Executive Summary:
This document is the official response from the Ministry of Women and Child Development to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2154 regarding the Working Women's Hostels scheme in Odisha, answered on August 1, 2025. It provides details on funds allocated and spent from 2014 to 2025, the status of working women's hostels across the country, and expansion plans. The response also addresses proposals from Odisha and publicity efforts for the scheme.
Key Points / Main Content:
Sakhi Niwas Scheme Overview:
* The Sakhi Niwas Scheme, a Working Women Hostel initiative under Mission Shakti, is a demand-driven, centrally sponsored scheme.
* It aims to provide safe and conveniently located accommodations for working women, including day care facilities, in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas.
* Funds are directly released to States and UTs for implementation.
Financial Assistance and Allocation:
* Financial assistance is provided for running Sakhi Niwas in rented premises; construction components have been discontinued, except under a specific scheme.
* Annexure I details the State/UT-wise funds released under the Sakhi Niwas Scheme from FY 2014-15 to 2024-25.
* The Ministry of Finance allocated Rs. 5,000 crores to 28 States for construction of working women hostels under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme.
* Odisha was allocated Rs. 189.00 crore under the SASCI scheme, and a proposal for a 4000-bed hostel was approved, with the first installment of Rs. 124.74 crore released in 2024-25.
Hostel Status and Proposals:
* Currently, 538 Sakhi Niwas Working Women Hostels are functional across the country, including Odisha, with details in Annexure II.
* Odisha submitted 22 and 6 new proposals for setting up Sakhi Niwas on rental mode in FY 2024-25 and 2025-26, respectively, which have been approved.
Publicity and Awareness:
* The Odisha state government has publicized the Working Women's Hostels scheme through community outreach, awareness camps, and workshops at district and block levels.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments and UTs:
* Impact: Responsible for assessing local needs, submitting proposals, implementing the Sakhi Niwas Scheme, and publicizing the scheme.
* Action Required: Continue to assess needs, submit proposals for funding, and ensure effective implementation and publicity of the scheme.
Working Women:
* Impact: Intended beneficiaries of the scheme, gaining access to safe and affordable accommodation and day care facilities.
* Action Required: Avail themselves of the facilities provided under the scheme.
Ministry of Women and Child Development:
* Impact: Oversees the implementation of the Sakhi Niwas Scheme and provides financial assistance.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor the implementation of the scheme and provide necessary support to States and UTs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies and programs related to women and children.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question was raised.
Odisha: A state in India which is the primary focus of the question regarding working women's hostels.
Sakhi Niwas Scheme Working Women Hostel: A centrally sponsored scheme under Mission Shakti, aimed at providing safe accommodation for working women.
Mission Shakti: An overarching scheme that includes Sakhi Niwas Scheme Working Women Hostel, focusing on women empowerment and safety.
Programme Approval Board PAB: The board responsible for approving proposals related to the Sakhi Niwas Scheme after discussion with States and UTs.
Ministry of Finance MoF: The Indian government ministry responsible for financial matters, including allocation of funds for the scheme.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment SASCI Scheme: A scheme under which funds are allocated to states for capital investments, including the construction of working women's hostels.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No.2154
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2025
WORKING WOMEN’S HOSTELS SCHEMES IN ODISHA
2154. SHRI BAIJAYANT PANDA:
Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details of funds allocated and spent under the Working Women’s Hostels scheme
from 2014 to 2024, State/UT-wise;
(b) the details of the working women's hostels functioning across the country, especially
in Odisha;
(c) whether the Government is planning to expand the number of working women’s hostels
in every district, if so, the details thereof;
(d) the number of applications received/sanctioned under the Scheme in Odisha from 2024
onwards; and
(e) the details of the advertisements/publicity/promotion of the scheme carried out by the
Government?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) to (c) Sakhi Niwas Scheme (Working Women Hostel) under the overarching Mission
Shakti, is a demand driven Centrally Sponsored Scheme, under which funds are directly
released to the States and UTs for its implementation. The Scheme aims to promote
availability of safe and conveniently located accommodations for working women, with day
care facility for their children in urban, semi urban and also in rural areas where employment
opportunities for women exist. The States and UTs assess their requirement as per local needs
and proposals are approved by the Programme Approval Board (PAB) after discussion with
States and UTs. In this Scheme, financial assistance is provided for running of Sakhi Niwas in
rented premises and construction component has been discontinued.
State/UT-wise details of funds released under Sakhi Niwas Scheme (Working Women
Hostel) from Financial Year 2014-15 to 2024-2025 are at Annexure-I.
Presently, 538 Sakhi Niwas (Working Women Hostel) are functional across the country
including Odisha. Details of functional Sakhi Niwas (WWH) across the country are at
Annexure-II.(d) to (e) The State Government of Odisha had submitted 22 and 06 new proposals for setting
up Sakhi Niwas on rental mode for consideration in the PAB meeting during Financial Years
2024-25 and 2025-26 respectively. These proposals have been approved by PAB.
