On September 30, 2025, Mrs Nitya Pathak, Executive Convener of Sulabh International, moved hearts with her stirring address at a special programme organised by the Loomba Foundation and CII Foundation in Vrindavan-Mathura. Speaking before a hall filled with dignitaries, social leaders, and widowed mothers, she called for society to rise above double standards and embrace widows with dignity, compassion, and opportunity.
Her words carried special weight in the holy city of Shri Krishna’s birthplace, where she reminded the gathering that this mission was deeply tied not just to culture and tradition, but also to the moral responsibility of empowering widowed mothers. Sharing personal reflections, Mrs Pathak emphasised that honouring widows must become a collective pledge.
She evoked the pioneering work of Sulabh’s Founder, the late Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, who was the first to integrate widows into festivals and celebrations, bringing joy and self-worth back into their lives. She recalled how, under his leadership, Sulabh had transformed grief into belonging, with recent initiatives like the Raksha Bandhan celebration standing as powerful examples.
The programme was graced by eminent guests including Mrs Lakshmi Puri, former UN Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, Dr Upasana Arora, Chair of CII Uttar Pradesh and Managing Director of Yashoda Super Specialty Hospitals, and Aruna Abhay Oswal, Patron of The Loomba Foundation. Together, they reaffirmed their solidarity with widowed mothers.
A landmark announcement crowned the occasion: the Loomba Foundation and CII Foundation will launch General Duty Assistant (GDA) training for 1,000 widows and youth in Vrindavan-Mathura. Mrs. Pathak hailed this as a transformative step — not merely towards employment, but towards self-reliance, confidence, and new hope for a brighter future.
This gathering became more than a commemoration; it stood as a turning point in the journey of empowerment, echoing Sulabh’s enduring belief that dignity and equality are the birthright of every individual.
