The NGO, Environment and Consumer Protection Foundation, had submitted a PIL in the Supreme Court, pertaining to the plight of widows in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. This was at the court of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta.

On March 29, Aparna Bhat, the counsel for the petitioner, read out the commission report and recommendations for the upliftment of the widows. She said: “The ministry of women and child should make and maintain a database with the details about the windows. Legal assistance may be provided since most of them have families and some are fighting for their rights and property. But they find it difficult to follow up the cases.

“Funds for vocational training like tailoring, etc. for the widows should be arranged,” she suggested. She also said that there are many young and very well educated widows in Vrindavan.

She also asked for medical insurance to be provided by the government.

The bench called the government officers in front and asked them to look at the recommendations and discuss with the parties and let the court know the viability of the recommendations so that it could pass directions.

Matter set to be listed on April 6.

—By India Legal Bureau