Indomitable will by single women moves the government

Shimla, Apr 3 (UNI) The indomitable will shown by the single women from all walks of life from the hill state, who carried on with their three-day Padyatra from Dhami to Shimla braving rains, finally moved the system and they ultimately went back home with their hopes enlivened after hearing a word of concern from Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

The women, mostly old widows abandoned by their children, patiently waited for the Chief Minister outside the vidhan sabha for about three hours, as the vidhan sabha session went on till evening.

Mr Dhumal, who later addressed the the widows, deserted and unmarried women, whose number had swollen to over 2600 on the final day of the yatra assured that the government would give necessary directions to issue ration cards to all those single women, who are living as a separate unit.

He also promised that the government would provide free health care facility to them after observing codal formalities to ascertain their eligibility.

The Chief Minister said he had already issued directions to clear the pending cases of social security pension and that the cases of widows and deserted women were being taken up on priority.

Asked about the denial of social security pension to the single women, who have been abandoned by their children, the Chief Minister said that "the government would consider all such cases if the Panchayat Pradhans certify that they are single".

Mr Dhumal said the government was alive to problems of all the single women in the state and said the government would sympathetically consider the other demands put forward by the Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan.

"What ever is in my hand, we will do the maximum. We will find out ways to solve the problems of widows, deserted and other single women in the state," he said.

While appreciating Mr Dhumal's gesture, Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan state coordinator Nirmal Chandel said, "We hope the measures would be taken soon and actually benefit the needy women." UNI AS PS JS2052