Question : Working Women Hostel

(a) the number of Working Women Hostels (WWHs) presently operational in the country,State/UT-wise;
(b) whether any provision has been made for day care centres for children in such hostels and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether of Government is implementing any scheme for construction/running the WWHs, if so, the details thereof indicating the criteria/norms laid down for granting/extending financial assistance thereunder;
(d) whether the Government has received proposals for construction of more WWHs under the said scheme, if so, the details of proposals received and approved along with the funds allocated/released and utilised thereunder during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
(e) whether the Government has made any studies to assess functioning of such hostels, if so, the details and outcome thereof; and
(f) the further measures taken by the Government to make the scheme more effective and check mutualisation of funds thereunder?

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

(a) to (c):- The Ministry of Women & Child Development under the Scheme of ‘Working Women Hostel’ provides financial assistance to State Government agencies, Urban Municipal Bodies including Cantonment Boards, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Self Help Groups, Recognized Colleges/ Universities, Civil Society Organisations and Corporate Houses for construction of hostels for working women or running of working women hostels in rented premises. As per the Scheme guidelines, States/ UTs are required to undertake need assessment for working women hostels and recommend proposals for sanction of grants.

Under the Scheme 75% of the Project Cost is provided as grant-in-aid to the implementing agencies for construction of Hostel building on Public Land. However, this assistance is limited to 50% to Corporate Houses. For running hostels in rented premises, the amount of rent as assessed by the State PWD/ District Collector will be paid. In addition to construction grant/ rent, one time non-recurring grant at the rate of Rs. 7500/- per inmate is payable for purchase of furniture and furnishings.

The Scheme provides for a day care centre in the working women’s hostel. Normally for a 100 bedded hostel, provision for 30 children should be made in the day care centre. The fee charged from the children in the day care centre should not be more than 5% of the emoluments of the mother or the actual expenditure whichever is less. State/UT-wise details of working women hostels with day care centres sanctioned under the scheme of Working Women Hostel is given in Annexure-I
(d) State/ UT- wise details of proposals received, sanctioned and funds released under the scheme of Working Women Hostel during each of last three years and the current year are given in Annexure-II.

(e) The Scheme has been evaluated by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and recommended its continuation
(f) The Scheme has recently been revised in June, 2015 wherein a provision has been made to construct the hostel building only on public land. The Scheme provides for facilities like Solar Water Heating System/ Geyser and Washing Machines for the convenience of the inmates. Regular monitoring of the functioning of the hostels under this scheme is the responsibility of the District Women’s Welfare Committee. In case, implementing agency misutilizes the financial assistance or use the hostel building for any other purpose, the Government of India through the Ministry or State Department is entitled to take over the hostel building and /or assests 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.

*********