Panjim: To promote availability of safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women, the Directorate of Women and Child Development (DWCD) has plans to establish working women’s hostels at two locations in the state. Accordingly, it has asked Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) for allotment of land at Verna industrial estate and at Cundaim industrial estate to set up the facilities. “Once land is allotted, we will initiate the process to set up the facilities so that women who travel from far off places for jobs will have a place for accommodation,” said a senior official of DWCD.

 

This scheme of the Centre is aimed at promoting availability of safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women with daycare facility for their children, wherever possible, in urban, semi urban or even rural areas where employment opportunities for women exist.

 

The scheme provides assistance to the state government agencies, including women development corporations, women finance corporations etc for construction of new hostel buildings, expansion of existing hostel buildings and having hostel buildings in rented premises. “In the first phase, we plan to create two facilities to accommodate 50 women each. If we get a better response, we may look at expanding the same,” said the official.

 

The working women’s hostel projects being assisted under this scheme shall be made available to all working women without any distinction with respect to caste, religion, marital status etc subject to norms prescribed under the scheme. “Through the scheme, the government wants to provide safe and affordable accommodation to working women who move away from their families due to professional commitments,” said the official.