COVID-19: Scheme launched in Maharashtra for women who lost their husbands

18 benefits and services will be brought under one roof, says Minister

To extend help to women who lost their husbands due to pandemic, the Maharashtra government’s Women and Child Development Department has launched ‘Mission Vatsalya,’ aimed to serve around 18 benefits, schemes, services to them under one roof. “COVID widows, especially from rural areas, underprivileged backgrounds and deprived sections were a neglected facet of the crisis. Due to the death of the breadwinner, their hardship aggravated. Considering these aspects, Mission Vatsalya is launched,” said Women and Child Development Minister Yashomati Thakur. In the last one and half years, around 15,095 women lost their husbands due to COVID-19. Of them, 14,661 women were listed by the District Task Force. Ms. Thakur said efforts are being made by her department to provide 18 services to help them and also to get the certificates they need including a number of schemes like Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana and Gharkul Yojana.