The Government of India has introduced multiple schemes for women with the objective to empower, secure and uplift them in every sphere. Some of the popular schemes and policies for women under the Central and State Governments are Working Women Hostel Scheme, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme, Nirbhaya, and Women Helpline Scheme among others.
In this new series, we will be taking you through these schemes in detail. From the eligibility criteria to the application process, you will find all about these schemes here.
Why Was Working Women Hostel Scheme Launched?
The scheme was first launched to promote safe and conveniently located accommodation for the working women. The scheme came in with daycare facilities for their children. The facility is accessible for women in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas, basically, everywhere employment opportunities for women exist.
Eligibility For Working Women Hostel Scheme
To get benefits of the working women hostel scheme, women need to fall under the following criteria –
The working women’s hostel is available for all women irrespective of their caste, religion, or marital status. Hostel facility is offered to women who are widowed, single, or separated from their partners. Married women who have no kin are also offered rooms in these hostels.
Women under training are also eligible for the hostel facility. The only condition here is that trainees should not occupy more than 30% of the total hostel’s capacity. However, the facility is available for them only if there is a vacancy available after accommodating working women.
Working women with children up to the age of 18 years (for girls) and five years (for boys) are accommodated in hostels with their mothers.
Working women are entitled to the hostel facility if their gross income doesn’t exceed Rs. 50,000 per month in metropolitan cities or Rs. 35,000 per month in other areas. (tips to invest in 30s) When the working woman’s salary package exceeds the prescribed limit, she will be required to vacate the hostel within six months.
Working Women Hostel Rent
The rent for a working women’s hostel doesn’t exceed 15 percent of the total salary of the her in case of single-bed rooms, 10 percent in the case of double-bed rooms, and 7 1/2 percent in case of dormitories.
For women with children at the daycare centre at the hostel, the fees aren’t more than 5 percent of the mother’s salary.
The rent for the women under training for a job doesn’t exceed the amount charged by a full-time working woman. The rent for trainees is paid by organisations or institutions women are working with. The rent, however, does not include facilities like washing machines which are available at the hostel.
No working woman can stay in the hostel assisted under this scheme for more than three years. For instance, there is an exceptional case, women should give reasons in writing to stay in the hostel for a period beyond three years to the District Administration. The extension is subject to the condition that the stay should not exceed six months at one time and that overall it should not exceed five years.
How To Apply For Working Women Hostel Facility?
Women can apply to the Department of WCD, of the concerned state under this scheme. The application should be submitted with a form in the prescribed format.
The following list of documents should be attached with the scheme application form from the organisation or institution-
- Prospectus of the organization/association/institution
- Annual Reports for the past 3 years (Copy)
- Balance Sheet for the past 3 years (Copy)
- Audited accounts of the agency – auditor’s report, receipt, payment statement, income, expenditure statement
- The site and building plan of the proposed hostel
- Approval from the local authority and building permit certificate
- Documents of the lease deed of the proposed land signed between the lessee and governing authority
- Documentary copy of the plot
- Estimate of the cost of construction of the hostel building certified by the PWD or any other authority
In the case of agencies –
- Copy of rent agreement with the landlord
- Fresh rent agreement certified by respective authority in case of an approved project
- Detailed building plan with financial calculations of the rented premises certified by the state PWD/District collector.
