RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN D] Rehabilitation of Destitute Women in Vrindavan 7.40 The Commission has, for the past years, been engaged in efforts to improve the status and uphold the rights of destitute and marginalized women, particularly widows, living in the area of Vrindavan. The preceding annual report of the Commission listed certain decisions that had been taken in a meeting with senior officials of the Governments of Uttar Pradesh as well as of West Bengal on 23 August 2001. 7.41 In pursuance of this matter, a meeting was convened once again by Justice Smt. Sujata V. Manohar on 3 October 2002. The meeting was attended, among others, by a former Member of the Commission, who had visited Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh on 5-6 December 2001 and the Secretary, Department of Women & Child Development (DWCD), Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. In this meeting, all aspects of the issue relating to the welfare of the destitute/marginalized women living in Vrindavan were discussed at length and the following decisions/suggestions made: a) Accommodation/Housing 7.42 As decided in the meeting held the previous year, two additional buildings had been taken on rent in order to accommodate more women; both the buildings were expected to become functional by the end of October 2002. 7.43 With a view to providing both young and elderly destitute women with safe accommodation for group living, it was noted that a piece of land measuring 0.809 hectares had been purchased in Vrindavan by the State Government for housing/accommodating 1,000 women. Possession of this land was to be taken over by the District Administration, Mathura shortly and the construction of the building would start as soon as the State Government decided upon the allocation of the construction work of the building to identified agencies such as the PWD/ HUDCO, etc. b) Pensions 7.44 During the deliberations held on 23 August 2001, representatives of Government of Uttar Pradesh had promised to raise the existing pension amount of Rs. 125 to Rs. 250 per month. However, as this assurance had not been fulfilled, the view was taken that the State Government should be able ANNUAL REPORT 2002-2003 ... ... 99 ... ... ..