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Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Lesson in empowerment: Gram panchayat in Maharashtra to employ widows for farm work
Mumbai, A gram panchayat in Maharashtra's Solapur district has taken a crucial step towards empowering women by passing a resolution to employ widows for farm work on a daily wage, giving them a means of becoming financially independent. Lesson in empowerment: Gram panchayat in Maharashtra to employ widows for farm work Narale Gram Panchayat in Sangola taluka passed a resolution on Saturday to implement the Shramshakti Sanman scheme, as a pilot project for a month. Under the scheme, widows can be employed on farms for a daily wage of ₹300, with the labour cost split between the gram panchayat and the farmer who hires them. The scheme, a brainchild of activist Pramod Zinjade, will be rolled out on the occasion of Independence Day on August 15. Talking to PTI, gram sevak Vibhishan Sawant said the gram panchayat comprises villages of Narale and Habhishewadi, with a population of over 2,000. "We have about 25 to 30 widows, in the age group of 25 to 35 years, in these villages, and they need work. It has been decided that they can be hired for agricultural activities on farms for a month. They will be paid ₹300 in daily wages, and the cost will be shared by the gram panchayat and the individual farmer who employs them," he said. Farmers will also benefit from the scheme as they will only have to bear 50 per cent of the labour cost, Sawant pointed out. Zinjade said widows in rural areas face social boycott, financial crisis and emotional stress. "After the husband's death, women lose their social status and confidence. They are not given due respect in social and religious events. The Narale gram panchayat's initiative will empower widows and give them confidence," he said. The activist said that for the safety and security of these women, the gram panchayat will issue them identity cards with a helpline number they can call on when they are in distress. "Apart from this, an all-women committee will be set up to address complaints of sexual assault at work. It will also help women and girls if they face problems at work, school or home," he said. Zinjade said a widow would be appointed as the supervisor to monitor their attendance on farms and their security and safety. If a widow falls ill at work, it is the supervisor or the gram sevak's responsibility to take her to the nearest government clinic, he said, adding that a compensation of ₹10,000 will be given to the kin if a woman dies at work during this 30-day trial period. Talking to PTI, Narale sarpanch Vaishali Bhosale said they have appealed to citizens of the village to contribute to the fund, which will be used for the daily wages of widows. "We have a health insurance scheme being implemented by the SHGs, where there is a yearly premium of ₹15. The scheme will be extended to widows, single and destitute women if they are not yet covered," she said. "We urge all gram panchayats in the state to emulate this concept. The scheme will be inaugurated on August 15 during a flag hoisting ceremony by a widow. At least 10 women have agreed to enrol for the scheme," she said, adding that further decisions about the scheme will be taken based on the feedback for the 30-day trial period. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Activist reaches out to MPs, govt bodies seeking law to ban regressive practices against widows
Mumbai, An activist in Maharashtra, who is on a mission to eradicate regressive practices related to widowhood, has started reaching out to the country's ministers and lawmakers to seek their cooperation in his demand for a law allowing these women to live a life of dignity. Apart from the Lok Sabha members, activist Pramod Zinjade, who heads the Mahatma Phule Samaj Seva Mandal, is also writing to various government bodies seeking their cooperation for the cause. Talking to PTI, Zinjade said he has sent letters to Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi, National Commission for Women chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar and all Lok Sabha members seeking their help in efforts to eliminate the practices related to widowhood through gram panchayats and gram sabhas in India. He made an appeal to the NCW for a direction to the women and child development ministry to ask all the state governments to set up committees for the eradication of widowhood practices in villages across the country. "Even today, widows are subjected to regressive practices, such as breaking their 'mangalsutra' , bangles and toe rings, removing their anklets and colourful clothes, shaving their heads and excluding them from social functions and family rituals. These inhuman practices still exist in many parts of our society," he said. On May 17, 2022, after Herwad in Kolhapur district became the first village to pass a resolution in its gram sabha to ban customs related to widowhood, the Maharashtra administration instructed all key government officials, officers and village panchayats to eliminate such discriminatory practices and promote dignity for widows, Zinjade said. "Inspired by this, more than 7,000 gram panchayats across Maharashtra formed special committees through gram sabhas to eliminate the practice of widowhood and take a public stand to stop this kind of discrimination. As a result, the National Human Rights Commission and other central government bodies acknowledged this initiative and a recommendation has been made to replicate this model across India," he added. Similar awareness and policy campaigns can be implemented through the Ministry of Women and Child Development so that this social evil can be eliminated, Zinjade said in the letter to NCW chief Rahatkar. In letters to the Lok Sabha members, the activist urged them to raise this issue in Parliament and advocate for a law that allows widows in India to live with dignity and respect. "Widows are forced to undergo degrading rituals which is a violation of the human rights granted under the Constitution. Every person has the freedom to live with dignity. The widowhood practices contradict that freedom," he said. The NHRC has recommended the central government and all state chief secretaries to create a law abolishing the practice of widowhood in India, the activist said. "We humbly request you to raise this issue in Parliament and advocate for a law that allows widows in India to live with dignity and respect," he said in the email. In the letter to Union minister Annapurna Devi, the activist said awareness programmes across the country should be held, and urged her to direct state governments so that widowhood practices can be eliminated nationwide. Herwad in Kolhapur became the first village in Maharashtra to prohibit the practices related to widows in May 2022.
The Print
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Pune dowry death: Social activist writes to MSHRC demanding steps to curb regressive practices
Her parents alleged they had given 51 tolas (595 gm) of gold, silver and an SUV to her in-laws at the time of marriage, but the Hagawane family continued to harass her for Rs 2 crore to purchase land. Vaishnavi Hagawane, daughter-in-law of expelled NCP leader Rajendra Hagawane, allegedly hanged herself on May 16 in the Bavdhan area of Pimpri-Chinchwad in Pune district. Mumbai, May 24 (PTI) A social activist spearheading a campaign to end evil and regressive practices related to widows has written to the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission to direct the state government to take steps against dowry, the move coming in the backdrop of the tragic death of a 26-year-old woman in Pune recently. The woman's father-in-law, Rajendra Hagawane, and brother-in-law, Sushil, have been arrested. Social activist Pramod Zinjade said the Pune dowry death case was condemnable and the state government must act immediately. About writing to the MSHRC on the issue, Zinjade told PTI the first step would be to get urban and rural local bodies to pass unanimous resolutions to ban practices like dowry, evil customs related to widows, child labour, child marriage, caste discrimination as well as expletives invoking women, especially mothers and sisters. 'I urge you (MSHRC) to direct the state government to make all local bodies pass unanimous resolutions so that effective awareness is created to end these regressive customs. If the state government takes such a decision, I will write to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to replicate this Maharashtra model nationwide,' Zinjade said. He said he has written letters with similar demands to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Legislative Council Chairperson Ram Shinde, Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe and state Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore. Only Shinde has responded, saying the letter has been forwarded to the state home department and women and child development minister for further action, Zinjade added. PTI MR BNM ARU This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
