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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