Ayodhya- In the sacred city of Ayodhya, where the grandeur of a magnificent Ram temple is being constructed with crores of rupees, a stark contrast unfolds within the shadows of its rising walls. Amidst the echoes of devotion, the Maiwadas (old age homes) shelter abandoned and early widowed women who, despite the opulence surrounding them, find themselves compelled to beg for survival.

"We do not receive the benefits of old age pensions, nor do we get free ration. When we fall ill, we collect doctor's fees by donating ten rupees and then seek treatment. We survive by begging for two meals a day." This is the life struggle of elderly and abandoned women living in Mai Wada (old age homes) in Ayodhya city. The Mooknayak presents the eyewitness account of these Maiwadas in this report.

Three ashrams in Ayodhya are serving as shelters for such women. While a grand Ram temple is emerging, funded by crores of rupees, a stark paradox unfolds in Ayodhya. Here, hundreds of women, victims of domestic violence, find themselves compelled to seek refuge in ashrams. Despite the government's establishment of an old age home in Ayodhya a decade ago, women argue that various restrictions within the official facility restrict their freedom. Consequently, they express a distinct preference for the ashrams, where they believe they can regain a sense of autonomy.

As you enter Ayodhya city, veer left from the highway towards Ram Workshop. This workshop, located just behind the three Mai Bada in Janaki Bagh, is a bustling hub of stone cutting, carving, and other crafts essential for the construction of the Ram temple. These sanctuaries bear the names Janaki Dasi Mai Bada, Mahant Shri Lalita Dasi Mai Bada, and Shri Ram Janaki Mandir Mai Bada Ashram.

The Mooknayak team initiated its exploration at the Ram Janaki Temple Maiwada Ashram. Outside this Mai Bada, one gate directs to a temple, while the other leads to the residential area. Upon entering, an elderly woman captured our attention as she sat on the ground, engrossed in cooking on a stove. Nearby, another woman, holding a stick, perched on a pile of bricks. The presence of monkeys on the adjacent terrace prompted the woman with the stick to assume the role of a guardian, protecting the food. Both women were adorned in attire reminiscent of Sadhvis, adding a unique dimension to the scene.

Observing their circumstances, it became evident that, in their advanced years, these women provide mutual support to one another. When inquired about the leader of Mai Bada, the women gestured towards another figure. Mahant Krishna Dasi, a petite, white-haired woman clad in a white saree, approximately 70 years old, sat regally on a chair. She disclosed that 112 women call Maiwada home.

Krishna Dasi, the overseer of Maiwada, shared that women hailing from various states, including UP, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, seek refuge in her ashram. These women have relinquished everything for diverse reasons. Krishna Dasi revealed, "I am also from Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh. My father was a lawyer. I was married at 17 in 1982, and a year later, my husband passed away. I came here after attending Magh Mela with my father. There are others like me—some widowed, some having lost daughters-in-law and sons, all left to stumble."

Sadhvi Radha Dasi, a 75-year-old woman from Gaya, Bihar, found herself married at the tender age of nine. Unfortunately, her husband passed away early, leaving her widowed. Guided by her father's devotion to the former Mahant of Mai Bada Ashram, she was entrusted to this sacred place.

In a quiet corner, an elderly woman draped in a white saree, Ramsanehi Dasi, claimed a remarkable age of more than a hundred years. Reflecting on her long journey, she shared, "It has been more than sixty years; many have passed away in front of me. Sometimes 60 people, sometimes 40. Presently, more than 100 people are living here." Known as Amma Mai, she disclosed that she left behind everything due to conflicts with her daughter-in-law.

Amma Mai expressed frustration towards the government, asserting that they have done little for their well-being. She emphasized, "We beg here and there to eat. Our disciples help us. A temple of God has been built. We plead with Him, 'Look at our sufferings too.' There are no bribe-takers there; bribe-takers are in the government." Amma Mai highlighted that, when someone falls ill, they collect ten rupees each for treatment.

The Mooknayak team engaged in conversations with the residents of all three Maiwadas, revealing a distressing reality. The condition of Shri Lalita Dasi Mai Bada stood out, portraying a scene of dilapidation. Upon entering, our gaze met two small rooms, their floors constructed from brick and mud. The absence of plaster in these rooms spoke of neglect, accentuated by the sorry state of a nearby temple. Plaster fragments cascaded from its ceiling, a hazardous situation that had already resulted in injuries to one of the women residing there.

Elderly, abandoned, and widowed women in Maiwada are from other states, leading to most not benefiting from local government schemes like free ration, medical treatment, and old age pension due to issues with their Aadhar cards and other identity cards.

Despite the Yogi government earmarking a substantial annual budget for the welfare of the elderly and CM Yogi's explicit instructions to social welfare officers for a comprehensive door-to-door outreach to raise awareness about old age pensions, the distressing plight of these vulnerable women endures. Operating under the Old Age Pension Scheme, the government aspires to extend its benefits to 56 lakh elderly individuals aged above 60, providing a pension of Rs 1000. As of now, however, only 52.77 lakh elderly people, encompassing those below the poverty line, are beneficiaries of this scheme.

Story Translated by Geetha Sunil Pillai

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