The Hindu : National : First women's hostel for apparel workers opened

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Tuesday, Jun 15, 2010
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National

First women's hostel for apparel workers opened

Special Correspondent

SIPCOT building women's hostels in Tirupur and Sriperumbudur

— Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin declaring open the SIPCOT women's hostel and training centre at SIPCOT Apparel Park at Irungattukottai on Monday.

CHENNAI: Enthused by the overwhelming response for the State's first women hostel for apparel workers, the Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday asked the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) to construct more women's hostels in the State.

After inaugurating the Rs.8-crore women's hostel, crèche, dispensary, canteen and training centre at Irungattukottai Apparel Park, Mr. Stalin told The Hindu, “It is very good. It is the first women's hostel for apparel workers in the State.”

SIPCOT Chairman and Managing Director, N. Govindan told Mr. Stalin that they were in the process of constructing two more women's hostel at Neruperichal in Tirupur and Sriperumbudur costing Rs.20 crore. Land had been identified for the Sriperumbudur project and tendering process would commence soon.

“This hostel is meant only for those from low-strata of the society and hence we are charging only Rs.600 as monthly rent. We are getting requests from other apparel makers to construct hostels with more facilities. We are yet to take a decision on it,” he said.

Industries Secretary Rajeev Ranjan said similar hostels could be considered for those women working at leather factories in and around the Ranipet and Ambur regions.

The women's hostel at Irungattukottai apparel park has 55 rooms consisting of 330 beds. All the beds have been allotted to eight firms. The hostel is spread over 30,000 sq.ft and has facilities such as TV room, principal's room, office room, library and separate enclosure for washing clothes. Mr. Stalin distributed the orders to manage and run the women's hostel and canteen jointly by the Women's Self Help Group of Irungattukottai and Kattrampakkam villages – Arivoli Women, Kaligambal and Samkritham. Everonn Skill Development Ltd has been given the mandate to operate the training centre. They will impart training to women free of cost.

The inaugural function was attended by Labour Minister T.M. Anbarasan, Member of Parliament T.R. Baalu and Kancheepuram District Collector Santosh K. Misra.

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