As per 2011 census — 5.6 crore widowed person in India. Women > Men — accounting for more than 78% of total.
Reason for feminisation of widowhood —
Women experience greater longevity than men. Women – 69.6 years | Men – 67.3 years
Societal factor — wives are generally younger than their husbands.
Age wise distribution
Child widows — 10-19 years → 0.45%
20-39 years → 9%
40-59 years → 32%
60+ years → 58%
Challenges and ways to counterWIDOWHOOD IN INDIA
Loss of adolescence, access to employment, skill development
Property rights (as property is generally in the name of Husband)
Shelter
Access to healthcare.
Effective implementation of Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007
Universal coverage of pension for widows — increase sustenance and respectability of widows
Encourage and incentivise couple to include name of wide into the tile of her husband’s land and property
Need to provide age relaxation for women to sit for competitive exams for government and PSU jobs — esp for widows of Defence Personnels
As per Census — we still have about 2 lakh child widows despite having Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
However the attitude of the society towards the widows is changing
But there are certain pockets in the country — where the condition of widows is pathetic still.
There is little understanding of the problems they face and the general schemes are not enough to cater their problem and improve their economic condition.
Government Initiatives —
Many State government have formulated — widow remarriage schemes
Under MNREGA — special provision have been made to identify widowed women who can then qualify as a household so that they are provided 100 days of work
Union Ministry of WCD — emphasis on issues related to widows for last 2-3 years
Mathura has major shelter homes for Widows — in Vrindavan
New shelter home for widows — in Vrindavan, Mathura — 1000 widows.
