International Widows Day – Justice, Dignity and Empowerment

24 June 2026, New Delhi – To commemorate International Widows Day 2026, the CII Foundation, in partnership with the Loomba Foundation hosted a program in New Delhi, bringing together leaders from international organisations, Indian industry, the Indian Army, development sector, and the widow community to highlight the challenges widows face and reaffirm the need for greater inclusion, dignity, and economic empowerment.

Widowhood continues to pose a social challenge across the world. India accounts for nearly 46 million of the world's estimated 258 million widows. While considerable efforts have been made to improve their social and economic well-being, many widows continue to face discrimination, social exclusion, financial insecurity, and limited access to opportunities. The CII Foundation and The Loomba Foundation, in partnership with the Women’s Collective Forum, are working towards empowering 1 lakh widows with livelihood skills and support systems.

Delivering the keynote address, Guest of Honour Lt Gen Ranjeet Singh, AVSM, DG DC&W, Adjutant General Branch, Indian Army, highlighted the importance of supporting widows and families of soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of the nation.

"When we look after our Veer Naris, we are fulfilling a promise made to every soldier who serves the nation. Beyond financial support, widows deserve dignity, self-respect and opportunities that enable them and their children to build a brighter future."

Emphasising the need to move beyond welfare towards empowerment, Mr B. Thiagarajan, Chair, CII National Committee on CSR and Managing Director, Blue Star Ltd., spoke about the role of economic opportunity and social inclusion in enabling widows to realise their full potential.

"India is home to one of the world's largest populations of widowed women. While many continue to face barriers to livelihoods, financial security and social inclusion, they also represent an enormous reservoir of resilience, capability and untapped potential. The challenge before us is not one of capacity, but of access to opportunities. Building economic opportunity and dismantling social stigma are key enablers for empowering widows. It is time to move beyond sympathy to empowerment, from charity to opportunity, and from exclusion to inclusion."

Ms Helen Silvester, Regional Director, British Council, South Asia delivered the Welcome Address stating "Supporting widows is not just about addressing vulnerability; it is about restoring agency. Real transformation happens when individuals, institutions, and communities come together to create opportunities and amplify voices that need to be heard," and presented a short documentary showcasing the Loomba Foundation’s pioneering efforts, led by Lord Raj Loomba, in establishing International Widows Day.

Ms Nitya Pathak, Executive Convener, Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, highlighted the importance of creating pathways that enable widowed women to participate fully in society. "Sulabh International is proud to work in partnership with The Loomba Foundation to support widowed women through initiatives that promote dignity, skill development, and self-reliance. Guided by the belief that sanitation, dignity, and human respect are fundamental rights of every individual, we remain committed to bringing widowed women into the social mainstream and creating opportunities for a life of respect and independence."

Broadening the discussion to inclusion and accessibility, Ms Sminu Jindal, Chair, CII Committee on Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Sports and Managing Director, Jindal Saw Ltd spoke about the need for ‘accessibility’ for all. "Accessibility, or Sugamata, is not merely about infrastructure; it is about dignity, independence, and the freedom to participate fully in society. For persons with reduced mobility, accessible spaces and facilities, including toilets, are essential to living with confidence and self-respect. As women continue to shoulder caregiving responsibilities in many households, improving accessibility also eases the physical and emotional burden on caregivers. I commend Sulabh International and the Loomba Foundation for championing this important cause. Through our work across rural communities, we have witnessed how accessibility transforms lives, strengthens families, and creates more inclusive communities. I hope each one of us gives Sugamata the attention it deserves and works towards building a society where dignity and equal access are a reality for all."

Placing widow empowerment within the broader agenda of gender equality and women's empowerment, Ms Lakshmi Puri, Former Secretary-General at the United Nations and Former Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, said "Widow empowerment must rest on five essentials: dignity, security, health, self-reliance, and social acceptance. A widow needs livelihood, but she also needs respect; she needs opportunity, but she also needs belonging. Let widows not be pitied but protected; not forgotten, but fully included."

Stories of Resilience were shared by beneficiaries of The Loomba Foundation and Sulabh International, offering powerful testimonies of struggle and triumph.

A poignant highlight of the programme was an inspiring rendition of “Hum Honge Kamyab Ek Din” by widows and youth, reflecting the spirit of hope and determination that underpins the journey towards empowerment. Reinforcing this message, an exhibition organised by Lok Bharti Skilling Solutions Pvt. Ltd. featured products crafted by widows trained in tailoring. The exhibition highlighted how access to skills and market opportunities can enable widows to become confident and economically independent.

The program concluded with a call to action for policymakers, institutions, and citizens to actively champion the rights and inclusion of widows and build solidarity around this often-overlooked issue.

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About The CII Foundation

The CII Foundation was set up by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in 2011 and works across India through a collaborative approach, partnering with the government, corporates, civil society, and NGOs, academic institutions, and other key stakeholders to drive social change. The Foundation undertakes projects in diverse areas, such as Climate Change, Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation, Early Childhood Education, Healthcare, Skilling and Livelihood, Women Empowerment, and Waste Management adopting a multistakeholder approach and leveraging the expertise of each stakeholder to channelize their collective resources towards social and community development.

About The Loomba Foundation

Founded by Lord Raj Loomba CBE in memory of his mother, Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba, the Foundation works tirelessly to educate children of widows, empower mothers, and advocate for dignity and justice. Accredited with consultative status at the UN ECOSOC, the Foundation continues to lead global efforts for widow empowerment.