‘Home for one thousand widows’ at Vrindavan

Ministry of Women & Child Development

Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi planting a sapling at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Mahila Swadhar Greh, in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh on March 29, 2016.

Press Release(29-03-2016):
Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi launches the Project of ‘Home for one thousand widows’ at Vrindavan

The Women & Child Development Minister, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi today launched the project of construction of a special Home for one thousand widows at Vrindavan, Mathura. The foundation stone for the Home was laid by Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in the presence of Women Welfare Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Smt Syeda Shadab Fatima. Being set up under the ‘Swadhar Greh Scheme’ of the WCD Ministry, this will be the largest ever Home for widows established or funded by the Government.

Speaking on the occasion, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi said that the widows’ Home will be constructed fully by October this year. It will be a Home with a difference since here widows will be able to learn and get skill development to enable them to use their time productively. The shelter home will give a new life to widows, the Minister hoped.

Addressing the gathering, Women Welfare Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Smt Syeda Shadab Fatima said that there are 4500 widows living in Vrindavan and the current facility under construction will be able to provide shelter for one thousand widows at a time which is a commendable effort.

The shelter Home at Vrindavan has a capacity to house 1000 women and is being constructed on 1.424 hectare of land through National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) at an estimated cost of 57 Crores (including cost of the land). The design of the Home has been prepared in consultation with HelpAge India and is also ‘old age’ friendly. The Home will consist of ground plus three floors with the facilities of ramp, lifts, supply of adequate electricity, water and other amenities for meeting the requirement of senior citizens and persons with special challenges. The Home, fully funded by the Central Government, is being constructed at Sunrakh Bangar, Pargana Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

The Ministry under the Swadhar and Short Stay Home Scheme caters to the primary needs of shelter, food, clothing, medical treatment and care of the women in distress who are without social and economic support. The two schemes have been merged as Swadhar Greh w.e.f. 01.01.2016.