THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in the assembly that gender-neutral uniforms will not be imposed in the schools in the state. The CM was responding to a submission by LDF MLA KK Shailaja.

"Educational institutions, their teachers, PTA, and student representatives should discuss and decide on appropriate uniforms. It is not the policy of this government to impose any kind of dress on anyone. People are entitled to every freedom in matters of dress, food, and belief and there can be no extremist view regarding these." the CM said.

"Attempts to impose a dress code, including on women, are a hindrance to the building a progressive knowledge society. Tendencies contrary to the purpose of equality for women in society should be discouraged. Kerala ranks first in gender equality in NITI Aayog's Sustainable Development Index. Kerala also leads in the indices of low maternal mortality rate, high sex ratio and high life expectancy of women. The enrollment rate of girls up to high school is 48 percent. 51.82 percent of students in higher secondary, 64.6 percent of students in graduate courses and 64.89 percent of students in postgraduate courses are girls. The representation of girls in nursing and lab technician courses is 81.35 percent. The representation of girls is low only in engineering and polytechnic courses," the CM added.