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Title : Need to set up more homes with Central assistance for widows and destitutes living in Mathura and Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh.
SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY (MATHURA): According to the Ministry of Women and Child Developments Handbook on Indian Women, there are 342.9 lakhs widows in India. In 2005, it was found that more than. 3015 widows were living in ashrams across Vrindavan and Mathura. These ashrams are unhygienic and non-conducive for living. Widows are seen begging on the streets with little access to healthcare and no social security. Despite the enormity of the problem, there is just one Swadhar home in Mathura having a fund of Rs 19,41,450 that translates into an inadequate Rs 1078.58 per month for the 150 widows. The Government supported and private charity homes have inadequate infrastructure. High percentage of the widows also lack access to ration card, pension and other facilities. I request the Government to take urgent notice of the matter and set up more Swadhar Ashrams with Central Assistance in Mathura and Vrindavan and also increase their funding.