Widowhood and well-being in rural north India.

This book chapter reviews the evidence on widows position and their social support in rural North India. The authors describe the health of widows in rural North India based on empirical evidence; examine 4 basic causes of widows vulnerability and dependence; analyze social support from relatives and the community and identify the implications for action. The data sources of this article include a 1990 study in 3 villages in West Bengal Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh (Dreze 1990) and an ongoing study of 262 widows in 8 villages in Bihar West Bengal an Uttar Pradesh. A widows position is influenced by kinship and inheritance systems ability to earn a living social isolation and the forms of intra- and inter-household transfers. India has a large number of widows (over 33 million in 1991; about 8% of total population). Although the study areas are largely Hindu and reflect caste differences the patrilineal practices that affect widows status and determine gender relations vary between regions. Widows receive little social support after their husbands death except from their own children. Widows dependence upon social support affects residence inheritance remarriage and employment each of which is discussed. Evidence suggests economic vulnerability. Intra-household neglect may independently enhance mortality. Widows and widowers are a larger proportion of population in southern states perhaps due to low survival chances in the north. Public pressure is needed in order to give adequate priority to the social protection of widows and to recognize them as significant contributors to the household economy.