There are about 46.5 million widows in India. 75% of women-run households are headed by widows. A widowed woman is considered bad luck in Indian culture, and she is thought to be the indirect cause of the death of her husband. Her family often shuns or even abandons her. Indian thought states that in childhood, a girl is taken care of by her father, in marriage by her husband, in old age by her son. A widowed woman is thus considered “masterless” and therefore is at the mercy of the remaining family, such as the brother in law, who often forces her into a second marriage with him in order to maintain the property that she would otherwise inherit from the death of her husband. Widowed women may not wear color or jewelry or decorate themselves in any way, according to tradition.

Abandoned by their families, many widowed women are forced to leave their home and travel to the holy city of Vridavan where they go to live out their last years in the hope of redemption and salvation. There are thousands of widows in the city of Vrindavan, Varanasi, and other areas in India. There are also many shelters, but never quite enough to house and protect them all. These mothers, grandmothers and daughters are seen by many to have no social value or financial security and many have to beg to survive.

Our organization provides support to these women and their children by distributing food and supplies such as wheat flour, rice, lentils, oil, spices, sugar, tea, soap, detergent, toothpaste and other items. We are committed to dedicating most of your donations directly to the widows and their children. We believe that all women deserve a life of dignity and honor.