She-Kunj: Indore's innovative initiative to provide home-like facilities to women in public spaces

With ardent leadership and assiduous planning, Indore has always been a hub of creativity when it comes to implementing welfare initiatives. Amid all the growth and new developments, the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh has become a witness to another interesting project called 'She-Kunj'. This project was started with an aim to set up specialised resource centres for women that would help them with specialised and required amenities.

4 centres in the city; 25 more to be set up

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The Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner, who is also the Executive Director of Smart City Project, informed that the major objective of this initiative, which is a part of Smart City developments, is to provide women with a centre having basic amenities at frequently thronged markets and other overcrowded locations. Replicating home-like environment amidst a public space, She-Kunj has a small campus stretching at an area of nearly 400 square feet.

As of now, Indore has four centres of the 'She-Kunj' facility at Palasia Women Police Station, Chappan Dukan (56 Shops), Vijay Nagar and Meghdoot Upvan. Housing general convenience centres, breastfeeding rooms and toilets amongst other facilities, the specialised centres would provide women easy access to an array of facilities all in a single complex. Given the wide number of benefits provided by 'She-Kunj', the state government has proposed to construct 25 more centres across the city.

She-Kunj, a product of the public-private partnership

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From essentials as basic as sanitary pads to special needs like beauty and cosmetic products, the facility takes care of almost all usual needs at no cost. She-Kunj is supposed to be managed and maintained by caretakers and women guards who would also ensure security and other aids to the users of this facility. A product of the public-private partnership, the resource home will also be looked after by the private associate in addition to the city administration.

The development and empowerment of women are one of the key drivers of unhindered progress. Indore, with its active and agile administration, has implemented a string of initiatives in the past and adding more value to the list of these comprehensive measures, is this latest intervention that come with well-determined objectives.