Ministry of Finance (MoF), Department of Expenditure (DoE) in August, 2024 has also
allocated Rs.5,000/- crores to 28 States under Part (X) (Construction of Working Women
Hostels) of Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme for
construction of working women hostel. Under this Scheme, Rs.189.00 crore has been allocated
to the State of Odisha. The State Government of Odisha has submitted proposal for construction
of one hostel of 4000 bed at the total cost of Rs.189.00 crore. This proposal has been approved
by DoE and 1st instalment of Rs.124.74 crore has been released by DoE to the State
Government of Odisha during 2024-25.
The State Government has informed that they have taken several steps to publicize the
Working Women’s Hostels (WWH) scheme across the State i.e. awareness created through
community outreach, awareness camps, and workshops at the District and Block levels, in
collaboration with local bodies and women’s organizations.
x-x-x-x-xAnnexure-I
Annexure referred to in reply to Parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question
No.2154 for answer on 01.08.2025 regarding Working Women’s Hostels Schemes in
Odisha asked by Shri Baijayant Panda, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (LS).
State/UT-wise details of fund released under Sakhi Niwas Scheme (Working Women Hostel)
fromFinancial Year 2014-15 to 2024-2025
(Amount Rupees in Lakhs)
States/U 2014- 2015-12016-12017-1 2018- 2019- 2020- 2021- 2022-2 2023- 2024-
Ts 15 6 7 8 19 20 21 22 3 24 25
Andhra 326.4 181.0 247.8 0.00 476.9 146.4 0.00 0.00 0.00 21.52 0.00
Pradesh 7 8 8 3 9
Arunachal 88.48 268.4 192.5 193.4 116.7 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 147.0
Pradesh 2 4 6 6 2
Assam 0.00 0.00 0.00 8.83 7.77 0.00 7.76 0.00 0.00 61.47 54.84
Bihar 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 90.00
Chhattisg 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.46 0.00 26.68 4.98
arh
Gujarat 0.00 0.00 0.00 183.7 0.00 0.00 0.00 69.70 0.00 46.46 0.00
6
Himachal 0.00 0.00 0.00 265.8 0.00 111.8 0.00 0.00 0.00 9.29 4.65
Pradesh 3 6
J&K 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.80 37.24
Karnataka 46.57 0.00 0.00 973.6 0.00 482.5 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
6
Kerala 20.66 244.8 932.1 0.00 252.5 901.5 0.00 273.9 384.0 48.00 102.1
0 7 6 7 0 2
Madhya 0.00 0.00 347.9 0.00 244.0 0.00 0.00 191.1 0.00 0.00 0.00
Pradesh 9 3 9
Maharash 0.00 251.7 0.00 7.17 161.4 0.00 36.38 0.00 0.00 0.00 25.55
tra 6 3
Mizoram 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 170.6 136.5 0.00 40.88 0.00 0.00 49.67
2 0
Manipur 35.32 92.08 149.7 462.2 915.5 169.4 990.6 164.7 784.8 58.87 81.55
4 8 1 9 1 0 5
Nagaland 58.53 181.0 442.4 600.5 419.5 244.2 223.6 96.09 0.00 175.1 27.87
3 8 6 8 4 7 5
Odisha 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 24.99
Punjab 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 136.5 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0
Sikkim 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 12.14
Tamil Na 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 392.1 350.2 593.9 0.00 108.3
du 8 5 4 1
Telangana 322.8 0.00 0.00 0.00 268.9 746.1 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
9 1 0
U.P. 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 39.71
Delhi* 6.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 179.5 300.1 11.52 0.00 0.00 3.02
8 8
Total 904.9 1219. 2312. 2695. 3034. 3254.71950.71203.7 1762. 452.2 813.6
7 17 80 55 10 6 8 6 79 4 6
* Funds released to UT of Delhi in r/o Tax and repairing work of Jasola Hostel except FY
2024-25.Annexure-II
Annexure referred to in reply to Parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question
No.2154 for answer on 01.08.2025 regarding Working Women’s Hostels Schemes in
Odisha asked by Shri Baijayant Panda, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (LS).
Details of functional Sakhi Niwas (WWH)
S. No States/UTs Number of Functional Sakhi Niwas (WWH)
1. Andhra Pradesh 23
2. Arunachal Pradesh 05
3. A&N Islands 00
4. Assam 10
5. Bihar 00
6. Chandigarh 06
7. Chhattisgarh 06
8. Daman & Diu and Dadra & N H 00
9. Delhi 15
10. Goa 00
11. Gujarat 14
12. Haryana 07
13. Himachal Pradesh 06
14. Jammu & Kashmir 01
15. Jharkhand 02
16. Karnataka 62
17. Kerala 138
18. Ladakh 00
19. Lakshadweep 00
20. Madhya Pradesh 02
21. Maharashtra 85
22. Manipur 18
23. Meghalaya 03
24. Mizoram 03
25. Nagaland 16
26. Odisha 11
27. Puducherry 04
28. Punjab 00
29. Rajasthan 15
30. Sikkim 01
31. Tamil Nadu 60
32. Telangana 17
33. Tripura 00
34. Uttarakhand 00
35. Uttar Pradesh 08
36. West Bengal 00
Total* 538
* As per information received from States/UTs.
x-x-x-x