Question : Working Women Hostels

(a) the number of Working Women Hostels (WWHs) including hostels with day care centres presently operational in the country, State/UT-wise along with the criteria/norms laid down for opening and granting/extending financial assistance for the purpose;

(b) whether the Government has taken note of the shortage of such hostels in the country and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government has received some proposals from States/UTs including Kerala and Punjab and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) for construction of hostels under the scheme of WWHs and if so, the details thereof alongwith the action taken thereon, State/UT-wise;

(d) the provisions made for safety/security indicating installation of CCTV cameras, availability of quality food and habitable living conditions for women in such hostels including private hostels during the said period; and

(e) the mechanism available with the Government to assess functioning of such hostels and the study, if any, made in this regard and the further measures taken by the Government to make the scheme more effective and check mis-utilisation of fund thereunder?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI KRISHNA RAJ)


(a) Since inception of the Scheme in 1972-73, 926 hostels have been sanctioned all over the country creating capacity for about 69,466 working women and 9,509 children. State/ UT wise list of Working Women Hostels sanctioned so far is at Annexure-I. As per the norms of the Scheme, financial assistance is provided to the eligible implementing organizations such as State Government agencies and Civil Society Organizations etc. upto 75% of the cost of construction of the hostel building for working women on public land as per the prescribed area norms and schedule of rate of the respective State Public Works Department. There is also a provision of extending financial assistance for hostels to be run in rented premises. Corporate houses or associations like CII, ASSOCHAM, FICCI etc., can also seek financial assistance for a matching grant (50:50) for hostel building construction on public land only. There is also a provision of one-time non-recurring grant @ Rs. 7500/- per inmate for purchase of furniture and furnishings.





(b) No, Madam.

(c) During the last three years and the current financial year, 55 new proposals have been received under the Scheme and 30 new hostels have been sanctioned as per details given in Annexure-II.

(d) To provide safety for single working women, a provision has been made in Scheme guidelines revised in 2015 to install CCTV Cameras in Working Women Hostels. Provision of Washing Machine and Geysers/ Solar Water Heating System have also been made in the revised guidelines of the Scheme.

(e) Regular monitoring of the functioning of the hostel is the responsibility of the District Women Welfare Committee under the Chairpersonship of District Collector/ District Magistrate/ Municipal Commissioner. In case, implementing agency mis-utilises the financial assistance or use the hostel building for any other purpose, the Government of India through the Ministry or State Government is entitled to take over the hostel building and/ or assets created by the grant-in-aid provided under the scheme. The criminal proceeding may also be initiated by lodging an FIR against the defaulting implementing agency, and strict legal action taken in order to recover grant with penal rate of interest as agreed in the bond furnished before the release of grant. The Scheme has been evaluated by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and recommended its continuation.


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