SC says condition of Vrindavan widows 'bad' despite its orders

Noting that there was "no" improvement in "pitiable" living conditions of widows in shelter homes at Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court today asked a senior state official to ensure compliance of its earlier orders within 45 days.

"It appears that no substantial progress has been made despite our orders. Civic facilities are poor and something has to be done. The condition of widows is very bad," the social justice bench comprising justices Madan B Lokur and U U Lalit said.

It appointed Priyanka Kumar, Secretary of the Women and Child Welfare Ministry of UP Government, as the nodal officer and asked her to do the "needful" within 45 days from today.
 

The bench referred to various reports filed by the NALSA, District Legal Services Authority and National Commission for Women (NCW) on "pitiable" conditions of four shelter homes meant for widows in the temple town of Uttar Pradesh.

The bench asked the Secretary to look into these reports and the order of the court and ensure their compliance.

It also asked the government official to ensure that there is no lack of funds.

One of the reports said that there is lack of proper toilets and bathrooms in the shelter homes and moreover, monkeys have also created a havoc there.

There are also poor facilities of water and electricity, it said.

Earlier, the apex court had pulled up the National Commission for Women and its Uttar Pradesh counterpart for their apathy to the pitiable condition of Virandavan widows in shelter homes.

It had asked the state government to provide adequate food and hygienic living environment for them.

The bench had also directed the state government to provide medical facilities to the widows. It had directed the Vrindavan chief medical officer to ensure that a team of doctors visits the widows' shelter at least twice a week.

The court had passed the order on pleas seeking direction to the Centre and the state government to provide shelter and other necessary facilities to the widows in the city who have been abandoned by their family members.