CM Pinarayi Vijayan calls for a violence-free country for women

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan emphasised the need to work towards a country free of violence against women, highlighting the government's support for various initiatives aimed at achieving this goal.

The Chief Minister made these remarks while inaugurating the Kerala Women's Commission's International Women's Day celebrations at the Bhagyamala Auditorium.

"Despite the numerous women's movements in Kerala's history, many women still hesitate to step into the public sphere. This must change. Women's rights and dignity should not be confined to writings and discussions," he said.

Special training has been provided to women police officers to handle complaints related to violence against women. Initiatives such as Aparajita, Vanita Helpline, and Self-Defence have been launched. The Domestic Conflict Resolution Centre also offers assistance. In case of an emergency, the 'Nirbhaya' app is available. The 'Sakhi One Stop' scheme ensures the safe stay of travellers, while the 'Nizhal' scheme offers protection during travel. The Chief Minister also mentioned schemes like Pink Police, Ente Koodu, and One-Day Home, which are designed for women's safety.

Kerala was the first state in India to implement gender budgeting, a move that received praise from the United Nations. Over the past three years, the Women's Development Corporation has provided employment to 150,000 people. The Chief Minister also noted that the Kerala Women's Commission is a leading institution in promoting women's empowerment.

During the event, the Chief Minister presented the Sthree Shakti and Jagratha Samiti awards of the Kerala Women's Commission. N.R. Sudharmadas, Chief Photographer of the Kerala Kaumudi Kochi Unit, received the media award for the best photographer from Kerala Women's Commission Chairperson P. Sathi Devi.

Mayor Arya Rajendran, Deputy Mayor P.K. Raju, District Panchayat President D. Suresh Kumar, Kerala Women's Commission Director Shaji Sugunan, Vilappil Radhakrishnan, and other dignitaries attended the event.