Largest facility for widows to come up in Vrindavan

India is home to more than 40 million widows, of which many live in utter poverty. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) has decided to set up a rehabilitation centre for widows in Vrindavan, which will be the largest such facility in the country. 

“Widows in India are ill-treated and this has become a major social problem. We are establishing the biggest facility for widows in India at Vrindavan and work has already started,” said a senior WCD Ministry official.

“Nearly three-and-a-half acres of land has been allotted for this project with an estimated budget of Rs 60 crore,” the official added.

WCD Minister Maneka Sanjay Gandhi had recently said that Vrindavan would house India’s largest facility for widows. 

On budget cut in schemes meant for widows, she had said: “The budget allocated to schemes meant for widows has been restored. In fact, we are giving a lot more money to institutions and for the first time a massive exercise to check on each institution has started. We will also be building the largest widow’s home in Vrindavan.”

The WCD Ministry received a detailed and in-depth report on the living conditions of widows in Vrindavan, after which it decided to build the facility there. “An official from the Uttar Pradesh government, who has extensively researched on the issue met us (WCD officials). The secretary explained the ground situation of widows in rehabilation homes and otherwise. It was only then that we understood the concerns and were able to gauge the magnitude of the problem being faced by them (widows). After this, we decided to immediately go in for this major venture at Vrindavan,” the official added.

Noting the social stigma and problems being faced by widows, the official said, “In orthodox communities and families, especially in rural areas, women get no support after their husband pass away. This is the most unfortunate part as no old woman would want to leave her family and house at that stage in life,” said the official.

The official added that widows come to Vrindavan in huge numbers every year, but the condition they are living in is pathetic.

 

At present, these widows  take refuge in a state government-run shelter home and other private ashrams.

“We decided to create a large facility for widows living in the area. Since they are already there in large numbers, our focus is to provide them with a better living condition. The construction for this home has already begun,” added the official.