National Human Rights Commission Advisory on Protection of Human Rights of the Widows The loss of a spouse is a period of extreme emotional and psychological turmoil for any individual. Women who lose their spouses often fare worse than their male counterparts. The number of widows across the world is nearly 258 million. Across societies, widows remain vulnerable and are often unable to participate in mainstream society as equal citizens. In the case of India, women who lose their husbands, apart from having to face the emotional distress of losing a spouse, are also faced with numerous other challenges including, but not limited to social exclusion, loss of income, and often, even loss of residence. According to the 2011 Census data, there are 5.6 crore widowed persons in India and women account for nearly 78% of the total widowed population. Widows are often left to fend for themselves after the loss of their spouse. Without adequate support from their families and financial independence, and subjected to isolation from the community, these women are often forced to leave their homes and seek refuge at shelter homes/Ashrams. Prevalence of illiteracy and the economics of aging increase the probability of widowed women having to live this kind of secluded life after the loss of their spouse. With an expectation to see a paradigm shift in the attitudes to interventions from the welfare approach to an entitlement approach, the National Human Rights Commission issues this advisory to the government authorities, and accordingly, makes the following recommendations: 1. Ensuring access to proper identification documents: 1.1 AADHAAR cards of all widows residing in and around the allotted public and private shelter homes should be made to ensure that the benefits of various schemes are made easily accessible to them and are also monitored. 1.2 A dedicated "Widows' Cell" should be constituted in each district that can serve as a single window for schemes for widows. All shelter homes should be registered with the Widows' Cell. 1.3 User friendly and easy processes should be put in place for widows who are not digitally literate to facilitate the access to schemes. 1.4 Documents like Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana {PM-JAY} health cards, ration card, Voter ID, PAN Card; etc. should be provided, and existing cards to be updated for all the widows. 1.5 Given that the shelter homes and Ashrams have the details of all the residents, they should bear the responsibility to enroll destitute widows in welfare schemes 1