With progressive change in the socio-economic dynamics within the country, more and more women are leaving their homes in search of employment. Therefore, the demand for working women’s hostel is on the rise. The Working Women’s hostel at Porvorim is perhaps one of the few such hostels in Goa which provides safe, secure and homely accommodation to working women, with good vegetarian and non-vegetarian food at nominal charges.
The working women’s hostel was founded in 1976. This hostel is being run by All India Women’s Conference –Goa Branch. The residential blocks of this hostel were constructed with the help of grants received from Social Welfare Department, Government of Goa.
Women’s Working Hostel is a gated hostel with round the clock security. It provides shared accommodation for two persons in each room. There is staffed with a good caring warden to provide 24 hours service to the inmates of the hostel and has a common television room for leisure. Also there is no restriction on the hostel inmates with regard to usage of computer or mobile.
The Working Women’s Hostel provides accommodation to 60 working women and students at a time. The hostel is seen as a secure and comfortable abode that is reasonably priced and hence there are always working women looking to get admission to the hostel. The hostel charges Rs1000 per inmate on twin sharing basis. It also provides inmates with lunch and dinner at nominal rates.
The President of Managing committee of the Working women’s Hostel Seema Pednekar stated that the hostel aims to provide young women not only reasonably priced accommodation but also opportunities for growth, making them self confident, sensitive and responsible to other women. It is the objective of the All India Women Conference to provide a home for employed women, which shall have a pleasant atmosphere where happy and friendly relationships are maintained, Pednekar narrated.
The Secretary of the committee Geeta Fatarpekar stated that the major chunk of their income is spent on the maintenance of the hostel. They do not receive any grant or financial assistance from the State government. Due to financial crunch, therefore, they have not been able to carry out any up-gradation of this hostel, though it is badly needed. If the residential capacity of the hostel is increased by constructing more blocks and the hostel is renovated and better facilities are provided, they will be able to serve more working women and students.
The main hitch is that Goa Branch of All India Women’s conference has still not got possession of the land from Serula Comunidade, though they have approached the comunidade. It appears that the comunidade is demanding a huge amount for the sale of the land. They have also approached Panjim MLA Siddharth Cuncolienkar to assist them in getting the possession of the land at a reasonable rate. Assistance from the government as also helping hand from the social institutions will go a long way in enable the hostel to grow from strength to strength, and serve more women, said Pednekar.
