There are thousands of women who have lost their husbands to the pandemic. These men were the sole earning members of the family. Now, a fledgling pan-India outfit is organising and galvanising itself to help women who have been left behind, get a job and become financially independent.

The initiative is called COVIDWidows and is entirely volunteer-driven. Spokesman-volunteer Karan Parvesh Singh said, “The government has to address macro factors like oxygen, enough beds for patients, yet there are micro factors within the pandemic. The mental trauma of losing a spouse, added to the fear and the very real prospect of not having a regular income for the future is a reality that has affected so many women. Some of these women may have had careers earlier, but stopped working after marriage. They may now have to re-enter the workforce,” said the Delhi-based volunteer.