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From the same pile where stray dogs search for rotten cabbage leaves, these widowed mothers collect food too. They quietly pick through what has been thrown away, hoping to find something they can eat. One mother washes those discarded leaves, cooks them into a curry, and eats it just to survive. This is not a rare moment, this is their everyday life.
My name is Winnie Singh, Founder of Maitri Ghar Vidhwa Ashram. I had never witnessed poverty like this in my life until I came to Vrindavan. What I saw here shook me deeply, mothers abandoned by their own families, left alone with no support. That day, I knew I could not turn away from their suffering.
My husband, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Bhopinder Singh, served the Indian Army for over four decades, dedicating his life to the nation. But when he saw the condition of these mothers, he knew this too was a duty we could not ignore. Together, we decided to stand by these women who had been forgotten by everyone else. This mission became our shared purpose.
I began with a small step, a mid-day meal for these mothers. I thought I would serve around 100 women, believing it would be manageable. But when I reached there, nearly 280 mothers had gathered, all desperate for food. They crowded around, struggling and even fighting, just to receive a single plate.
That sight shook us to the core. Hunger had pushed them to a point where survival came before dignity. For hours of singing bhajans and dancing, many of these women were paid just ₹3. They were no longer seen as mothers or individuals, only as burdens cast aside by society.
Since 2005, we have provided shelter, food, and medicines to over 7,500 widowed mothers. Our only aim has been to give them back a life of dignity, care, and respect. But today, continuing this work has become a daily struggle. We are constantly in need of funds to provide nutritious meals, medicines, clothing, and safe shelter.
Every month brings uncertainty, and we often wonder how long we can sustain this. Your help can ensure that no mother is forced to survive on discarded food ever again.
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