Nalgonda's gender imbalance is rewriting future for orphan girls

IN the heart of Telangana's erstwhile Nalgonda district, a quiet yet extraordinary transformation is taking shape—one that is challenging deep-rooted social stigmas and offering orphaned girls a life of dignity, love and belonging.

- A SESHACHARYULU @Nalgonda

Faced with a growing gender imbalance, educated and financially stable men in the region are turning to an unconventional yet heartening path: seeking life partners from local orphanages. What was once considered a social taboo is now becoming a hopeful reality for many young women who grew up without parental support.

Traditionally, orphaned girls have often faced discrimination in the marriage market—judged for their backgrounds and burdened by the lack of a familial "legacy". But now, things are changing. Stable employment, land ownership, and wealth no longer dominate the criteria for choosing a bride. Instead, compassion, commitment, and an openness to new definitions of family are taking the lead.

"In the past, people looked at these girls through a lens of pity or prejudice. Now, they are seen as equals—individuals with dreams, dignity, and value," says S Nagasena Reddy, who runs the Charumathi Charitable Trust in Nalgonda.