J&K bans use of word 'widow'

SRINAGAR, JULY 26. The Jammu and Kashmir Government has banned the use of the word `widow' in official records while referring to a woman who has lost her husband.

In compliance with the directives of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the State Government has asked all Government offices, including revenue agencies, to henceforth use the expressions `wife of late', zauja marhoom or dharampatni swargiya in place of `widow' in official records, official sources said.

The NHRC had said terms such as `widow',vidhvah, bevah, randi, used in the records of the revenue department, school, employment and other spheres of life, be declared `dead words', they added.

- PTI

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Section  : National
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