The Chief Minister Dr Mukul inaugurates new Working Women’s Hostel at Tura

Tura, January 07: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma inaugurated the newly constructed Working Women’s Hostel at Mission Compound, Tura on Saturday afternoon and dedicated the asset to the people of the state. The second phase of the Working Women’s Hostel, equipped with modern amenities was conceptualized by the Chief Minister himself to provide a secure and comfortable accommodation to the “vulnerable sections of the society. It was sanctioned under Special Plan Assistance through the Department of Social Welfare and its constructed at a cost of over Rs. 8 crore was undertaken by Socio Economic Women’s Society (SEWS), an NGO run by the Garo Baptist Convention. The same organization will also manage and maintain the hostel which can accommodate about 75 working women. The impressive inaugural programme was attended by West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh, Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board, G. Arengh, leaders of the Garo Baptist Convention and SEWS, church elders and officials of the Social Welfare department among others. In his address, the Chief Minister expressed his joy to be able to dedicate the asset for the welfare of women who become vulnerable victims of circumstances, adding that it was only befitting to inaugurate the hostel in the beginning of the year. Speaking of the challenges of running hostels, he said that it was government’s conscious decision to ensure that such hostels are managed and maintained by partners like the Garo Baptist Convention. He placed on record his heartfelt gratitude to the church organization coming forward to take the responsibility and at the same time said that he was looking forward to further associate with them to collectively work for the welfare of the people of the state particularly in taking care of the needs of the vulnerable section of the society. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh in his welcome address expressed his hope that with the inauguration of this hostel the problems of paucity of accommodation with safe and secure conditions would now be addressed. President of Garo Baptist Convention, Aloysius G. Momin, thanked the Chief Minister for reposing is faith to partner with the organization in implementation and management of this important project and informed that while the first phase of the hostel had the capacity to accommodate only 70 inmates, the new hostel would be able provide accommodation for additional 70 to 80 inmates. Assistant Director, Social Welfare, Shillong, L.M. Momin also spoke on the occasion, while Director, SEWS, Ms. Anse Wanne G. Momin gave a brief report on the implementation of the project.