More than 1,30,000 elderly Uttarakhand women need govt help to improve their living

A survey, conducted by the Department of Women Empowerment and Child Development, unveiled a startling picture of elderly women in Uttarakhand. According to the survey report, more than 1,34,000 elderly women in the state are in dire need of government assistance and safety.

The survey, focusing mainly on primary needs of the elderly women in rural and urban areas of Uttarakhand, highlighted that 4,330 of them need immediate protection and safety for their lives. On the other hand, 61,258 are in urgent need of financial assistance as they are forced to live alone or unable to earn their daily living.

Advertisement

Apart from this, 27,125 women in the state need nutritional support, 11,960 lack adequate food supplies, 23,643 are in dire need of healthcare services and 6,474 elderly (above 60 years) women are in need of houses.

When asked about the action being taken by the government for these vulnerable women, Department of Women Empowerment and Child Development officials said that efforts would be made to link the needy women with various government schemes to help them improve their quality of living.

The officials, unwilling to speak on records, said that the survey report is an eye opener for them and all efforts will be made to provide the elderly women with security, essential medicines, financial aid, nutrition and housing facilities under a properly carved out action plan in coming days.

According to the officials, better facilities can be provided to improve the overall quality of life of the women having poor living, revealed the survey report. The report will help identify actual needs of elderly women in Uttarakhand, said the official. It further revealed that 33,722 women senior citizens are not included in any pension scheme of the government.

It’s notable that the survey was conducted with the help of Anganwadi workers in the state. “Based on these findings, the government will take the necessary steps to improve the living standards of elderly women,” said Rekha Arya, Uttarakhand Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Development.