Many working women’s hostels have failed to register themselves despite multiple intimations, said officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme.
“Nowadays, one can find hostels for working women and teenage girls everywhere. It has become very difficult to identify them,” said an official from the Department. “It is important that they register so we can help them in case of unforeseen circumstances. Residents’ safety is extremely important,” the official added.
According to the Tamil Nadu Hostel for Women and Children (Regulation) Rules, 2015, owners or managers of every home for women and children must send applications to the District Collectorate for registration within six months of its establishment. The Collector must later schedule an inspection of the institution with a team consisting of four officials from various departments, including the District Social Welfare Officer or District Child Protection Officer. If the home is found to have adequate accommodation facilities, a licence will be provided.
Existing hostels or lodging house for women and children, which were set up or maintained under any other law, including the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, must also be registered as per the rules.
Officials from the department said that they have so far received 85 applications from working women’s hostels in Chennai, all of which are under the process of registration. However, many more are functioning in the city. “We only have one District Social Welfare Officer and it is difficult to trace all hostels operating without registration. We need support from stakeholders too. They must inform us if they spot a new hostel for women in their area so that we can also provide the necessary help to residents and the owners,” the official said.
One of the managers of a city-based registered hostel for women pointed to the long and tedious registration process as the key reason for the lapses. “It takes a long time for applications to be processed,” said the manager on condition of anonymity.
