PROJECT -3
Challenges
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Over 33 million widows in India –10% of the overall female population
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Every 4th household has a widow, 50% of the widows are over 50 years
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After husband’s death, only 3% widows shared the same hearth.
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Over 6500 widows live in Brij Region of India’s Northern State of Uttar Pradesh comprising Brindavan, Mathura and other religious places
SUSTENANCE AND FOOD SECURITY OF THE ABANDONED WIDOWS
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Religious institutions mandated to take care of the widows have become defunct.
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Local administration in collusion with the police loot donations.
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Large number of sexual abuse cases have been reported.
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Young widows are exploited into prostitution
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Food security of the widows is a challenge.
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Nobody had a clue about the abandoned widows socio-economic-demographic profile.
CURRENT INTERVENTION
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Provided photo ID Cards.
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Database of widow’s history, current contact information deployed.
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Continually sharing the database with the local administration & police
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Executed food security and health care programs.
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Delivery of snack packets to the widows
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Continued health care.
FUTURE INTERVENTIONS
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Get food companies to install ‘Made to deliver food kiosks ‘ which the widows can access for a nominal cost
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Medical & Old age care to be strengthened.
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Multi-purpose smart cards for the widows to enable withdrawal of money from ATMs, food
from vending machines. -
Involve a large number of food & clothing companies to sell food items/clothing at concessional rates
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Implement widow pension programs
PARTNERS
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Guild for service
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Mathura District administration
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Key Local Religious Trusts
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Lancer Food Products
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Nestle ( Tentative )Delivery of Tea Vending Machines and few food products
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Unilever (Tentative )Delivery of Tea Vending Machines and few food & personal care products.
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Local Grocery & Clothing establishments
