Varanasi: Social organisation Sulabh International on Sunday launched a campaign demanding a bill for protection, welfare and maintenance of widows in the country.
While launching the campaign in presence of hundreds of widows on the banks of river Ganga here, Sulabh founder Bindeshwar Pathak said they have proposed a draft bill for protection of widows.
"I strongly feel that time has come for the government to enact a law for the welfare, protection and maintenance of widows so that their living conditions and general existence are ameliorated," Pathak said.
Sharing his own experiences in society about the enormous sufferings and hardships of widows in the country, he said they have named the bill as `Bill for the Protection, Welfare and Maintenance of Widows`.
Pathak said he would hand over the draft bill to the Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar so that the legislation could see the light of the day.
"The speaker has evinced keen interest in the welfare of the widows and wants their condition to be improved," he said.
On the occasion, the organisation adopted around 150 widows of city by ensuring Rs 2000 monthly dole to each of them besides series of other welfare measures.
The organisation has been carrying out welfare programmes for improving the livelihood of the widows of Vrindavan in Mathura.
PTI
