SC constitutes five-member team to ensure rehabilitation of Vrindavan widows

The Supreme Court on Friday constituted a five member team to ensure proper rehabilitation for the Vrindavan widows.

This committee is constituted to suggest steps and measures that could be taken to rehabilitate, compensate and make lives of the widowed women residing in Vrindavan better.

The apex court bench headed by Justice Madan Bhimrao Lokur, even directed to include lawyers and social activists in the five member committee to get detailed information on the same.

Earlier in July, the top court expressing concern over the plight of widows forced to live a life of destitution asked the Centre to frame scheme to promote their remarriage.

The court said that the Centre must take steps to remove the social stigma faced by the widows after being abandoned by their family, and to rehabilitate them by imparting skills, to make them independent.

Earlier, the court while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) questioned as to how can girls under eighteen be married and discarded by families if they turn widows.

The Supreme Court also asked National Commission for Women and Uttar Pradesh Government to file a complete report into the matter.

The apex court in May issued notices to the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh Government on the PIL filed the NGO highlighting the plight of the widows who beg at temples in Vrindavan.