A year later, Uttarakhand's 'Village of Widows' struggles for survival

The village hamlet is desperately seeking for help, medical attention, but not much help has been coming from the government.

The government is building roads to the village, but the need of the hour is different for them.

Hence, this village was adopted by Sulabh International, a NGO, in December last year. It is providing the widows, elders and children with Rs.2,000 a month.

Along with it every affected family in the nearby six villages is being given an allowance of Rs.1,000 every month.

"The monthly relief being given will not cheer them, but at least it will give them a small source of income to run their families. The amount will be paid to them for the next five years, and will try to rehabilitate them so that they can get the thread of their life together," said Bindeshwar Pathak, founder Sulabh International.

The organisation has also set up 12 computers and 25 sewing machines for the village people to learn some skills.

They are also being taught candle making.

"I am learning how to sew clothes and the art of candle making so that I can do something for my children," Dhanita Arya, the youngest among 34 women of this gram panchayat who was widowed, told IANS.

Dhanita, 23, lost her husband Sunil in the devastation and has two daughters and one son to look after.

The Sulabh projects may have given the women a ray of hope but they are still worried about their children's marriage and education.

"My son, daughter-in-law are gone but how will I educate my granddaughters? Life ahead is very difficult," Rukmani Devi told IANS.

However, the NGO is determined to turn the 'Village of Widows' into a model village and is urging corporates and the government to help them.

"Whatever is possible to mitigate the sufferings of these hapless women, Sulabh will try its best. We have always helped people in distress, and in this instance of Himalayan tsunami, our efforts will match the magnitude of the devastation," Pathak told IANS.