Maneka Gandhi lays foundation stone for ‘Home for 1000 Widows’

Women & Child Development Minister, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi launched the project of construction of a special Home for one thousand widows at Vrindavan, Mathura. The foundation stone for the Home was laid by Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in the presence of Women Welfare Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Smt Syeda Shadab Fatima. Being set up under the ‘Swadhar Greh Scheme’ of the WCD Ministry, this will be the largest ever Home for widows established or funded by the Government.

Speaking on the occasion, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi said that the widows’ Home will be constructed fully by October this year. It will be a Home with a difference since here widows will be able to learn and get skill development to enable them to use their time productively. The shelter home will give a new life to widows, the Minister hoped.

Addressing the gathering, Women Welfare Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Smt Syeda Shadab Fatima said that there are 4500 widows living in Vrindavan and the current facility under construction will be able to provide shelter for one thousand widows at a time which is a commendable effort.

The shelter Home at Vrindavan has a capacity to house 1000 women and is being constructed on 1.424 hectare of land through National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) at an estimated cost of 57 Crores (including cost of the land).