June 23 was marked as the day to raise awareness about the plight of widows worldwide and to advocate for their rights and well-being. The occasion serves as a reminder of the difficulties widows experience and the pressing need to solve their social, economic and legal problems.
Various events were organised in different cities in India to raise awareness among widows about their rights, foster a sense of community and support for widows, promote empowerment and provide resources for widows to improve their livelihoods and advocate for policy changes to address the specific needs of widows. Motivational speakers, advocates and professors spoke on the issues of Financial Management, Need for Skill Development, Legal & Human rights and Stress Management on the occasion.
Dhilwan, Punjab
Venue – Shri Jagiri Lal Loomba Govt. Senior Secondary School, Dhilwan; Organizer’s Name – Mrs Anju Sharma, Principal. Chief Guest- Kuldip Pathak, Chairman, Dhilwan Market Committee, Guests of Honour - Gurditta, Chairman, School Management Committee, Kinder Dhillon, Councilor Dhilwan. Scholarship cheques were distributed to 48 meritorious students of Loomba Memorial Senior Secondary School and Govt Girls Smart High School Dhilwan who secured 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in classes VI to XII (Academic Session 2022-23). The cheque was Rs 3100, 2,100 and 1,100 respectively for each student as per rank. Further, 20 students of widows were given a scholarship for the first instalment of Rs 3000 for the session 2023-24.
Ludhiana, Punjab
Venue – Shimla Restaurant and Banquet Hall, Shimlapuri, Near DSSO Office Ludhiana. Organizer’s name – Mrs. Rajvinder Kaur, Project Coordinator, Punjab, The Loomba Foundation.
Chief guest Mrs. Rajinder Pal Kaur Chhina, MLA Ludhiana South. Special Guests - Sardar Charan Singh, President Guru Amar Das Apahij Ashram, Sarabha, Mrs. Rajinder Pal Kaur, CDPO, Sudhar. Around 50 widows, dignitaries attended the event.
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Venue – SEWA Office, Ahmedabad. Organizer’s Name – Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) – Ms Prutha Ben, Event Coordinator. Around 60 widows were present during the event.
Jammu (Jammu & Kashmir)
Venue – IIT Jammu. Organizer’s Name – Kallpoosh Foundation, R. Wanchoo, Event Coordinator.
Justice Sunil Hali (Retd.), former justice of J & K High Court was chief guest. Around 60 widows and participants assembled.
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Venue – Lok Bharti Training Center, Bighu Kakori. Organizer’s Name – Lok Bharti Skilling Solutions Pvt. Ltd. – Ms. Priyal Jain, Event Coordinator. Event – Certificate distribution was organised among the candidates who successfully completed the vocation course.
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Venue – Prabhunarayan Inter College Ramnagar, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Organizer’s Name – Awaz Foundation, Varanasi, Dr Ashok Dubey, President and Ms Nitu Singh, Secretary, Awaz Foundation. Chief Guest Ashok Tiwari (Mayor), Varanasi, Special Guest Dr Prabhash Jha, Principal, Smt. Usha Singh, Senior Teacher, Prabhunarayan Inter College, Varanasi, Madan Mohan Tiwari, Counselor, Sarainandan, Varanasi, Sanjay Singh, Advocate, Sales Tax, Varanasi. More than 35 widows were honoured during the event and sarees were distributed as a token of respect.
Bangalore, Karnataka
Venue – Thindlu Boys Vocational Training Center, Above SBI, Thindlu. Organizer’s name – In association with Lions Clubs Bangalore, Santhi, event coordinator. Chief Guest: Lion B.S. Rajashekaraiah, pmjt District Governor 2022-23. Sixty seven widows were tested for HB Count and over 30 were given iron tablets. Three laptops were donated to young widows.
Jaipur, Rajasthan
Venue – Gram Panchayat Administration, Ram ji Kalan, Rural Area of Jaipur. Organizer’s name – Dr. O. P. Yadav, Editor, DD News, New Delhi. Chief guest Hari Prasad Sharma, President Subordinate Services Selection Board. Guest of Honour - Dr. Mohal Lal Yadav, Divisional Commissioner Sikar and Smt. Jaswinder Kaur Sandhu, Social Worker. Two hundred and sixty widows were honoured during the event. Sarees were given to widows who were present.
Udaipur, Rajasthan
Venue – Rajasthan Bal Kalyan Samiti Headquarter Jhadol, Udaipur. Organizer’s name Girija Shankar Sharma, Secretary and Managing Director, Rajasthan Bal Kalyan Samiti. Chief guest - Smt. Himmat, Patron Rajasthan Bal Kalyan Samiti. Around 200 widows participated in the event.
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Venue – Sana Community Hall, Sandhurst Road, Mumbai. Organizer’s name – Ms Fauzia Khan, Coordinator, The Loomba Foundation. Chief Guest- Amin Patel (MLA), Guest of Honour - Adv. Javeed Hussain, Dr. Anita Marwah, Mrs. Karuna, Khair-e-Ummat Trust. Around 60 widows took part.
Thane, Mumbai
Venue – Kashinath Ghanekar Mini Auditorium, Thane. Organizer’s name – Rotary Clubs of Thane Northend. Coordinator - Rtn. A. Ravindran, Chairman Project Dignity. Chief Guest- Rtn. AKSM.B.M Sivarraj, Past District Governor (2017-18), Rid.3142. Guest of honour- Smt. Parishatai Sarnaik, Corporator, TMC. Speaker Ruchika Shinde on the Fundamental Freedoms and Human Rights of Widows. Around 210 widows were present during the event.