Surat, June 21: Gujarat’s Deputy Chief Minister, Harsh Sanghvi, laid the foundation stone for a ‘Nari Sanrakshan Grih’ (Women’s Shelter) on Saturday. The facility, located on Ghoddod Road, will be built at an estimated cost of ₹16 crore. Following the ceremony, he chaired a review meeting at the Surat Collector’s office focused on the ‘Halpati Housing Scheme’, which aims to provide housing and land rights for Halpati and tribal communities.
The new ‘G+2’ shelter home will accommodate up to 101 women who have suffered from violence and exploitation. Officials stated that the facility’s primary goal is to offer immediate safety and rehabilitation for vulnerable women.
Currently, 24 women and one child are residing in the existing women’s shelter located in the Jananidham campus in Kamrej Taluka. These individuals are survivors of domestic violence, gender-based violence, or other forms of exploitation. They are expected to be relocated to the new facility once construction is completed.
Earlier in the day, the Deputy Chief Minister led a comprehensive review meeting regarding the implementation of the Halpati Housing Scheme. The discussion centered on the allocation of homes, land ownership, and heritage rights for members of the Halpati and tribal communities in Surat city and surrounding areas.
The meeting also addressed cases where eligible beneficiaries had not yet received the scheme’s benefits due to administrative or technical challenges. It was decided to form a joint committee comprising representatives from the administration, Surat Municipal Corporation, District Panchayat, and the Halpati Housing Board. This committee will identify obstacles and ensure timely resolution of pending applications.
Officials were instructed to expedite the issuance of property cards, rectify administrative shortcomings, and provide necessary legal advice to resolve long-standing heritage issues. The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Swamitva Scheme in the district, emphasizing the need to accelerate the issuance of land and property ownership documents to eligible beneficiaries.
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