Maharashtra villages abolished discriminatory practices against widows

Over 7,683 villages in Maharashtra, India, have eradicated discriminatory practices against widows. These villages announced the end of these practices during their village council meetings. This marks a significant step compared to the past, where such practices were prevalent. This follows the lead of Herwad village in 2022, which became the first to ban widow-related practices. The initiative aims to ensure widows live with dignity. This is a result of wider community campaigns. Villages are now integrating widows into celebrations, building on the momentum of earlier efforts. Maharashtra has approximately 27,000 village councils. This shift reflects a growing movement to combat societal discrimination.