ગુજરાતી
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Instead of ₹30,000 per Month, Only ₹1,250 is Provided
Out of 25 Lakh Widows in Gujarat, Only 16 Lakh Receive a Pension
📅 12/03/2025
This information highlights how the number of widowed women and men has increased over the years in Gujarat and how the pension assistance provided by the government remains insufficient.
Key Points:
Number of Widows and Widowers:
- 2011: 26.53 lakh
- 2025 (Estimated): 33 lakh
- Widows: 25 lakh
- Widowers: 8 lakh
Government Pension:
- Only 16.50 lakh widows receive a pension.
- They receive just ₹1,250 per month.
- ₹30,000 per month is required, but the government spends only ₹2,475 crore.
Comparison with Other States:
- In other states, pensions range from ₹300 to ₹2,000.
- Some states also provide healthcare, education, housing, and scholarships.
Other Schemes for Widowed Women:
- 35 Sakhi One-Stop Centers are operational.
- Widows aged 18+ and living below the poverty line receive ₹700 per month.
- 7 new working women’s hostels will be built.
Conclusion:
The pension amount for widowed women in Gujarat is significantly low, and despite demands for an increase, the government has made no major improvements. Compared to other states, financial assistance in Gujarat remains inadequate.
Detailed Report
According to the 2011 census, there were 20 lakh widowed women, which is estimated to increase to 25 lakh by 2025. In 2011, there were 6.37 lakh widowed men, which is now estimated to be 8 lakh. Overall, in 2011, 26.53 lakh people were without a spouse, and this number is now expected to reach 33 lakh. However, the Gujarat government provides a pension to only 16.50 lakh widowed women.
If all 33 lakh people were given ₹30,000 per month as a pension, the total requirement would be ₹1,18,800 crore. But the Bhupendra Patel-led Gujarat government spends only ₹2,475 crore.
In 2020, 5 lakh women received ₹500 crore in pensions. Now, in 2025, 16.49 lakh widowed women in Gujarat receive ₹1,250 per month. Annually, ₹14 crore is deposited in bank accounts. There was a demand to increase the pension to ₹5,000 per month, but the government rejected this request.
Widowed women from Aravalli district protested and submitted a memorandum to the collector demanding an increase in pension.
Comparison with Pension Schemes in Other States:
- Some states provide pensions ranging from ₹300 to ₹2,000.
- In some states, widowed women receive free and subsidized healthcare services.
- Scholarships and education benefits are given priority for children of widowed women.
- Some states prioritize widowed women in government housing schemes.
Other Government Schemes in Gujarat:
- 35 Sakhi One-Stop Centers are operational across the state.
- A girl receives financial assistance of ₹1.10 lakh at different stages of her life.
- 7 new working women’s hostels will be built in Ahmedabad (1), Vadodara (2), Surat (2), Gandhinagar (1), and Rajkot (1).
- A budget of ₹7,668.03 crore for the Women and Child Development Department was approved in the state assembly.
- Widowed women aged 18+ and living below the poverty line receive ₹700 per month until they remarry or their son turns 21 years old.
