Widows, deserted women, spinsters seek hike in monthly assistance, and free houses

Seeking a hike in the monthly assistance being given to widows, deserted women and the spinsters and free houses, members of Tamil Nadu Widows’ Collective submitted a petition to District Collector Anand Mohan on Monday.

In their petition, they said Tamil Nadu houses 38.56 lakh widows, 4.43 lakh deserted women and spinsters as per the 2011 census. Hence, the Tamil Nadu Government should increase the upper age limit for the widows, deserted women and the spinsters to 55 for availing the assistance being extended by the State and the Central Governments.

The monthly assistance being given to the widows, deserted women and the spinsters should be increased to ₹5,000, considering the unprecedented inflation.

Since most of these women are living in poverty and have no house, the government should give them free houses which will ensure their safety. The government, after conducting a special survey to create complete data about the widows, deserted women and the spinsters, should evolve new schemes to improve their livelihood and ensure level playing field in education and employment, they said.

Seeking the closure of the TASMAC’s liquor shop at Mela Karungulam on Palayamkottai – Papanasam Highway, a petition was submitted. The petitioner said the liquor shop fostering caste enmity and often causing accidents should be closed down permanently considering social harmony in this sensitive area.