Losing a long-term spouse can cause symptoms such as depression, anxiety and feelings of guilt. Physical illness may also occur as the body becomes more vulnerable to emotional and environmental stressors. Majority of widows in India are deprived of inheritance rights and become victims of sexual abuse or violence. Indian widows are often visible, not least in relation to their economic contribution and unpaid family work in household. Widows come across economic hardship during their life. They are bound to send their children out to work to earn income instead of sending them to school for education.
The total number of widows in India is extremely large. These widows till today remain oppressed by norms, traditions and cultural expectation of the past. Widows across the globe share two common experiences: a loss of social status and reduced financial stability. In both developed and developing countries, widows suffer a dramatic and subtle transformation in their social position. Today, millions of the world’s widows, of all ages, endure extreme poverty, ostracism, violence, homelessness, ill health and discrimination in law and custom. A lack of inheritance and land rights, widow abuse and the practice of degrading, domestic violence are prime examples of human rights violations that are justified by reliance on culture and tradition.
Many states in India have introduced pension for widows. However, the monetary value of widows’ pensions is a continuing source of grievance, since the value often does not keep up with fluctuations in the ever-changing cost-of-living indices or with expectations. There is a striking lack of public concern for the quiet deprivations experienced by millions of widows on a daily basis. This gap in our understanding is particularly serious in view of the fact that some of these deprivations are quite severe and widespread and are reflected in relatively high mortality rates among widows.
Social Exclusion of Widows: In a society totally governed for centuries by patriarchy, discrimination on the basis of sex exists in almost every political, economic, social and legal institution. In such a situation the Indian widow is triply discriminated against, as a woman, as a widow and as a poor widowed woman. In our country widows are systematically blocked from (or denied full access to) various rights, opportunities and resources that are normally available to women of a different group and which are fundamental to social integration and observance of human rights. Widows are living in very poor conditions and are excluded from facilities, benefits and opportunities that others enjoy. The existence of social exclusion makes it difficult to achieve particular social objectives, such as reducing poverty and malnutrition, because they are often hidden barriers to reaching those who are socially excluded. Social exclusion tells us that social relationships are threatened or damaged, and therefore, exclusion tells us there is a crisis, by causing an aversive feeling. It leads to the impoverishment of human life and develops a poorer sense of well-being. It leads to inequality, poverty and unemployment. When widows are wholly or partially, excluded from full participation in the society in which they live, this results discrimination, deprivation, isolation, shame etc.
Unemployment: Unemployment is a major issue in India. The effects of unemployment on the economy are equally severe; 1 per cent increase in unemployment reduces the GDP by 2 per cent. As of September 2018, according to the Indian government, India had 31 million jobless people. Unemployment affects the unemployed individual and his/her family not only with respect to income, but also with respect to health and mortality. Moreover, the effects linger for decades. Widows in India are the most sufferers and unemployment leads them to depression, low self-esteem, anxiety and other mental health issues. Due to unemployment they have been exploited. They have to accept low wages and work under unfavourable conditions, and under the situation of unemployment a widow has no source of income. Unemployment causes poverty. There is an increase in the burden of debt of these widows. Regarding derivation of economic rights many examples can be cited; the deprivation of women from property rights which is a major source of stable income in our rural areas where two-third of the people are dependent on agriculture. It has been seen that widows in most cases fail to inherent their share of land, their near relatives especially in a joint family are not ready to offer inheritance right on different pretexts.
Psychological research has demonstrated that living in poverty has a wide range of negative effects on the physical and mental health and well-being of our nation’s children. Poverty impacts children within their various contexts at home, in school and in their neighbourhoods and communities. Poor children and teens are also at greater risk for several negative outcomes such as poor academic achievement, school dropout, abuse and neglect, behavioural and socio-emotional problems, physical health problems, and developmental delays. These effects are compounded by the barriers children and their families encounter when trying to access physical and mental health care. Chronic stress associated with living in poverty has been shown to adversely affect children’s concentration and memory which may impact their ability to learn.
Widowhood is an event that constitutes the greatest and saddest change in the life of a woman. Death of husband brings numerous problems for the widow. She realizes that for the in-laws she is a burden on the family economy and, hence, not welcome. All of a sudden, she is exposed to face the pain of bereavement as well as realign herself to a new role. All over the world widows are found to have many problems in common. Economic and emotional setbacks are inevitable for them. However, Indian widows are specially the target of backward social attitudes. Indian women are trapped in so many ways that even in their thoughts they dare not attempt committing to desires that otherwise come naturally to people. For decades they have been kept prisoners inside the very loops of petting and pampering just to keep their eyes off the sky and their hearts off what is desirable. The problem of widowhood calls for action on various fronts, based on different forms of organisation. It is extremely hard for a widow on her own to challenge the social restrictions and economic deprivations of which she is the victim. Effective collective action is, therefore, a basic condition in order to achieve change in the situation of widows.
The primary concerns and demands of rural widows include not only some economic security but also dignity and respect. These psychological and social aspects of well-being are of great significance even for those who live extremely deprived lives in material terms. The education of women plays a central role in the process of social change, and in helping women to have greater control over their own lives. It must be made a compulsion to educate every girl for a better future. Therefore, each one of us must be ready to treat women as equal counterparts. We must help them at every stage and more than that empower them to make their own decisions. We must join hands to protect and safeguard our women in India. It will help us thrive as a country and make the world a better place. This is central to a long-term solution to their vulnerability and a firm step towards greater autonomy and self-reliance.

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Dr Imtiyaz Ahmad Wani