The abandoned widows of India

Published March 8, 2013
A widow poses for a picture inside her room at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ? Reuters Photo
A widow poses for a picture inside her room at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ? Reuters Photo
Widows attend a class at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ? Reuters Photo
Widows attend a class at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ? Reuters Photo
Widows attend a class at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ? Reuters Photo
Widows attend a class at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ? Reuters Photo
An elderly Indian widow poses as she walks out of the Mahila Ashram, a shelter home for widows in Vrindavan some 150 kms south-east of New Delhi on March 7, 2013 on the eve of International Women's Day. ? AFP Photo
An elderly Indian widow poses as she walks out of the Mahila Ashram, a shelter home for widows in Vrindavan some 150 kms south-east of New Delhi on March 7, 2013 on the eve of International Women's Day. ? AFP Photo
A widow carries a bucket as she walks towards a hand pump to fetch drinking water at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ? Reuters Photo
A widow carries a bucket as she walks towards a hand pump to fetch drinking water at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ? Reuters Photo
Widows eat inside their room at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 6, 2013.  ? Reuters Photo
Widows eat inside their room at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 6, 2013. ? Reuters Photo
A widow prepares her bed at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 6, 2013. ? Reuters Photo
A widow prepares her bed at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 6, 2013. ? Reuters Photo
Elderly Indian widows attend a reading and writing class at the Mahila Ashram, a shelter home for widows in Vrindavan some 150 kms south-east of New Delhi on March 7, 2013 on the eve of International Women's Day. ? AFP Photo
Elderly Indian widows attend a reading and writing class at the Mahila Ashram, a shelter home for widows in Vrindavan some 150 kms south-east of New Delhi on March 7, 2013 on the eve of International Women's Day. ? AFP Photo
Widows gather to sing religious songs at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 6, 2013. ? Reuters Photo
Widows gather to sing religious songs at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 6, 2013. ? Reuters Photo
Widows with their sewing machines attend a training class at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 6, 2013. ? Reuters Photo
Widows with their sewing machines attend a training class at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 6, 2013. ? Reuters Photo
A widow poses at the entrance of a staircase at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 6, 2013. ? Reuters Photo
A widow poses at the entrance of a staircase at the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 6, 2013. ? Reuters Photo
A widow walks through a street outside the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 6, 2013. ? Reuters Photo
A widow walks through a street outside the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 6, 2013. ? Reuters Photo
A widow walks through a street outside the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 6, 2013. ? Reuters Photo
A widow walks through a street outside the Meera Sahavagini ashram in the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 6, 2013. ? Reuters Photo

Hundreds of widows who have been abandoned by their families live in the shelter, or ashram, run by the NGO Sulabh International.

In India, when a man dies, traditionally his widow is expected to renounce all earthly pleasures, such as wearing colourful clothes or looking attractive, and she can face severe social discrimination.

Sulabh International, a non-profit organisation has been working towards improving the conditions of 1,780-odd widows living in government shelters at Vrindavan by providing education, health care , vocational training and stipends.

Issues surrounding the treatment of women are receiving special attention on March 8, which marks International Women's Day.

— Photos and Text by Agencies

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