Bangalore is one of Asia’s fastest growing cities. Also known as India’s ‘Silicon Valley,” the city is often in the news for being the center of the technology boom that has attracted thousands of well educated young people to work in outsourced operations of US and European multinational companies. However, what is less well known is that the explosion of growth over the past two decades have made the city unaffordable for the thousands who come from impoverished rural areas in search of better opportunities.

There has also been a disturbing increase of instances of violence against women, particularly young women who work long hours in manufacturing and retail sectors and face harassment and even assault on their way to work and back and in their homes. Working women are often forced to rent rooms in unsafe slum areas and must deal with societal norms that disapprove of women living on their own away from family members. UWAB’s 30 years of successful experience in providing safe and affordable housing for young women has convinced members of the urgent need to open a second such Working Women’s Hostel in Bangalore.

This second Hostel will enable UWAB to expand its reach and fulfill its core goals:

* Ensure that education is accessible to all young women and girls

* Provide practical means by which young women and girls may realize their full potential

* Create an enabling environment for young women and girls to avail of opportunities for personal advancement

UWAB members have worked tirelessly over the past couple of years to obtain land and necessary support from the Government of India for the initiation of a second hostel. As a result, UWAB has been allotted leasehold land of 955 square metres in Indiranagar in east Bangalore and has obtained the necessary permission for the building plan from local authorities. The plan provides residential facilities for approximately 100 women, including physically challenged women.

However, there is still a long way to go in terms of raising funds to meet construction costs.