New Delhi: No matter whether a Muslim man
has one wife or four wives, all of them will be eligible for
widow pension from the Delhi government in case of his death.
Clarifying the issue which had been mired in
confusion, Delhi Health and Family Welfare Minister Kiran
Walia, whose department looks after the widow pension scheme,
told the Assembly that the benefit is available for all the
wives of a Muslim man.
The issue was raised by BJP MLA SPS Ratawal and
several other legislators also sought clarification from the
minister on the issue, saying they often face such kind of
situation.
In India, a Muslim man can have four wives. A
recommendation by the local MLA was necessary for extending
the benefit to the widows.
The Delhi government extends the pension to those widows
facing financial difficulties and those living below poverty
line.
The MLAs also wanted to clarification on recently
announced pension scheme for destitute to which Walia said
government does not have any "rigid norms" on extending the
benefit.
"It is open to divorced women and those abandoned by
their husbands. But any poor woman who is reduced to
destitution because of some other reasons also apply for it,"
she said.
Walia said even sex workers, willing to leave the
profession, can also apply for the benefit.
She said government has set up "Nirmal Ashray" centres
where sex workers willing to leave the profession, may stay.
"We offer vocational training to train them in these
centres," she said.
PTI
