Introduction & Background

The widow population in India is estimated to be around 40 million. The highest concentration of them, currently around 10,000, is in the holy city of Vrindavan and Radhakund.

Neglected and abandoned by their families, due to death of spouse or other family circumstances, these women have flocked to Vrindavan over the years to find help and spend the last years of their life in spiritual / religious activities in the holy city. Most of them are in the age group of 65-80 and hence not so physically fit to find employment or earn a livelihood by other means. Many of them suffer from age related issues like dementia, Parkinson, joint issues, failing eyesight, organ failure, life threatening diseases like Cancer, Heart ailments, paralysis etc. With highly inadequate Government support, they are forced to dwell on the pavements and beg on the streets for survival. They have no access to medical help and lead a life of suffering and abject Poverty. 

There is an urgent to provide relief to the above mentioned destitute, aged, abandoned women, mostly widows (referred to as MOTHERS hereinafter in this document)

General Features of the Project

• Name of the Project: Maatri Seva (Care Homes) - Giving Dignity to Abandoned, Aged, Destitute Women
• Duration of the Project: Continuous Process
• Areas covered:  Vrindavan and Radhakund
• This project is in consonance with schedule VII of the Section 135 of The Companies Act, 2013 and SDC 1 SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 10, SDG16 & SDG 17

 Project Objectives

This project seeks to support the abandoned, aged, destitute, women, mostly widows in anround Vridavan and Radhakund by providing services:

• To provide basic amenities like food, clothing, shelter (Rent), and medical facilities
• To support the very old abandoned MOTHERS (average age 75 years) who can not live by themselves. Many of them suffer suffer from age related ailments, like Dementia, Parkinson, Paralysis, Blindness and other critical illnesses and require constant help with their daily personal chores like washing, moving around, eating and medication.
• To help them deal with their emotional and mental issues and traumas
• To introduce active aging and empowerment programs to enhance their longevity & quality of life 
• Provide need based complete medical support including surgeries and Physio-therapies. 
• Help them integrate / return to their families, wherever possible;
• Funeral services 

Project Intervention

 The trust runs three care homes called “ashram” where the most needy and ageing women are housed. Many of them are bed-ridden. The average age of these Mothers is above 75 years. The care homes provide 24X7 care for around 80 Mothers as of now.  

The intervention parameters for each of the Ashrams are as follows: -

Budget

Total project Cost Rs 1.15 cr. Funding available upto Rs 68.85 lakhs. Balance Rs 70 lakh funding is requested. This is a co-sponsored program

Online monitoring will be possible through a digital platform

• Mothers database is available in the system
• Records of intervention shall be updated on the platform
• Donors shall be able to view the same online