Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday (May 21, 2025) virtually inaugurated, from the Secretariat in Chennai, three new ‘Thozhi’ working women’s hostels at St. Thomas Mount, Hosur, and Tiruvannamalai. Constructed at a total cost of ₹38.15 crore, the hostels can collectively accommodate 442 working women.
Mr. Stalin also laid the foundation stones for 14 new ‘Thozhi’ working women’s hostels to be constructed at a cost of ₹176.93 crore in Taramani and Chepauk in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Nagapattinam, Krishnagiri, Erode, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Theni, Sivaganga, Ranipet, and Karur, which could accommodate over 2,000 working women, once completed.
According to an official press release, the Tamil Nadu government had initiated the ‘Thozhi’ hostels scheme to overcome the challenges faced by women who migrate from their native places to work in cities. These hostels are run by the Department of Social Welfare and Women Development in various districts to provide safe, quality, and affordable accommodation to working women.
Currently, 16 ‘Thozhi’ hostels are functioning in 13 districts, which could accommodate a total of 1,380 working women. These hostels are equipped with biometric access, round-the-clock security, WiFi, CCTV surveillance, purified drinking water, nutritious food, television, laundry and vehicle parking facilities, at an affordable cost, the release added.
Appointment orders
Further, Mr. Stalin issued appointment orders to 115 persons on compassionate grounds to the Police Department. They would be posted as Record Assistants and at reception desks in police stations.
A press release said that Mr. Stalin had previously announced in the Assembly that reception desks would be established in all police stations to improve services to the public, and 1,132 persons, who are legal heirs of deceased police personnel, would be appointed on compassionate grounds. Since 2021, as many as 17,436 persons have been appointed to the Police Department in various ranks, including 41 Deputy Superintendents of Police, 444 Sub-Inspectors, and 16,199 Grade-II Constables, the release added.
Mr. Stalin also issued appointment orders to 36 persons selected for various posts in the Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, and 18 persons selected for various posts in the Department of Milk and Dairy Development.
Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment P. Geetha Jeevan, Minister for Fisheries, Fishermen Welfare and Animal Husbandry Anitha R. Radhakrishnan, Minister for Milk and Dairy Development T. Mano Thangaraj, and senior government officials were among others present.
Published – May 21, 2025 05:29 pm IST
