Sulabh International to double its monthly dole to widows

MATHURA: A social service organisation, which has launched several initiatives to improve the plight of widows in Vrindavan, has decided to double the monthly dole given to such women from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000.

Sulabh International, which gives financial help of Rs 1,000 to such women every month to prevent them from starving and begging, has decided to increase the amount to Rs 2,000.

"The idea is to ensure that widows living in government-run shelters in Vrindavan do not go to bed hungry or eke out a living by begging," the organisation's founder Bindeshwar Pathak said.

After this every widow of Vrindavan will get Rs 2,000 from Sulabh, he added.

Sulabh International had started this initiative last year following Supreme Court taking strong exception to the manner in which the bodies of widows, who lived in government shelter homes at Vrindavan, were disposed.

The court had asked the National Legal Service Authority to contact the Sulabh International to find out whether they would come forward to help the widows living in four government shelters at Vrindavan.

Following which, the organisation, known for promoting low-cost sanitation apart from its efforts to promote human rights, had announced on August 12 last year that it will take care of the widows.

Besides this, the NGO had provided the government-run shelters five well-equipped ambulances along with medical equipments.

"Now the focus will be on imparting education among them. Some amount of education and training will bring back self-confidence to them even at this old age," Pathak said.