This is an archive article published on April 13, 2023
‘No govt order on changing term for widows’, Lodha after row
Despite Lodha's claim, the letter from Chakankar does not mention “Ganga-Bhagirathi” but instead uses words like “Purnangi”, “Swayamsiddha” and “Sakshama”.
Mumbai: Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha with RSS member Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi releases the latter's book Hindutva, in Mumbai, Thursday, March 30, 2023. (PTI/File Photo)
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‘No govt order on changing term for widows’, Lodha after row
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A day after Women and Child Welfare Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha came under fire for writing to the principal secretary of his department seeking a proposal to use the term “Ganga-Bhagirathi” instead of widows, he said on Thursday that no such order has been issued and his office merely forwarded the letter it received demanding the same from state women commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar.
“The government has neither issued any notification nor a government resolution stating the same. This is not even a proposal from my department but we only forwarded the letter received from state women commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar,” he told mediapersons.
Despite Lodha’s claim, the letter from Chakankar does not mention “Ganga-Bhagirathi” but instead uses words like “Purnangi”, “Swayamsiddha” and “Sakshama”.
When asked who had suggested the word “Ganga-Bhagirathi”, Lodha did not reply.
Earlier in the day, Lodha found an unlikely ally in Chakankar who thanked him on social media for directing the administration to prepare a proposal in this regard. She, however, clarified that she had not suggested the word “Ganga-Bhagirathi” in her letter.
Objecting to the proposal, NCP MP Supriya Sule wrote to Lodha. “I came to know that you have written a letter to prepare a proposal to call widows as ‘Ganga-Bhagirathi’. This is very unfortunate and painful. Maharashtra has the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Maharashtra follows the progressive thoughts of Phule-Shahu-Ambedkar, Sane and Karve. At a time when many villages are making efforts to ensure widows gain their self-respect, this decision seem to have taken in a hurry,” she said.
Appealing to Lodha to not go ahead without taking organisations working in for widows into confidence, Sule asked him to take back the decision.
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Atul Londhe, chief spokesperson of state Congress, told the media, “The manuwadi BJP government has once again insulted women with its rotten ideology that the universe of women should be limited to the kitchen and giving birth. The proposal to refer to widows as ‘Ganga-Bhagirathi’ has not been moved to honour women, but to humiliate them.”
Manisha Kayande of Shiv Sena (UBT) said that Lodha has been indulging in such acts for cheap publicity. “This is nothing but insulting women. The government should focus on working towards economic empowerment and social upliftment of widows and not on giving them news names.”
In his letter to the administration on Wednesday, Lodha had said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modiji declared the term ‘Divyang’ instead of disabled, which helped them get respect in society and society’s approach towards them has also changed. Similarly, the term widow should be changed to ‘Ganga-Bhagirathi’ and the department should prepare a proposal for the same.”
Lodha’s department was recently in a controversy after it formed a panel to track interfaith marriages in the state. The government had initially included intercaste marriages in the panel’s ambit, but it was later removed. The government had then claimed that the initiative will provide a platform for women and their families to access counselling and communicate or resolve issues, if any.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More
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