Question : Hostels for Working Women

(a) whether the Government provides financial assistance to the implementing organisations and States/UTs for opening of hostels for working women in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the criteria/norms laid down for opening and granting/extending financial assistance for the purpose;
(c) the details of proposals received therefrom for opening of hostels during each of the last three years and the current year along with the action taken thereon and funds provided for the purpose, State/UT-wise; and
(d) the provisions made and effective measures taken for by the Government to assess functioning of such hostels and for safety/security of women living therein?

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

(a) & (b) Yes. 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.

(c) During the last three years and the current financial year, 71 new proposals have been received under the Scheme and 33 new hostels have been sanctioned as per details given in Annexure-I. State/UT-wise details of fund released under the scheme during the last three years and current year as per details given in Annexure-II.

(d) 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. 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.

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