GIDC initiates Rs 31 crore project for women’s hostels at Verna Industrial Estate

Panaji: The Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) has kick-started the process of building hostels for working women, beginning with Verna Industrial Estate, where two hostels are expected to come up soon. The GIDC stated that the two hostels will be built using funds sanctioned under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (Sasci) scheme.
The GIDC expects the two hostels to cost approximately Rs 31.7 crore. The corporation submitted a detailed project report to the Centre to set up five hostels for women at industrial estates, for which Rs 100 crore was sought.
The corporation has floated a request for a proposal inviting registered PWD contractors to build the two hostels. Construction of the hostels is expected to take a year, said GIDC officials.
The hostels are likely to come up as part of the Union ministry of women and child development’s commitment to create safe, secure, and affordable hostel facilities through the Sakhi Niwas (working women hostels) component under the Shakti Mission. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the Centre’s proposal to set up working women hostels in last year’s Budget.
The industries department feels a strong need for a working women’s hostel at Verna, particularly for women who work night shifts in industries such as the pharmaceutical sector. At a later stage, hostels will also come up at Madkai, Tuem, and Cuncolim industrial estates.
The GIDC has already identified the plots where the hostels will be built. Once constructed, a private player will be offered the contract to maintain and operate the hostels for a 30-year lease period.
The Centre has earmarked Rs 5,000 crore for assistance to states for the establishment of new working women’s hostels. According to the 2023-24 periodic labour force survey (PLFS), female labour force participation in Goa is just 21.2%, less than half of the 56% figure for men. The PLFS data shows that the female unemployment rate stands at a staggering 16.8% in Goa, compared to 5.6% for men, highlighting a significant gender disparity.