Gandhinagar: The Gujarat govt is likely to announce a scheme to provide residential facilities for domestic workers and transport arrangements to help them reach their respective workplaces.According to top sources in the state govt, the scheme is likely to be announced in the state budget next week. As part of the scheme, dormitories will be constructed in all major cities for the domestic workers. Civic bodies will construct and operate these facilities, and the govt will provide funds for them. “It was observed that domestic workers — individuals hired to perform household tasks including cleaning, cooking, laundry, and care of children and the elderly — live in shanties near posh residential areas. They live in unsafe and unhygienic conditions and without civic amenities,” said a source close to the development. Official sources added that dormitories will be constructed in all major cities of the state. “The rents will be nominal, and transport facilities will also be made available for them,” the source said.According to govt sources, the scheme will also facilitate the registration and monitoring of domestic workers. “The state skill development, labour and employment department will be the nodal department for implementing the scheme, but these dormitories will be operated by various local civic bodies,” said sources. In the budget presented last year, the Gujarat govt announced the ‘Sakhi Sahas Scheme’ to construct hostels for working women in five major cities of the state — Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Gandhinagar — to provide residential facilities.
