Question : Welfare and Rehabilitation of Widows

(a) whether the Government maintains any data about number of widows in the country and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government implements or proposes to formulate any scheme for the welfare and rehabilitation of widows including their re-marriage alongwith establishment of widow homes and imparting training to them;
(c) if so, the details thereof indicating the financial assistance provided thereunder during each of the last three years and the current year;
(d) whether the Government has received any proposal from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) for their rehabilitation/re-marriage, if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon; and
(e) whether the Government also proposes to formulate a national policy and national cell for widows and if so, the details thereof ?

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

(a) Office of the Registrar General, India conducts decadal Population Census wherein data on widows is collected. As per Census 2011, there are 4,32,61,478 widows in the country. State/UT wise number of widows is given in Annexure-I.

(b) Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing two shelter based Central Sector Schemes namely Swadhar and Short Stay Home for rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances who are without any social and economic support. The main objective of the scheme is to provide primary needs of shelter, food, clothing and medical care. The scheme also provides for skill training and counseling. The implementing agencies eligible for assistance are Social Welfare/Women and Child Welfare Departments of State Governments, Women Development Corporations and Voluntary Organisations. At present 311 Swadhar Homes are functional across the country providing rehabilitation services for more than 17000 and 322 Short Stay Homes accommodating 9660 women who are in need.

(c) Details of grant released to the implementing agencies under these two schemes in the last three years and the current year are at Annexure-II and Annexure-III.

(d) & (e) As stated at para (a) and (b) two schemes Swadhar and Short Stay Home are running for rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances and funds are released to implementing agencies including voluntary organizations for running these homes as per schematic norms.

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