The Supreme Court on Friday set up a a six-member committee to ensure proper rehabilitation of Vrindavan’s “hapless widows”, saying they were “dealt with in a manner as if they have ceased to be entitled to a life of dignity”.

The committee comprises Suneeta Dhar of NGO Jagori, Meera Khanna of Guild for Service, activist and lawyer Abha Singhal, lawyer Aparajita Singh and one nominee each from NGOs HelpAge India and Sulabh International.

The apex court asked the committee members to study the reports submitted in the Supreme Court on the condition of widows, and submit a common working plan by November 30.

A division bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta said: “One of the issues adverted to during the hearing of the petitions, but not mentioned in any of the reports, is the need to encourage widow re-marriage. This is a subject of hope that might enable our society to give up the stereotyped view of widows. We request the committee to consi