COVER HINDI - Ministry of Women and Child Development

Hostels for Working Women
2.16 The scheme of assistance for construction or
expansion of hostel buildings for working women with day
care centre for children is in implementation since 1972-
73. Under this Scheme financial assistance is provided to
non-governmental organizations engaged in the field of
women’s or social welfare or women’s education, women’s
development corporations, local bodies, universities etc.,
for construction of building for Working Women’s Hostel.
This scheme envisages provision of safe and affordable
hostel accommodation to working women (single working
women, women working at places away from their hometowns,
working but husband out of town, widows, divorcees,
separated women etc.), women being trained for
employment and girl students studying in post school
professional courses. Trainees are permitted to stay for a
period of one year and girl students for a period of five
years, but with the conditions that first preference would be
given to working women. It is also stipulated in the scheme
that the category of women who are being trained for
employment and girl students should not exceed 30% of
the capacity of the hostel.
2.17 Though the scheme was initiated in 1972-73, so far
(upto Feb. 2007) only 873 hostels have been sanctioned
throughout the country. Since the demand for Working
Women Hostels is on the increase due to increasing number
of women in employment, a Committee has been set up
to revamp the scheme so as to make it more viable. The
Committee has met four times. The Parliamentary
Committee on Empowerment of Women has also
examined the scheme and made recommendations for its
revamping and better implementation.
2.18 It has been decided to set up a 520 seat hostel at
Jasola in Delhi for working women from the North Eastern
States, the foundation stone for which is being laid on
7.3.2007. No other new hostel has been sanctioned in the
year so far. During the current financial year an amount
of Rs.1.88 crore has been released to 8 Organizations (as
on 21.02.2007) towards subsequent installments. State
wise funds released during 2005-06 & 2006-07 (as on
31.12.2006) are given in Annexure IX .
Smt. Renuka Chowdhury at the foundation stone laying ceremony for a working women’s hostel for working women
from the North East, at Jasola, New Delhi on 07-03-07
26 Annual Report 2006-07