LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh is set to launch 18 new Sakhi Niwas hostels by the end of October 2024, as part of the state’s broader Mission Shakti 5.0 initiative aimed at empowering women. Announced by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, this effort is designed to provide safe and affordable housing for working women across multiple cities. The Sakhi Niwas facilities will offer secure, family-friendly accommodations for women, enhancing their access to employment opportunities by providing living arrangements near their workplaces. This initiative is a part of the broader effort by the Department of Women and Child Development to create secure living arrangements near workplaces for women, especially in urban and semi-urban areas.
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The Sakhi Niwas facilities will be available in nine cities, including key locations such as Gorakhpur, Varanasi, and Lucknow. In addition to these new accommodations, 10 Shramik Mahila hostels are already operational in various cities throughout the state, complementing this new development. According to a government spokesperson, the new hostels aim to further expand the state’s support for working women, providing a safe environment for them and their children.
Each Sakhi Niwas will have the capacity to accommodate up to 50 women. These hostels will also include provisions for married working women to live with their children, including daughters up to the age of 18 and sons up to the age of 12. This family-friendly accommodation plan is part of the government’s holistic approach to ensure that women are not forced to choose between their careers and their family responsibilities.
While the majority of these new hostels will be set up in the state capital, Lucknow, and the satellite city of Noida, other cities such as Prayagraj, Agra, Bareilly, Meerut, and Ghaziabad will also see the launch of Sakhi Niwas facilities. Of the 18 hostels being established, four will be in Lucknow, and another four will be in Noida. The construction of these eight hostels has been fully funded by the central government, while the remaining 10 have been partially funded by the Uttar Pradesh government, with the central government providing 60 percent of the necessary financial support.
Safety is a major concern addressed by the government in the design of these hostels. The premises will be equipped with fencing and monitored round-the-clock by security personnel. CCTV cameras will also be installed, ensuring constant surveillance of the areas. Women residing in these hostels will benefit from a secure living environment, which is seen as crucial in promoting women’s participation in the workforce.
The hostels are intended to be affordable, with a nominal fee charged to residents to cover the maintenance and operational costs. This fee structure is designed to ensure that the accommodations are accessible to women from various economic backgrounds.
The government is also planning to provide financial assistance for the construction of more such hostels, aiming to boost housing options for working women in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to support women’s empowerment and ensure they have the resources and infrastructure needed to thrive in their careers. With this expansion of women’s hostels, the government hopes to create a more conducive environment for women to live and work independently.
The announcement of these hostels is part of Uttar Pradesh’s ongoing efforts to improve safety, security, and quality of life for women in the state.
