Widows protest on being told to vacate ashram

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, September 27

Widows and destitute women staying at Mahila Ashram located in Gandhi Nagar here staged a demonstration as a team of the District Social Welfare Department reached the ashram for completing the formalities for provision of old-age/widow pension to the inmates.

The inmates, who had been asked to vacate the ashram as they had overstayed there, mistook the intentions of the team and created a ruckus.

Following this, District Programme Officer (Women and Child Development) Monica Khanna reached the ashram and placated the inmates. She said as per the rules, an inmate could stay at the ashram for up to five years. “In case they need to stay longer, the period can be extended by three years and subsequently by five more years,” Khanna maintained.