Gandhinagar: Considering the growing demand for secure living accommodations for working women in major cities and industrial hubs, the state women & child development (WCD) department has decided to set up hostel facilities at multiple locations across various cities and industrial areas.
Key sources close to the development informed that the state govt received recommendations regarding the necessity of providing secure accommodation facilities at reasonable rates to working women in state’s major cities and industrial areas. “In coordination with the urban development department, WCD has written to all municipal corporations to furnish details of land availability where new working women hostels can be constructed. We aim to provide accommodation facilities for 100 to 200 women on monthly rental,” said sources.
“Along with Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and other municipal corporation cities, we intend to establish working women facilities in industrial areas like Sanand,” said top officials. The sources added that apart from all municipal corporations, GIFT City and Dholera SIR (special investment region) authorities have also been asked to allocate land for the hostels. Providing details on how these hostels will be operated, the sources said, “We are exploring various operating models, including construction and engagement of private agencies for management. We are seeking collaboration with private and community organisations to increase the number of working women hostels offering quality services at reasonable rates.”
Single women or unmarried women often encounter difficulties in securing rented accommodation close to their workplaces and govt-operated working women hostels will prove beneficial for a large section of female working professionals, the sources said. “These facilities will especially be helpful for women requiring urgent accommodation and those travelling for brief durations across various cities,” said officials.