Why in News?

•  The Minister for Women & Child Development, along with CM of Uttar Pradesh, inaugurated the widows’ home ‘Krishna Kutir’ at a function at Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

Krishna Kutir:

•     Krishna Kutir is a special home for 1000 widows set up by the Ministry of WCD under SwadharGreh scheme of the Ministry and is the largest ever facility of its kind created by a government organization.
•  The Ministry took cognizance of this shocking condition of widows living in Vrindavan who refused to go back to their native place or their home
• In order to provide dignified and humane living conditions to them, the Ministry, as a special case, constructed this Krishna Kutir at the temple town of Vrindavan with all the required facilities
• Widows will be a part of various committees which will be formed to manage the widows’ home.

Particulars of the Krishna Kutir:

• Krishna Kutir has been constructed on 1.4 hectare of land through National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) with a capacity of 1000 inmates.
• It has beautifully made 100 rooms/dormitories.
• The design of the Home has been prepared in consultation with Helpage India and is old age friendly.
• The facility is also equipped with a large modern kitchen and a skill cum training centre.

Why shelter for Widows?

• The widows’ home has been constructed by the WCD Ministry to mitigate the plight of widows living in pathetic condition in Vrindavan.

Other Initiatives:

• UP Government has become the first State to link the women’s helpline 181 to the One Stop Centres.
• UP has also provided rescue vans for women in distress in every district.