Helping hapless widows

Help Hyderabad has been giving a helping hand to widows to overcome financial difficulties, and arming them with skills required to stand on their own

A member of 'Help Hyderabad' says, "Crowd funding helps and good samaritans help with domestic items which we give to the needy." Several widows are unaware about government schemes and they are helped in availing of them. Volunteers visit slums in Secunderabad and identify widows in need.

Karkhana: 'Help Hyderabad,' a city-based NGO, has come to their rescue by providing vocational skills to the young widows and also provide pension to such women. Every month, around 25 to 30 poor widows are given Rs 1,000 for their better enrichment.

'Help Hyderabad' has been working towards the social, economic and personal upliftment of young widow women since the year 2000 in Karkhana in Secunderabad.

The NGO provides tangible assistance to widows to empower them economically. Widows are given training on how to use a sewing machine, making of jute bags, decorative pieces, and homemade spices. Speaking to The Hans India here on Monday, Saba Qadari, women wing president, Help Hyderabad says, "We also help widows in getting educational scholarships."

In certain cases, the young widows are unable to even procure utensils. A member of 'Help Hyderabad' says, "Crowd funding helps and good samaritans help with domestic items which we give to the needy."

Several widows are unaware about government schemes and do not know how to avail them. The volunteers of Help Hyderabad make monthly visits to slums in Secunderabad and identify widows in need.

'Help Hyderabad' also conducts various health camps for the widows and also provides free medicines. The NGO is run by crowd funding and the people who are interested provides needed items.

International Widows Day was observed on June 23. It is being observed since 2010 to raise awareness on violations of human rights that widows suffer in many countries following the death of their spouses.