Study report on condition of widows presented to Pratibha Patil

A global study on the condition of the widows conducted by a UN-accredited NGO has been presented to president Pratibha Patil.

The study titled Invisible, Forgotten Sufferers: The Plight of Widows Around the World was presented to Patil by Loomba Foundation founder and chairman Raj Loomba.

The report highlights human rights violations suffered by widows across the world. According to the study, around 245 million women around the world have been widowed with India alone accounting for 42.4 million.

More than 115 million widows live in devastating poverty, the study claimed.

The research study was launched by the Foundation's president Cherie Blair at a function attended by 27 permanent representatives of the United Nations.

The book was also presented to UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon.