Hyderabad: Self-help groups of women who have lost their husbands and voluntary organisations working for them want political parties to include in their manifesto the promise to bring about an Act to prevent atrocities against these women on the lines of the SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act.
Representatives of such organisations met TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana PCC president Ponnala Laxmaiah and YSR Congress leaders asking for enactment of the “Prevention of Atrocities against Women Act” to prevent using abusive words against them. They demanded an end to discrimination against them in social parties and functions in villages where it is still felt that a widow is a bad omen.
Y. Rama of the widows’ self-help group of Torrur in Warangal said, “Our group have 15,000 members across the state. We are sharing our experiences of psychological torture meted out in society. People think that we are bad omen. With the SC/ST Atrocities Act in vogue, people are cautious of abusing or ill treating dalits and tribals. In social gatherings and marriages, we are still abused. After the husband’s death, for 10 days it’s hell for us. The practice that is rampant in villages is that relatives come in and give white saris, white bangles and flowers and again remove them.”
Many of the widows are young, aged around 25, whose husbands have died in accidents or due to alcohol abuse or illnesses. T. Ahalya of Dantalapalli in Narsingampet in Warangal, who is a tailor, said, “There is no respect for us in society. Sexual abuse is very common. People don’t invite us to functions. Men pass lewd comments when we walk in the streets in villages and towns.”
Executive director of Balavikasa NGO, S. Shoury Reddy, said, “In the modern age it is a shame for our society to practise this discrimination. Our internal survey indicates 28 per cent of widows have committed or attempted to commit suicide for not being able to cope with psychological, social and financial problems.”
“Widows are looking for security. An Act can ensure that security and dignity to them. Being a single head of the family, it is becoming too burdensome for young widows to educate their children. Hence, along with increased widows’ pension, special packages must be introduced for young widows with children studying.” he added
