UGC urges universities to provide lands for working women hostels

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has urged universities to send proposals for land within their campuses for establishment of Working Women Hostel (WWH). The proposals will have to be sent to the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD). The commission’s request follows the suggestion made by the ministry for women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

The ministry has urged for a list of 10-15 empty spaces within the university campuses in the next 10 days. It has offered to bear the cost of constructing the women hostels as well as for running the facilities if the universities provide such spaces.

UGC explained that several women and girls from rural areas move to Tier 1 cities due to availability of better education and employment opportunities. There is a need for safe and affordable accommodation for these women for which the government runs Sakhi Niwas under the umbrella scheme of Mission Shakti. These hostels provide basic amenities such as lodging, meals, day-care facilities for children at a minimal cost. However, the facility is available only for renting.

“This initiative operates on a nominal cost basis, catering to the needs of working women in urban, semi-urban or even rural areas, where employment avenues for women exist. However, the Sakhi Niwas component provides for only the rental models for working women hostel,” said the commission in an official notice.

UGC also said that women graduates represent 43 percent of the STEM education in India. The labour force participation of women has increased from 23.23% to 37% and Prime Minister Narendra Modi visualizes women leading the nation.