A forum representing single women has prepared a charter of demands pitching for enhanced budgetary allocation so that schemes such as monthly pension and benefits for care-givers can be framed for them. Their call comes at a time five States prepare to vote during Assembly elections and when there are nearly six months left for general elections.
The National Forum for Single Women’s Rights (NFSWR) has also demanded that the Central government look at issues concerning single women not solely as problems afflicting elderly widows but also widows of all ages as well as unmarried, divorced, separated and abandoned women.
They have urged the Centre as well as State governments to ensure a monthly pension of ₹3,000 for all single women whose incomes are below the taxation limit and who don’t receive a pension from any other sources, representatives of NFSWR said at a press conference on Tuesday. They say that being from the below-poverty-line should not be a criterion to determine eligibility for pensionary benefits.
The collective of women’s rights groups has nearly 1.3 lakh women as members from across the country. More than 125 members from 13 States are in Delhi for two days for an advisory committee meeting.
The group has also appealed that the Centre emulate programmes framed by certain State governments for women care-givers, separated from their husbands.
Rajasthan also provides pensions between ₹500 to ₹1500 for single women in different age categories from 18 years to 75 years and above.
The NFSWR has also pressed for a wife’s right in her husband’s land or property.
“When MLAs or MPs come to us seeking votes we we will share this charter with them to get them to commit that our demands will be included in their party manifesto,” said Chandrakala Sharma from Ekta Nari Shakti Sangh in Rajasthan.
According to 2011 census, there are 71.4 million single women, who account for 12% of the total female population. This figure rose by 39% from 51.2 million in 2001 census.
The Women and Child Development Ministry has schemes such as Mahila Shakti Kendra for empowerment of rural women, Swadhar Greh or rehabilitation centres for women in vulnerable circumstances, Support to Training and Employment Programme and Working Women Hostel. It has allocated nearly Rs 427 crore for these programmes in this year’s budget. There is a separate sum of ₹3,703 crore under the Social Security and Welfare category, according to the budget document.