WUNRN
INDIA - POVERTY HAS A WIDOW'S FACE
The Indian widow experiences
compounded discrimination and
marginalization - as a woman, as a
widow, often as an elderly
woman, and as a POOR widowed woman.
Guild of Service - India
WUNRN Photo - Poverty stricken widows in City of Widows, Vrindivan, India
Guild of Service - India - By Meera Khanna for Presentation : The Voiceless Millions of Widows in India - Focus on Rights of Widows within the CEDAW Framework - 2010
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According to 2001 census 6.9% of
women in
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Every fourth household in
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45 million women are widows. The
numbers are only increasing due to armed conflicts, natural disasters, communal
riots and the traditional marriage patterns.
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Only 28% of widows are eligible
for pension; only 11% actually receive it.
Ø 40 million widows are without pension