The Forgotten Women

8/11/2019 The Forgotten Women

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A widow should be long suffering until death, self-

restrained and chaste.

A virtuous wife who remains chaste when her

husband has died goes to heaven.

A woman who is unfaithful to her husband isreborn in the womb of a jackal.

The Laws of Manu

Chapter 5 verse 156-161

Dharamshastras (Sacred Hindu texts)


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According to 2001 census 6.9%of women in India are widows

Every fourth householdin India has a widow

45 million women are widows


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Allows widow to remarry

Raja Ramohan Roys wasthe first who advocatedwidows remarriage, andfollowed by IshwarChandra Vidyasagar

HinduWidowsRemarriageAct of 1856


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Narayan, Gandhis followerwillingly wants to marry

Kalyani out of love and touphold widows right

However, many men did

not dare to marry widowsback then

Liberal

menmarrying

the

widows


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In the movie, it is run and managedby Madhumati, 80 years old (a

widow) The widows have no choice but stayin there or else they will not haveany other shelter

However, the ashram is misused as

a supplier of prostitutes to supporttheir lives

Establishmentof Ashram


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Established by father Paul Mike and SisterFlora

Sought out overlooked women (widows andabandoned women) after the tsunami in

2004

Kalangarai

Funded by Volkart Foundation

Carries out a programme of helping youngwidows in the rural areas of Malur, districtKolar, Karnataka in skills development andincome generation activities.

JanaVikas


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Provides widows with food, nutritionalsupplements, clothing, blankets, healthcare and skills training.

Maitri

Varanasi is one of Indias holiest cities

They have 23 widows now

Focuses on various income-generatingprojects and have opened a small shop forselling some of their products

Asha BavaninVaranasi


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Vrindavan is one of Indias mostsacred cities

Widows have a room and arefeeded.

Women live in the comfort ofcompanionship and care, learning

skills that help them gain economicindependence and confidence.

Amar BhariAshram

inVrindavan


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To amend and codify the law relating tointestate or unwilled succession

Hindu woman's limited estate is abolishedby the Act.

HinduSuccession

Act 1969

Sponsored by State Government

Eligible widows are those whose annualincome does not exceed Rs.24,000

Rs. 20,000 given in the form of a NationalSaving Certificate

Incentive toWidows

Remarriage


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Sponsored by both Central and State

government The age of the widows should be between45-64 years and should be Below thePoverty Line

Amount of pension : Rs.200 /month

Indira Gandhi

NationalWidowPensionScheme

Sponsored by Central government

Eligible for women whose income doesntexceed Rs. 900 /month

Shall receive Rs. 350 until she getsremarried and financially independentafterwards

Assistance toNeedy

WidowsScheme

Documents

The Forgotten Women