Activist Advocates for Widows' Independence Day Role

An activist is urging Maharashtra's Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to allow widows to hoist the tricolour on Independence Day. Pramod Zinjade, president of the Mahatma Phule Samaj Seva Mandal, believes this would honor approximately one lakh widows. His campaign has already led to some gram panchayats banning discriminatory practices against widows.

An activist is urging Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to enable widows to hoist the tricolour this Independence Day.

Pramod Zinjade, president of the Mahatma Phule Samaj Seva Mandal, wrote a letter asking for widows to be invited to hoist the tricolour at all government and semi-government buildings on August 15.

Zinjade emphasized that about one lakh widows in urban and rural areas would be honored if the decision is implemented. He has requested the chief minister to issue necessary directives to the rural development department and the CEOs of zilla parishads.

As a result of Zinjade's ongoing campaign to end discrimination against widows, some gram panchayats have already banned harmful widowhood practices.

(With inputs from agencies.)