Kargil War Widows

The rural social situation in north India, complete with its strict social norms, joint family system, patriarchal structure, low education levels and custom of levirate received a jolt following the payment of huge sums of money as compensation to the 'Kargil widows' of 1999. Not only did it change the dynamics of rural families but the Kargil war widows came to constitute a distinct social category. Compensation accorded them a higher status in the family and society, equipped them with greater economic security, even as the prevailing patriarchal structure of rural Rajasthan continued much the same as before.