More than 5,000 of the around 28,000 gram panchayats in Maharashtra have unanimously agreed to ban widow customs, and this includes all the 103 villages in Sangola taluka, Solapur which came together to ban the repressive practice. This spate of announcements came after two gram panchayats—Herwad and Mangaon in Kolhapur—abolished the custom in May this year.
 
Lalit Babar, a social activist from Sangola, said, “Sangola has 103 villages which come under 76 gram panchayats, and all the gram sabhas unanimously decided to put a stop to widow customs recently. It is a positive move for the empowerment of women.” He also cited a recent incident in Chincholi village wherein the widow of a school teacher was stopped from breaking her bangles during the cremation by her relatives, which led all those present to take a vow to stop the practice. Anand Lokare, Sangola block development officer, said, “We are happy that all the gram panchayats in Sangola have stood unanimously to put an end to widow customs.”

Activists welcome move

Pramod Zinjade, 64, from Pothre village in Solapur district who has been instrumental in spreading the movement against widow customs across Maharashtra, said, “In January, I started the campaign against the widow custom, wherein a woman has to break her bangles, mangalsutra and wipe off the vermilion, while taking her husband’s body for cremation. The widow is then barred from attending any social function. I am glad that gradually the awareness has gained momentum and in a short time, over 5,000 gram panchayats have already decided to stop this practice.”