Government is planning several initiatives to ensure that working women in the national capital get better living facilities so that they can perform to the best of their potential and contribute to the best of their ability in the process of nation building. This was stated here today by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh during his visit to the Jasola Working Women’s Hostel near Sarita Vihar/Apollo Hospital Metro Station, which has been set up by Ministry of Development of North East Region (DoNER) in collaboration with Ministry of Women & Child Development. The hostel is specifically meant for working women from North Eastern Region although working women from other parts of the country are also offered accommodation depending upon vacancy. This is one of the few residential hostels of its kind in Delhi which is meant exclusively for working women.Dr Jitendra Singh, accompanied by Secretary (DoNER) Shri Vijay Kumar, Joint Secretary Shri V.B.Pathak and caretakers of the hostel, went around the premises and interacted with the inmates, who were extremely thrilled and enthusiastic at the rare opportunity to have the Union Minister visiting their hostel to inquire about them. He visited each and every block of the premises including the dining hall, common room and the residential blocks.
Dr Jitendra Singh issued on-the-spot instructions to increase the number of “single occupancy” living rooms and provide air conditioned facility wherever demanded by the inmates. He also noticed that in certain portions of the building wifi internet facility was not up to the mark and issued instructions for installation of signal boosters.To make the place more secure and to ensure free movement of working women even at late night hours, Dr Jitendra Singh directed the officials of the Ministry to take up with civic/electrical authorities the issue of maintaining uninterrupted power supply to the streetlights on the road linking the premises to the nearby metro station. He also directed that an in-house transport facility by way of a van or mini-bus may be arranged for the inmates to travel to and from the metro station. During informal interaction with the inmates, some of the working women came out with suggestions like setting up a badminton court in the premises and a small auditorium to conduct socializing and cultural activities. Dr Jitendra Singh said these are some of the long term plans for which the Ministry will soon prepare a draft paper.