Question : Welfare of Destitute Widows

(a) the details of destitute widows living in the country at present, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the Government has taken note that such women are living a pitiable/miserable life in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of schemes being implemented by the Government for such women along with the funds allocated/ released and utilised thereunder during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(d) whether the Government has also made any provision to establish and maintain ashram/shelter homes for widows/senior citizens and provide basic facilities to them and if so, the details thereof along with the funds provided thereunder during the said period, State/ UT-wise;

(e) the criteria prescribed for establishment of new ashram/shelter homes indicating the number of such homes presently functional and number of women benefited thereby, State/UT-wise; and

(f) whether the Government has any proposal to establish new ashram/shelter homes for widows/senior citizens and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

(a) The Registrar General of India conducts decennial Population Census wherein data collected on all persons living in the country at the time of Census. The number of widows as per census 2011, as provided by Registrar General of India, is annexed as Annexure-I.

(b) Yes, madam. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has constructed a Home for Widows in Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh with the capacity of 1000 inmates.

(c) to (e) The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the Swadhar Greh Scheme which targets the women victims of unfortunate circumstances who are in need of institutional support for rehabilitation so that they could lead their life with dignity. The Scheme envisages providing shelter, food, clothing and health as well as economic and social security for the women victims of difficult circumstances which includes widows, destitute women and aged women. The details of funds released to under Swadhar Greh Scheme during the last three years and current year is as Annexure – II. Under Swadhar Greh Scheme, Government shall grant assistance for construction of rooms/cottages/ huts for the shelter of the residents and common facilities like kitchen, bathroom, training hall, recreation room, dining hall office room etc and infrastructure facilities like water, electricity, approach road, boundary wall etc. The grant shall be subject to a ceiling of Rs.1,33,000/- per resident. Construction grant will be given to State Governments agencies including Women Development Corporation, Central or State autonomous bodies, Municipal Corporations and Panchayati Raj Institutions only. Further, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has constructed a Home for Widows in Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh with the capacity of 1000 inmates.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) {earlier Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP)} with the objective of improving the quality of life of senior citizens by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical case and entertainment opportunities and by encouraging productive and active ageing. The Scheme has been revised w.e.f. 01.04.2018 under which the programme of MFCC has been merged with the programme of ‘Senior Citizen Homes’ as ‘Homes for 50 Elderly Women’. Under this Scheme, financial assistance is provided to implementing agencies like Non-Governmental for running and maintenance of projects of , inter alia, Multi Facility Care Centres for Older Widows (MFCC) where Grant-in-aid is provided for a project for running an Old Age Home for 50 older widows. In addition to providing full time shelter and care to the beneficiaries, the widow home gives training in income generating activities, conduct religious programmes, yoga etc. Therefore, under the Scheme of IPSrC, financial assistance is given for running and maintenance of programmes of, inter alia, “Homes for 50 Elderrly Women”, and not for construction. The details of funds released during last three years and current year to the programme of Multi Facility Care Centres is at Annexure – III.

(f) No, Madam.

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