Chennai: When I first arrived in Chennai from Jharkhand, I carried the usual anxieties of living away from home, whether I would fit in, whether the language barrier would make life difficult.There was also the immediate challenge of finding a place to stay. Paying guest accommodation in Chennai can be expensive, particularly for working women looking for clean, safe rooms with basic facilities and connectivity. That’s when I came across Thozhi, a hostel for working women set up by the previous Tamil Nadu govt. The initiative was launched to encourage more women to enter and remain in the workforce by providing safe and affordable accommodation.I was sceptical at first. I had imagined a govt-run hostel to be run-down with basic facilities and poor maintenance. But what I found instead were clean, well-maintained rooms and facilities comparable to many private accommodations I had seen during my search.
Hostel room
Four months after moving in, choosing Thozhi has been one of my best decisions. Affordable accommodation can make a big difference to women who move cities for work. A spacious double-sharing air-conditioned room here costs ₹10,620 a month, with no additional electricity bill. Breakfast costs ₹40, lunch ₹50 and dinner ₹40, with an egg available for an extra ₹10. Each floor has a washing machine.Thozhi also has accessible facilities for differently abled women, including separate rooms, ramps and a lift. Another thoughtful feature is its creche, which allows residents to stay with children up to five years of age. While mothers are at work, trained caretakers look after their children, making it easier for women with young families to continue working without compromising on childcare. Some even have a gym and sick room. Nobody here feels out of place, but everyone feels empowered.
Hostel room
Residents participate in a daily WhatsApp poll to let the cook know how many meals to prepare, preventing food waste. At a time when many hostels have increased food prices due to rising LPG costs, Thozhi has kept its meal charges unchanged.Evenings are often spent with women from different parts of the country (Thozhi does not require a Tamil Nadu domicile) and diverse professions — lawyers, public relations professionals, doctors, researchers, journalists, make-up artists and more — exchanging stories, experiences and perspectives.
Hallway
“Thozhi is designed as a green building, incorporating eco-friendly construction materials, rainwater harvesting and other water conservation measures, along with solar panels that help generate electricity,” says Pawan Kaipa, CEO of Tamil Nadu Working Women’s Hostels Corporation Limited. “Today, 25 Thozhi hostels operate across 21 districts in the state.”
