51% widows live in fear of sexual harassment: Survey

Madurai: Around 51% of widows who participated in a survey in Tamil Nadu said they feel unsafe and are in fear of being subjected to sexual harassment. The study also found that nearly 60% of respondents earn less than Rs 60,000 a year and were living in poverty conditions.The study was conducted by Kalangarai, a Nagapattinam-based NGO, and authored by social welfare activists Aloysius Irudayam, Rajakumari Michaelsamy, Paul Michael Raj and Jayashree P Mangubhai. A total of 495 widows aged above 21 years from 16 districts from different religions and castes were interviewed in the year-long study titled, ‘Widows in Tamil Nadu: In Search of Dignity, Safety, Human Rights, and Entitlements’. The findings were released by activists in Madurai on Sunday in observance of ‘International Widows Day.’

The survey found that 71.3% of the respondents work as labourers in the informal sector with no job security or access to employment benefits. “The loss of a husband brings about profound changes in a widow’s life, leading to economic insecurity, emotional distress, stigmatisation and often substantial debt. Nearly 85% of the widows have taken loans,” said Rajakumari, one of the researchers. Dehumanising social and cultural practices are another aspect highlighted, particularly during funeral rites. Nearly 91.3% of the widows found the rituals degrading, but felt powerless to oppose them. Rituals included them being paraded to a temple pond before sunrise after pouring cold water, along with a sound from the convolute shell, forcefully removing flowers, kumkum, turmeric and thali, and breaking bangles. Almost 84.2% of the widows surveyed believe that such rituals should be banned. “These rituals are only there to brand us as ‘inauspicious’ and strip us of our dignity. We need new laws that abolish these practices,” said P Kasthuri, a member of Widows and Destitute Women Welfare Association - Tamil Nadu. While many have obtained documents like Aadhar cards and ration cards, only 38.6% of respondents have the necessary documentation to receive a widow’s pension. “Widows shared experiences of sexual harassment at workplaces, govt offices, banks and even in their residences by neighbours, relatives, and husband’s family members. Living alone with young children and the absence of a support system in the family added to their woes,” said Rajakumari. The activists and urged the govt to enact a legislation to protect widows from discrimination and atrocities and ensure their well-being. The study also reveals severe mental health impacts on almost all the widows with anxiety over their children’s future affecting 64.8% of widows and nearly 15% of their children discontinuing education after their father’s death. “Given that alcohol is a significant factor leading to widowhood, the Tamil Nadu government should reconsider its liquor policy,” added Kasturi.
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