Old age home for 350 abandoned elderly women

Dear Maitri Friend,

We would like to update you with the latest from Maitri Ghar – Old Age Home, “Ashram” to house destitute and abandoned widows of Vrindavan.

We are extremely saddened to share the news of passing away of a widow mother, Dulari, on 19^th August 2016. Dulari was one of the resident widows at Maitri Ghar since 2014. She had been unwell for a few weeks and was getting medically treated at R. K. Mission Hospital in Vrindavan. On 19th August she suffered a cardiac arrest and breathed her last at the hospital, where she was taken in an emergency. With the consent of her relatives, her last rites were conducted by the widow mothers. Dulari’s passing away and her last rites were of a mother, who in her last years lived with dignity and did her last journey with dignity. The other widow mothers who became her friend and sister since she moved to the Ashram, loved and cared for her till the end. Widow mothers gave her a send off by decorating her body, the funeral procession and pyre with flowers. God bless her soul!

The last quarter has been a time preparing for the festive season by the mothers. While in the past ever since their husband’s death, they have been deprived of their right to celebrate festivals, they celebrated Navratari, a celebration of the auspicious ten days, with wearing of new clothes, dressing ceremoniously and visiting different temples and partaking in celebration and sweetmeats. Needless to mention, they have been having their meals, fruits and milk, etc with regular health checkups and facilitating the visit of those who are sick to the hospital.

In the month of September Maitri distributed saris (traditional attire) to all resident and non-resident widow mothers. We would like to mention that we have persuaded the women to wear a bit of colour on the sarees and not coarse white saree as they earlier used to wear. We are delighted to tell you, the women look happy and beautiful in their new sarees with coloured borders. As winter is fast approaching, winter clothing consisting of woolen cap, gloves, socks, and a set of thermals has also been given to keep them warm..

On 24^th September 2016, a group of 38 high school students and their teachers visited MaitriGhar to visit our widow mothers. They brought joy and laughter to the lives of the widow mothers . The mothers were delighted to interact with the girls, danced and sang songs in praise of Krishna with the young ones. The students served lunch to the widow mothers and thereafter joined them in eating lunch. It was a moment of extreme emotion as the women in the past were discriminated against and now, children who could be their grandchildren’s age, hugged, embraced and shared a meal with them. Students understood the issue of humiliation and indignity suffered by the widows living in Vrindavan. We do hope the young students are able to influence people in their communities in respecting the elderly and ageing, more so a widow mother.

We would like to express our gratitude to all of you for supporting the mothers and Maitri. It is only with your compassion and support that we are able to reach out and bring joy and laughter in their lives. You make a difference to the lives of the widow mothers in MaitriGhar.

Thank you!

Dear Maitri Friend, 

Thank you for your continued support to Maitri Ghar, the old age home for widows in Vrindavan.  Through your act of kindness, we are able to ensure care and support for the abandoned, ageing and destitute widow mothers with shelter, food, clothing, and healthcare. In this quarter, Maitri has welcomed 13 mothers into the MaitriGhar fold and home. They came to Maitri looking for shelter, they found a home to live in comfort with respect and dignity.

During the quarter, four resident widows- Chapla, Hema, Parul, and Taranbai - suffered serious illnesses and were admitted to the hospital.  Chapla suffered a stroke and partial paralysis of her left side of the body and was hospitalised for two weeks.  On discharge, she returned to The MaitriGhar home, as her son refused to take her home.  She has been under the constant care of a qualified nurse and a doctor on call, along with physical therapy every day. Ofcourse, she had to be put on diapers since her bladder was not in control. We are happy to inform you that she is getting stronger everyday with a nutritiousdiet and physiotherapy, as prescribed by the doctor. She has started walking with the support of a walker. Hema, Parul and Taranbai were discharged after their health improved. Their complaints ranged from chest pain to severe stomach ache and acute case of gastroenteritis.Your support and contribution makes it possible for us to care for the widow mothers and give them a life of respect and dignity.

As the widow mothers are ageing and are in fragile health due to their circumstances, Maitri has a doctor who visits Maitri Ghar in both the homes (Vrindvanand Radha Kund) twice a week.  He gives a physical check to all those who have any complaints, and give them medicines for minor ailments.  If we find any mother having a serious complaint, she is immediately taken to the hospital for a check and investigations. We have networked and also have partner organisation supporting us with weekly visits by their doctor and a mobile medical van for minor illnesses. Ensuring better health and prevention of serious sickness.

This past quarter, Maitri facilitated eight widow mothers apply for widows’  pension. And we are delighted to tell you that all eight have received the pension funds in their bank accounts.  I will mention that though the pension is meagre, but it brings them their right to which they are entitled from the state Government. Also it is empowering for them to have a bank account, which gives them identity. Maitri is committed to ensuring citizenship rights for all our mothers which includes voter card, Aadhar Card (Unique Identification card), Below Poverty Line Card, Bank Account, pension etc.

We invite Maitri supporters and well-wishers of widow mothers to visit the mothers in Vrindavan and spend time. They crave love and affection and of course talk. The need to touch is very strong in them as they feel unloved, a warm hug lasts them a long time till the next one.