anil Vij are also unmarried, which has garnered attention in discussions surrounding this initiative.

Source: BBC