Village Information Centre: A Ray of Hope for Widow Women@HARIT PRAYAS Jhansi

Khandi is one of the target villages of project Harit Prayas. A V.I.C. has been established in this village. Though it will take time to inculcate the habit of listening radio or using V.I.C as per their requirement, but to my surprise, two women approached me for with forms in their hands. They had forms for widow pension scheme with them. (ramlali’s in pics, getting her form filled)

I was there for conducting a farmers’ club formation process meeting. The women named 1. Chanda, 2. Ramlali, requested me to fill up the forms.  I asked that from where you got this widow pension form. They said that they receive the form from khusiram. Khusram is the person who has facilitated harit prayas project’s V.I.C and gave his room for the purpose. Some discussion I came to know that Chanda’s husband had died almost 8 years ago and she has three so and eldest one is of 11yrs old. She has very small piece of land but due to scarcity of water and lack of resources she is unable to cultivate the land. So she works a a labour I the village only, often irregular labour work. For few months she was also employed in MDMS for the village school. But now she has lost her job and she is facing problem in feeding her children. The same is the story of Ramlali. Her husband died 1 yr ago and her sons are staying away from village and do not take care of her. She also requested to fill up the form.

Shockingly, chanda, for the last 8 yrs, did not or could not fill up the widow pension form. Whatever is the reason, but the V.I.C has forms for all government schemes and availability of widow pension forms in the village facilitated and motivated them to apply for the widow pension form. If they receive the widow pension, it will be great help for them.

Challenges in ensuring the widow pension for them

·         There is no death certificate with them. After 8 yrs of death, it is difficult to get death certificate to obtain. It is a time consuming and expensive process.

·         They will have to travel to the district headquarter and get affidavit prepared by them for the death certificate.

·         The district probation offices will be approached by the team for submitting their form and then rest of the things depends upon the government officials.