"More than 50% of these widows are old, infirm, disabled and have no source of income or livelihood."
Widows from Vrindavan and Varanasi today appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure introduction of 'Widow Protection Bill' in the monsoon session of Parliament. Hundreds of widows gathered at Widow Shelter Home here under the aegis of Sulabh International to mark the 'World Widows Day'.
In a bid to gain attention of the political parties afresh, they took a vow under the leadership of Sulabh movement champion Bindeshwar Pathak "not to rest till their aspiration was fulfilled" and demanded introduction of Widow Protection Bill. The bill was recently drafted by Pathak, Sulabh International founder, for the protection of widows in the country.
According to the statement of object and reasons appended to the bill, there were millions of unfortunate women, who lose their husbands untimely, and become widows in India.
"More than 50% of these widows are old, infirm, disabled and have no source of income or livelihood. Their position becomes miserable if they have children to support and bring up. They work as housemaids and take up other jobs for survival," he said. "Ours is a welfare state. It is the foremost duty of the state to initiate welfare measures and to protect and provide maintenance to the hapless widows so that they can live gracefully in the society," he said.
It was, therefore, proposed in the bill to set up a Welfare Board to exclusively look after the welfare of neglected, abandoned and destitute widows, the Sulabh founder said.
He plans to meet the prime minister along with widows from Vrindavan to push the draft bill for introduction in Parliament and hoped that Modi would pay attention towards the cause.
Supreme court in its order had directed Sulabh International to take care of the widows. The organisation pays Rs 2,000 to each widow, living in six government run ashrams, besides organising series of welfare measures for the past two years.
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