Vrindavan - The Sad Plight of Widows in India

"The City of Widows", Vrindavan, in Uttar Pradesh, India, has become home to many upper-caste Hindu widows, disowned by their families. These widows who have been "thrown away" subsist in horrible conditions despite the government's efforts, and aid organizations attempts to assist.

Vrindavan is the city in which Krishna, a philosopher-prince of ancient India, was raised as a child. Thousands of temples devoted to Krishna attract millions of tourists annually. For hundreds of years the city has also housed abandoned widows, or those seeking refuge from cruel or greedy relatives. It is estimated 15,000 widows reside there today, and more arrive all the time. Old or young, in exchange for singing hymns in bhajan ashrams for six hours a day, the widows receive a little food and the equivalent of 15 cents daily.

According to a United Nations study, many of these widows are not in Vrindavan voluntarily. Often the widows are escorted there by relatives, who leave them with no intention of returning. Most of the widows are aged and indigent, with no access to government pensions or medical care. They are expected to await death, while spending their time worshipping at the temples, and living at subsistence level.

Vrindavan's temples are very wealthy, but do little to help provide for the widows. The UN study noted that the temples could open schools for the widows' children, providing skilled training. Schools providing skill training are supported by the All India Women's Conference. Those who are wise and value security go to the Amar Bari (My Home), a group facility privately funded where work training is provided.

The Women and Child Development Ministry will begin to rehabilitate and retrain the country's 33 million widows. They will also encourage the women to remarry. Indian activists are certain that the traditional stigma of widowhood, and such women traditionally being cast aside by society will make these changes almost impossible. The widows of Vrindavan will probably remain in isolation and squalor for a long time to come.

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