Lok Sabha Question No. 3353 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Scheme for Widow
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Arun Kumar Sagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3353

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2022

## SCHEME FOR WIDOW

## 3353.  SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR

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

- (a) whether according to the 2001 census, several lakh widows are leading a miserable life in the country;
- (b) if so, the reasons these unfortunate widows are forced to lead such wretched lives just because their husbands have died;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to formulate any special scheme to gradually rescue these unfortunate widows in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d)  Census  2011  (as  also  Census  2001)  gives  the  number  of  widows  in  the country and not their economic condition. The number of widows as per Census 2011 is at Annexure.

There  are  a  number  of  schemes  being  implemented  by  various  Ministries  of  the Government  of  India  for  safety,  security  and  empowerment  of  women,  including widows. The major schemes of Government of India in this regard are:

Home for Widows: A Home for widows 'Krishna Kutir' has been set up in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh with a capacity of 1,000 inmates to provide widows a safe and secure place of stay, health services, nutritious food, legal and counselling services.

Shakti  Sadan: Under  the  newly  launched  umbrella  scheme  'Mission  Shakti',  an integrated women empowerment programme for safety, security and empowerment of women,  Shakti  Sadan  is  a  component  under  the  sub-scheme  'Samarthya'.  Shakti Sadan caters to primary needs of women in difficult circumstances - women and girls rendered  homeless  due  to  family  discord,  crime,  violence,  mental  stress,  social ostracism or being forced into prostitution and are in moral danger. Shakti Sadan also aims at prevention of trafficking and rescue, rehabilitation, re-integration and repatriation  of  victims  of  trafficking  for  commercial  sexual  exploitation  The  scheme through  the  provisions  of  shelter,  food,  clothing,  counselling,  vocational  and  skill upgradation training, clinical and legal aid aims to rehabilitate such women economically and emotionally.

National  Social  Assistance  Programme  (NSAP) is  a  social  security  programme for senior  citizens,  widows,  disabled  persons  and  bereaved  families  on  death  of  primary bread winners belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households in rural as well as urban  areas. Under  NSAP,  monthly  pension  at  the  rate  of  Rs.300/-  per  person  per month to widows and disabled persons in the age-group of 40 to 79 years and 18 to 79 years, respectively, and Rs.200/- per person per month to old age persons in the agegroup  of  60  to  79  years  belonging  to BPL  households  is  being  paid.  The  amount  of pension is increased to Rs. 500/- per person per month in respect of these beneficiaries on reaching the age of 80 years. A onetime assistance of Rs. 20,000/-is provided to a bereaved BPL family on the death of the primary breadwinner of the family. Atal Pension Yojana (APY) : This scheme is implemented with an objective to create a universal social security system for all Indians, especially the poor, under privileged and workers in the unorganized sector. The scheme is open to all citizens of India between 18-40 years of age having a saving bank account in a bank or post office. Prime Minister Awaas Yojana (PMAY-G): This scheme aims to provide 'Housing for All' through provision of pucca house with basic amenities to all houseless households and households living in kutcha and dilapidated house in rural areas by 2022. This will also benefit the neglected, abandoned and destitute widows.

Pradhan  Mantri  Awaas  Yojana  (PMAY-U): This  is  a  Scheme  with  a  vision  for facilitating Housing for All by 2022 started from 17.06.2015. Under this scheme, central assistance is provided to States/UTs in addressing the housing requirement of Economically  Weaker  Sections  (EWS)  including  slum  dwellers  in  the  urban  areas. However, under Credit linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) component of the Mission, LIG, MIG I & MIG II segments are also covered.

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Annexure Annexure referred to in reply of parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3353 for reply on 05.08.2022.

State-wise number of Widows as per Census 2011

| SI. 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 |