Patna: A hostel for working women in Patna district was inaugurated on Wednesday at IAS Colony in the Rupaspur area of the state capital by social welfare department secretary Bandana Preyashi. The hostel has been named ‘Aakanksha’.After Muzaffarpur and Patna, the social welfare department plans to open similar hostels in Gaya, Darbhanga and Bhagalpur, an official said.The Rupaspur-based hostel will be operated under the Women and Child Development Corporation (WCDC). It has accommodation facilities for 50 women, the official added.Speaking on the occasion, Preyashi said the initiative marks an important step towards strengthening women at the grassroots level under the Mukhyamantri Nari Shakti Yojana. “With secure accommodation, women will be able to work without any fear, and their path to self-reliance will become easier. This step will also strengthen women’s safety and social trust in the state capital and other places. These hostels were specially built for women who are living alone and doing govt or other types of jobs,” Preyashi said.She added that in these hostels, prepared on the lines of ‘Apna Ghar’, only those women whose monthly income is up to Rs 75,000 will be eligible for accommodation.“Women will not have to pay any rent to stay in the hostel. They will only have to bear the food expenses, which is Rs 3,000 per month. Facilities such as a bed, locker, table, chair, 24-hour CCTV surveillance, electricity, RO for pure drinking water, TV for entertainment, and free Wi-Fi will also be provided. This 4-storey hostel has 2 kitchens on each floor, which women can use as per their needs,” Preyashi said, adding, “Interested women can apply on the official portal of the Women and Child Development Corporation.”
