On International Widows’ Day, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that Bengal government is committed in proving welfare to residents of the state and lack support and care.
In a tweet, Banerjee said “Today is International Widows’ Day. Our government provides financial assistance to widows who are residents of the State and lack support and care. We are committed to the welfare of all our citizens”.
Today is International Widows’ Day. Our government provides financial assistance to widows who are residents of the State and lack support and care. We are committed to the welfare of all our citizens.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 23, 2018
The day was launched by the Loomba Foundation in the House of Lords in London in 2005. The day takes place annually on 23 June.
International Widows’ Day is a United Nations ratified day of action to address the “poverty and injustice faced by millions of widows and their dependents in many countries”.
On 21 December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly formally adopted 23 June as International Widows Day.
As per United Nations, International Widows’ Day is an opportunity for action towards achieving full rights and recognition for widows – too long invisible, uncounted and ignored. A dearth of reliable hard data remains one of the major obstacles to developing the policies and programmes to address the poverty, violence and discrimination suffered by widows.
There is a need for more research and statistics disaggregated by marital status, sex and age, in order to help reveal the incidence of widow abuse and illustrate the situation of widows.
Empowering widows through access to adequate healthcare, education, decent work, full participation in decision-making and public life, and lives free of violence and abuse, would give them a chance to build a secure life after bereavement. Importantly, creating opportunities for widows can also help to protect their children and avoid the cycle of inter-generational poverty and deprivation, added UN.