Vulnerability of widows in India: need for inclusion Dr. Chandra Anjuli, Assistant Professor -cum-Assistant Director Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy Gandhigram Rural Institute- Deemed University, Gandhigram-624302 (TN) E-mail id: anjuli_c@rediffmail.com//chandra.anjuli@gmail.com Online published on 31 January, 2012. Abstract In male dominated societies of the world women have been subjected to gruesome atrocities that has affected them physically, emotionally, sexually and morally. Particularly, if a woman is facing the unfortunate state of widowhood in a patriarchal society like India, she is being considered as a social stigma. They are excluded culturally, socially, economically and legally. At one hand they lost their husband and at the other hand they have to face discrimination of various kind and degree. In context of this line of thought, the present paper is an earnest attempt to describe the vulnerability of widows in Indian national. The paper largely based on review of various reports, literature and works done on the status and well being of widows in India try to throw light on the marginalized and sympathetic situation of widows in India, how it is a neglected area in the field of social research, its demographic portrayal and the question of social security of widows in Indian context. The paper concludes by advocating an urgent need for policy intervention for positive inclusion of this largely excluded section of the society. Top Keywords Economic Deprivation, Living Arrangements, Remarriage, Social Security, Widowhood, Work Participation Rate. Top |