3 weeks ago
Private Players Urged to Provide Housing for Women Guest Workers
In Tamil Nadu, a state in India, many factories make things like clothes and electronics.
Lots of the people who work in these factories are women who move from faraway places to work there.
These women need safe, affordable places to live near their factories.
The government and factory owners alone cannot build houses for everyone, so companies are being asked to help.
One company called Nia.one is building special places called 'Sram Parks' where workers can stay safely and affordably.
Nia.one plans to build about 80 such parks across India, and the first one has already opened in Oragadam.
These parks will also have sports areas, healthcare, childcare and other helpful services.
Companies like Saint-Gobain India say safe housing gives women and their families confidence to take jobs away from home.
Leaders believe good housing for workers will help India's factories grow and keep good workers.
Tamil Nadu's private sector is being called upon to build affordable accommodation and community facilities for women guest workers in industrial corridors.
Nia.one plans around 80 'Sram Parks' across India, including at least five in the Sriperumbudur-Chennai belt, with the first already open in Oragadam.
Nia.one co-founder and CEO Sachin Chhabra says workforce infrastructure will become as important as factory infrastructure for India's manufacturing growth.
Saint-Gobain India CHRO Ramya Sampath says rising numbers of women workers are pushing employers to provide safer, more supportive workplaces and housing.
Industry leaders propose a partnership in which the government provides land and infrastructure, employers support worker welfare, and private operators manage facilities.
- Who
- Private-sector companies such as Nia.one and Saint-Gobain India, industry leaders, and women guest workers employed in Tamil Nadu's manufacturing corridors.
- What
- A push for the private sector to create affordable accommodation, recreation and community facilities for guest workers, especially women, in industrial corridors.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu, India — across industrial belts including Chennai, Sriperumbudur, Oragadam, Hosur, Coimbatore and Tiruppur.
- When
- The article does not specify a date; it describes current industry developments in Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- Safe, affordable accommodation near workplaces is seen as key to attracting and retaining women migrant workers as Tamil Nadu expands higher-value manufacturing.
Key facts
- State
- Tamil Nadu, India
- Industrial belts mentioned
- Chennai, Sriperumbudur, Oragadam, Hosur, Coimbatore, Tiruppur
- Company leading initiative
- Nia.one — developing 'Sram Parks' for guest workers
- Planned Sram Parks
- About 80 across India; at least 5 in the Sriperumbudur-Chennai belt, first opened in Oragadam
- Key spokespersons
- Sachin Chhabra (CEO, Nia.one); Ramya Sampath (CHRO, Saint-Gobain India)
- Facilities planned
- Accommodation, sports areas, common areas, healthcare, childcare, banking, food outlets, skill-development centres
- Target sectors
- Electronics, textiles, garments and other manufacturing; higher-value sectors include EVs, automobiles and advanced engineering
- Proposed partnership model
- Government (land, connectivity, infrastructure) + employers (worker welfare) + private operators (managed facilities)
Quotes
Sachin Chhabra
Co‑founder and CEO of Nia.one, a company developing worker infrastructure
“India’s manufacturing ambitions cannot be achieved by building factories alone. The next decade of manufacturing growth will depend on our ability to build and retain a stable force of guest workers, especially women. Migration is no longer a temporary phenomenon; it is becoming fundamental to India’s industrial growth. We believe workforce infrastructure will become as important as factory infrastructure.”
deccanchronicle.com
“Accommodation is an important issue for women workers. This is an area where private players can play a crucial role in attracting more women into the workforce. Safe and affordable accommodation close to industrial clusters can give women and their families greater confidence when they take up employment away from their homes.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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