Official apathy has resulted in a very long and agonising wait for the working women for their own hostel in provisional State capital. Work on the ‘Working women hostel’ near Survey Chowk of Dehradun started in the year 2013, the project was to get completed in 2016.
However, the work on much awaited hostel has remained halted for long though the structure of the building is complete.
In view of the difficulties faced by the working women in a different city the ‘Working women scheme’ was introduced by the Government of India.
As per the guidelines, the scheme has categories under which a working woman can apply for the hostel. Working women who are single, widowed, divorced, separated, married and working away from their native cities can apply for accommodation in hostel. Children with the working women (Girls up to the age of 18 and boys up to the age of five) can accompany their mother in the hostel.
The scheme also provides a day care centre on the campus.
It is pertinent to mention that after the scheme was introduced in the State it was decided to set up hostels in the districts of Uttarkashi, Pauri, Dehradun and Haridwar.
Surprisingly, the working women hostel in Haridwar is operational though work on its construction started much later than Dehradun. In Dehradun it was planned to set hostel at a cost of Rs 13 crore.
The work on 193 room hostel started in the year 2013 and the basic structure of the building got completed in the year 2016.
When contacted the, State project officer of women empowerment and child development commission, Arti Balodi said, “The working women hostel is a Government's scheme for the women working in different cities.
The work of the hostel in the city got stuck due to budget related issues which have been resolved now. The building is in its final phase and is likely to be inaugurated anytime after June 30.”
District programme officer, Shama Bahuguna said, “The building is in its final phase. At present we are in the process of deciding whether the hostel should be operated under Public-Private Partnership Mode (PPP) model or not.
After the inauguration, a public advertisement will be given after which the beneficiaries of the scheme would be selected by us.”