Though nearly 200 hostels are run by various industrial units in the district for its women and children, these are yet to obtain a licence as stipulated under the new Tamil Nadu Hostels and Homes for Women and Children (Regulation) Act.
Only 52 unit owners have recently applied for the licence which, according to District Social Welfare Officer M. Jayanthi, is being processed.
The Act was passed in 2014 and was notified in February this year. The District Collector is the licensing authority.
Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Singh told The Hindu that the industry associations’ representatives were briefed about the importance of getting the licence from the Collector. “We have given a directive that the remaining units which have hostels for women and girls/boys workers should apply for the licence within the next 10 days. Failure to do so will invite criminal prosecution”, he said.
There is some urgency in obtaining the licence because of sexual harassment cases that were recently reported from a few mills in the district.
“As per the Act, the licence will be issued only when the hostels comply with guidelines. For example it has to have a manager/warden for every 50 people accommodated, CCTV cameras at the entry and exit points to the hostel, security guards and separate compounds for hostels meant for boy and girl workers, among other parameters”, said Mr. Singh.
Special Correspondent adds from Coimbatore:
An official of the Social Welfare Department in Coimbatore told The Hindu that the process of registering hostels on the premises industries is going on in the district. Some industries are coming forward voluntarily to register. The department is conducting awareness programmes.
The regulation in this regard came is effective from February this year and the units had six months time to register.
The Southern India Mills’ Association has appealed to the State Government to relax some of the norms.
