72 i RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN
7.18 The Commission has been gratified to note that the Department ofWomen and
Child Development, Government of India has, since then, sanctioned a sum of Rs.3.3
crores under the Swadhar Scheme, out of which Rs.2.3 crores will be provided as a
grant to the Government of Uttar Pradesh for the construction of a home with a 1,000
bed capacity. The remaining amount will be used for rehabilitation of these widows
7.19 In addition, at the request of the Commission, HelpAge India has started a
health service to the widows in Vrindavan with the help of a mobile van which visits
the areas where the widows reside.
7.20 As the great majority of widows in Vrindavan are from the State of West Bengal,
the Commission has urged the Government of that State to extend its pension scheme
to those widows now in Vrindavan who are from that State. The Commission considers
it important, in this respect, that the pension scheme and the relevant laws of West
Bengal be interpreted expansively to meet this need, and that the response of the State
Government to the Commission's recommendation be prompt and positive. The
Commission has noted that, in response to the situation, the Government of Uttar
Pradesh has proposed to increase the amoimt of the pension that it will be paying to
some of the widows in Vrindavan.
E] Nomenclature to be used in Official
Documents for Addressing Wives of
Persons who have Died
7.21 The Commission considered a proposal from an NGO — Uttam Environment
Awareness Mission (UEAM) of Jammu and Kashmir which suggested that the existing
nomenclature for addressing women who lost their life partners, as used in the
records of the Revenue Department, Schools, Employment Exchanges and other such
institutions, be declzired to be 'Dead Words'. It stated that the existing usage added to
the depression created by the loss and intensified the psychological crisis. It was urged
that a change be made in nomenclature that is used, as this would encourage those
who had suffered such loss to assume a dignified place in society.
7.22 Agreeing with the proposal, on 19 June 2001 the Commission made a
NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION