Union law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday said that his Ministry would “make decisive intervention” in the field of widow welfare and will support the cause of widow welfare that is pending in a PIl before the Supreme Court.
Speaking at an event organised on the occasion of International Widows’ Day, Prasad said that the Government will decisively intervene to ensure widows in the country get their rights. The event was organised by loomba Foundation. Cherie Blair, the President of loomba Foundation and spouse of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, addressed the issue and expressed hope for the cause in the matter being heard by the Supreme Court.
“The Supreme Court of India is considering this issue and a hearing is coming up in July. I am very proud that the loomba Foundation is being represented as an intervener in the proceedings,” she said. She asserted that the Foundation alone is helpless as it needs support from Government and authorities such as the Supreme Court to ensure justice to widows.
Responding to the demand, Prasad assured Blair that though the law and Justice Minister, as a matter of principle, stays away from any court proceedings, but in the present case, he will make an exception and ensure that the department under him makes a “decisive” intervention in favour of the rights of the widows.
The matter which is pending in Supreme Court has seen interesting twists and turns. last month, the Court lambasted states for showing slackness to the cause of widow welfare. It slapped fines on eight State Governments for not heeding to the Centre’s proposal to set up an expert committee to deal with problems about the welfare of widows and destitute women.
The court suggested that the Centre should consider framing a “composite” scheme by merging a plethora of existing ones, to be presented as an acceptable model for state to follow. The case is being heard by a Bench of Justices Madan B lokur and Deepak Gupta and is slated for hearing next on July 31.