Tamil Nadu Working Women’s Hostels – A Home Away from Home

Raghavarshini was bursting with excitement when she heard she had got a job in Chennai, the capital of India's southern state of Tamil Nadu. She was also nervous. Finding a safe place to stay amid the vibrant chaos of the city was not going to be easy.

Her parents, too, were concerned. Their daughter was leaving home for the first time, and they wanted to make sure she would be safe and happy.

"Coming to a big city like Chennai from a small town was quite intimidating at first," recalled Raghavarshini. "I wasn't sure where I would stay or whom I would meet."

Luckily, a few months earlier, the state government had set up new working women's hostels, called Thozhi Hostels, in 10 major towns of the state. (Thozi means 'friend' in the Tamil language.)

The hostel - set up in July 2023 - turned out to be the sanctuary Raghavarshini was looking for. Situated in Tambaram, a dynamic job hub in the city, it was modern, clean and affordable and provided all the services she needed, food, laundry and, above all, safety.

Her mother, Seetha, beamed as she settled her daughter into her new room. "Safety was my first concern," she confided. "But now that I know my daughter is in a safe place with CCTV cameras and 24/7 security, I have peace of mind."

A Tradition of Empowerment, Reinvented

Tamil Nadu is one of the most urbanized states in India. Over a third of its working age women are in the labor force -15 percent above the national average.

As such, this was not the first time that Tamil Nadu had set up working women's hostels to meet the needs of women who were moving to the cities in ever larger numbers - teachers, factory workers, IT professionals, and even students seeking a short term stay to prepare for their exams.

But the earlier hostels were not very well maintained, often failed to meet the basic standards of hygiene and fell short on essential services. So, while they were affordable, they lay underutilized.

A Model for the Future

This time, the state followed a different model altogether. Supported by the World Bank, the government turned things around.

An innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach was developed, where the state provided the land, along with a partial grant for constructing the hostels, while the Tamil Nadu Shelter Fund co-financed the construction. But more importantly, the Shelter Fund's professional expertise in the real estate market helped establish the entire venture, including conducting the open bidding process where private operators bid for the professional management of operations, maintenance and services.

The 10 Thozi hostels, both new and retrofitted, provide a home to some 2,000 working women across the state.Depending on their budgets, the women can choose between economy and air-conditioned rooms, single, double or four sharing, short or long-term stay. The hostels also have creches, and facilities for the differently abled.

Not surprisingly, these government-owned but privately run hostels enjoy 90 percent occupancy, providing good competition to private hostels, encouraging them to improve their offerings.

"Tamil Nadu has abundant human capital, and the aspirations of its women are rising rapidly," said Jayashree Muralidharan, Secretary, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, Government of Tamil Nadu. "These hostels make it safe and easy for women to move to the cities to follow their dreams or build a career. The public private partnership has ensured that the women receive good services without requiring any government subsidies for the operation and management of these facilities."

"The model has the potential to enable more women to participate in the workforce," added Malathi Helen and Sathanbabu, Co-Principals of the Tamil Nadu Shelter Fund. "It is now being scaled up across the state."

Women build a new life

Back at the hostel, Dilakshana, who moved to Chennai from Sri Lanka, is relieved she found this place to stay. "I didn't want to be just someone's wife or mother," she insisted, wanting instead to follow a career in a music. "I hope one day to have my own music studio and apartment. Until then, this hostel will be my safe haven, something I can afford on my small budget."

Long term hostel residents, too, remark on the positive change. "My previous hostel experience was disappointing," remembered one veteran. "Dinner was often spoiled. But here, a vendor delivers freshly cooked meals, and we eat in a sunlit, spacious dining hall."

The all-women team which manages the hostels is proud of fostering a nurturing community. "Having lived in a working women's hostel myself, I understand the importance of a supportive environment," said one of the managers.

"What's more, hearing that my journey inspires the girls here is incredibly rewarding. If I can make my mark in this big city, so can they."

Word about the hostels is spreading. "I don't know where my next job will take me," said a new resident. "But I will surely look out for a Thozhi hostel first."

"Encouraging more women to join the workforce is important for India's economic growth," said Auguste Tano Kouame, World Bank Country Director in India. "India can add up to 1 to 2 percent to GDP growth if it increases its rate of female labor force participation from the current 33 percent to nearly 50 percent."

"This initiative shows how the private sector can be catalyzed to ease the shortage of affordable housing in India, and at the same time boost female labor force participation." added the Abhijit Sankar Ray and Yan Zhang, who managed the World Bank project.

In the meantime, Raghavarshini has not only found security but also a welcoming community. "Now, I'm eager to explore," she said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

With inputs from Yan Zhang, Abhijit Ray, Seetha Raghupathy, and Qingyun Shen

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