What this scheme offers
Gujarat pays widows ₹1,250 a month by direct transfer into a bank or post-office account, for as long as they remain eligible. The scheme was called the Vidhva Sahay Yojana until it was renamed in 2019, when the amount was raised from ₹1,000 to ₹1,250; the 2025-26 state budget set aside ₹3,015 crore for it. Two later changes made it easier to qualify: there is no upper age limit for the widow, and having a son aged 21 or above no longer disqualifies her. Beneficiaries also get a free accident-insurance cover, with no premium to pay.
Who is eligible
- A widow aged 18 years or above, resident in Gujarat.
- Annual family income of up to ₹1,20,000 in rural areas or ₹1,50,000 in urban areas.
- A widow who has remarried is not eligible.
- Having a son aged 21 or above does not disqualify a widow under the amended rules.
Documents required
- Two passport-size photographs
- Age proof (such as school-leaving or birth certificate)
- Residence proof
- Husband's death certificate
- Family income certificate
- Bank or post-office passbook, ration card and Aadhaar card
How to apply
- Collect the application form from the Mamlatdar office, Talati or Jan Seva Kendra, or download it from wcd.gujarat.gov.in.
- Fill it in and attach the documents listed above.
- Submit it at the Mamlatdar office or through the Village Computer Entrepreneur (VCE) or Jan Seva Kendra.
- After verification and approval the pension is paid every month by DBT into your account.
- You can check the status of your application at the Mamlatdar office.