Speaking at the ‘Nava Kerala Sthree Sadas’ on 22 February, Pinarayi Vijayan, chief minister, Kerala, announced the government’s plan to establish workstations. The stations will welcome individuals from other states for both work and tourism purposes.
These workstations will be established in tourist hotspots, coupled with work-near-home facilities targeting women.
This is part of the government’s strategy to bolster the knowledge economy and boost Kerala’s tourism sector. Additionally, these workstations will enable women to actively participate in the workforce.
Speaking at the event at CIAL Convention Centre, Nedumbassery, the CM addressed the challenges faced by women in balancing family responsibilities and career aspirations. He also acknowledged the presence of highly educated and skilled women in the state and outlined the intention to establish a system that allows such women to work near or close to their residences.
Additionally, schemes for both work-near-home and work-from-home are in the pipeline.
During the event, the CM also highlighted the growing entrepreneurial spirit among women. He mentioned that between 2002 and 2024, approximately 73,002 women-led enterprises were initiated in the state. Furthermore, the industrial policy of the state has identified 22 priority sectors, and women entrepreneurs will receive support to launch ventures in these sectors.
Moreover, the government reiterated its commitment to prioritising women’s health, mental well-being, and the enactment of laws to empower women. Several noteworthy suggestions included the development of more synthetic tracks to support athletes, intervention to empower women in the film industry, and initiatives to assist visually-impaired individuals.