Vrindavan widows are still sexually exploited — Study

The report stated there were less "visible institutions" apart from those providing a religious refuge to destitute women, which seemed to pursue trades that are illegal and exploitative. The "sevadasi" system itself makes a woman open to sexual abuse and the "service" done to the rich and the powerful pilgrims are seen as a form of piety.

But a more disturbing feature that struck the study team was the existence of "modern bhajan ashrams" where, along with old widows, there are also many young girls, both Bengali and non-Bengali. They gather in separate halls.

The team felt that it was not so much the influx of aged widows but that of young girls being brought here from West Bengal and other states by possible "trafficking agents" which needed to be investigated thoroughly.

The presence of a large number of "thriving abortion clinics" in Mathura is yet another indicator of the exploitation of the womenfolk, the study mentioned. The team members came across unconfirmed reports of girls being brought from rural areas of Bengal, Orissa and Bangladesh and sold to men from certain local communities in Vrindavan.

Of the 2910 women examined by the survey team, 2113 were from West Bengal, 297 from Bangladesh and the rest from other states. Over 500 of them were below the age of 30, while another 416 between 31 and 40 and over 400 from the 41-50 age group. At least, two women were between 101 and 110. An overwhelming majority are illiterate.

Over 50 per cent of those examined depend on bhajan ashrams and begging for their livelihood. Some of the widows are too old to even cook for themselves. The only bedding they have are pieces of jute sacks. Even after death, there is no institutional support for having their bodies cremated. Medical help depends on charity and is virtually non-existent.

In spite of the hardship and misery the women live with, very few of those interviewed wanted to go back to their home states or homes. Given the option, only 436 of the 2,910 women interviewed would wish to return to their homes.

"Piety is not just a plea but a very strong and real motivation in the majority of cases, particularly among the older women, for staying in Vrindavan," the report observed. Life in Vrindavan, though distressed, seemed to hold a sense a dignity and freedom to them than the marginalised existence in their families.

The survey recommended among other things, a widow pension, a joint investigation by the government of UP and West Bengal regarding trafficking of women and acquisition of "disused" property of Bengali landowners and setting up of oldage homes.