Lok Sabha Question No. 1115 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-28
Subject: Welfare Scheme for Widows
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Kripanath Mallah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1115

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.06.2019

## WELFARE SCHEME FOR WIDOWS

## 1115.   SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state :

- (a) whether many widows are leading a miserable and pitiable life in many towns of the country as per the 2011 census;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  welfare  schemes  being  implemented  by  the  Government  to  ameliorate  the  economic situation of such widows?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) & (b): The 2011 census indicates the number of widows in the country and not their social and economic condition. The number of widows as per the decennial Census 2011 conducted by Registrar General of India is at Annexure- I.
- (c): There are a number of Schemes being implemented by various Ministries of the Government of India  through  States  Governments/UT  Administrations  which  address  the  common  needs  of widows  also.  While  some  schemes  cover  a  broader  segment  of  population  of  which  widows constitute a part, there are widow specific schemes also. The major schemes of Government of India in this regard are as under:-
-  Home for Widows :  A Home for Widows has been set up in Vrindavan, UP with a capacity of 1000  inmates  to  provide  widows  a  safe  and  secure  place  of  stay,  health  services,  nutritious food, legal and counseling services.
-  Swadhar Greh Scheme :-The Ministry of Women and Child Development implements Swadhar Greh Scheme which envisions a supportive institutional framework for women victims of difficult circumstances so that they could lead their life with dignity and conviction.
-  The Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme :- The Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme of Ministry of Women and Child Development aims to empower rural women through community participation and to create an environment in which they realize their full potential.
-  Indira  Gandhi  National  Widow  Pension  Scheme  (IGNWPS):The  Ministry of Rural Development is implementing Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) under which Pension Scheme for Widows as well as Pension Scheme for the Elderly below poverty line are operated.
-  National  Family  Benefit  Scheme  (NFBS):The  Ministry  of  Rural  Development  implements National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) under which monetary grant of Rs. 20,000 is given as lump sum assistance to the bereaved household in the event of death of the bread-winner.
-  Annapurna Scheme :- Under Annapurna Scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development, ten kg of food grain is given to those eligible aged persons who have remained uncovered under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS).
-  Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana :-  The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood Mission of the Ministry of Rural Development aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms of the rural poor.
-  Prime Minister Awaas Yojana (PMAY-G) :-  The  Prime  Minister  Awaas  Yojana (PMAY-G) of Ministry of Rural Development and the Prime Minister Awaas Yojana (PMAY-U) of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs aims at providing affordable housing for women.
-  Nari  Arthik  Sashaktikaran  Yojana :-  The  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment implements Nari Arthik Sashaktikaran Yojana to support Scheduled Castes, Single Women/Widows to take up income generating activities.
-  Intergrated Programme for Older Persons :- The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment implements  Intergrated  Programme  for  Older  Persons  to  improve  the  quality  of  life  of  senior citizens.
-  Assistance for vocational training of widows of ex-servicemen :-  The Ministry of Defence provides financial  assistance  for  vocational  training  of  widows  of  ex-servicemen,  treatment  of serious  diseases  of  non-pensioner  ex-servicemen/widows  and  daughter's  marriage/widows' remarriage.

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## Annexure  I

Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  of  part  (a)  of  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.  1115  for  reply  on 28.06.2019  regarding  Welfare  Scheme  for  Widows  raised  by  Shri  Kripanath  Mallah.  The  number  of Widows as per Census 2011.

| Sl.No.   | States/UTs                |   No. of Widows |
|----------|---------------------------|-----------------|
| 1        | JAMMU & KASHMIR           |          283650 |
| 2        | HIMACHAL PRADESH          |          293475 |
| 3        | PUNJAB                    |          928158 |
| 4        | CHANDIGARH                |           24496 |
| 5        | UTTARAKHAND               |          387215 |
| 6        | HARYANA                   |          773297 |
| 7        | NCT OF DELHI              |          456613 |
| 8        | RAJASTHAN                 |         1983634 |
| 9        | UTTAR PRADESH             |         4856188 |
| 10       | BIHAR                     |         2238793 |
| 11       | SIKKIM                    |           13717 |
| 12       | ARUNACHAL PRADESH         |           31787 |
| 13       | NAGALAND                  |           39496 |
| 14       | MANIPUR                   |           77990 |
| 15       | MIZORAM                   |           28569 |
| 16       | TRIPURA                   |          164969 |
| 17       | MEGHALAYA                 |           84825 |
| 18       | ASSAM                     |         1156042 |
| 19       | WEST BENGAL               |         3792184 |
| 20       | JHARKHAND                 |         1027878 |
| 21       | ODISHA                    |         1612627 |
| 22       | CHHATTISGARH              |          973787 |
| 23       | MADHYA PRADESH            |         2160609 |
| 24       | GUJARAT                   |         2015742 |
| 25       | DAMAN & DIU               |            6816 |
| 26       | DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI      |            7378 |
| 27       | MAHARASHTRA               |         4520764 |
| 28       | ANDHRA PRADESH            |         4297481 |
| 29       | KARNATAKA                 |         2989429 |
| 30       | GOA                       |           77935 |
| 31       | LAKSHADWEEP               |            2448 |
| 32       | KERALA                    |         2010984 |
| 33       | TAMIL NADU                |         3856398 |
| 34       | PUDUCHERRY                |           73579 |
| 35       | ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS |           12525 |
| INDIA    | INDIA                     |        43261478 |