Kerala’s Women’s Policy seeks to address contradictions, moots gender studies in schools

Kerala's draft policy focuses on areas such as education, healthcare and labour, and women’s safety, apart from focusing on gender minorities.

Dileep V Kumar

Published Oct 08, 2024 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 08, 2024 | 2:26 PM

Representative image (Wikimedia Commons)

Kerala’s Women and Child Welfare Department recently unveiled draft version of Women’s Policy, 2024. This marks the fourth revision of the state’s women’s policy, with earlier versions introduced in 1996, 2009, and 2015.

The policy’s objective is to tackle the persistent challenges women face and pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society.

The policy draft focuses on key areas such as education, healthcare, labour, culture, law, and women’s safety. It addresses the specific needs of marginalised groups like Adivasis, coastal communities, and senior citizens.

The policy further aims to redress the contradictions in Kerala’s development projects that hinder true gender parity. Additionally, the upcoming policy promises a comprehensive approach to bridging these gaps and advancing gender equality across all sectors.

Why a new policy?

The draft’s introduction segment explains the need for revisions in the policy, showing that despite the state’s advancements in health, education, and social welfare, gender inequality persists.

“Recognising the need for a more inclusive and just society, the state government has formulated a new policy that seeks to address the contradictions of Kerala’s development and create a truly gender-equal society,” the introduction states.

“The previous editions of the policy, introduced in 1996, 2009, and 2015, laid the groundwork for improving women’s rights and addressing gender disparities. However, with the changing socio-political landscape of Kerala between 2015 and 2023, including economic growth, natural calamities, and a pandemic, the need for a more comprehensive policy has become clear. The government now plans to revise the existing framework to reflect the current realities, emphasising gender justice not only for women but also for gender minorities, marking a shift towards inclusivity,” it read.

The policy emphasises the importance of women’s empowerment and participation in all spheres of society and aims to create a legal and social environment that protects women’s rights, promotes gender equality, and ensures their safety and well-being.

Also Read: Kerala police name actors Sreenath Bhasi and Prayaga Martin in remand report of drug case involving gangster Omprakash

Objectives of new policy

Key objectives of the new policy include dismantling capitalist and traditional gender power relations, ensuring women’s participation in governance, and strengthening the legal system to combat violence and discrimination.

The policy envisions a society where women have equal access to education, employment, health, legal protection, and social welfare, with significant focus on economic independence, empowering women to stand on their own feet and not remain dependent on anyone else for an income.

The Women’s Policy also emphasises the importance of education, proposing gender studies as part of the school curriculum.

Special attention will be given to marginalised communities, including coastal, tribal, and Muslim women, who lag behind the state’s overall literacy levels. Schools and colleges are expected to become more women-friendly, and new training programmes for teachers will be introduced to foster a gender-sensitive learning environment.

Moreover, the policy points out that Kerala’s demographic shifts have led to the need for an increased focus on the care of elderly women. The government aims to ensure the welfare of the aged women in the state through comprehensive social protection programmes.

Kerala’s specific action plans

The policy draft outlines specific areas for action including:

• Education: Promoting gender equality in the learning and teaching processes, creating women-friendly learning environments, and introducing gender studies into the curriculum.
• Health: Ensuring access to quality healthcare for women, addressing gender-specific health issues, and promoting women’s reproductive health rights.
• Economy: Promoting women’s economic empowerment through employment opportunities, entrepreneurship, and access to financial resources.
• Social Justice: Addressing issues of social exclusion, discrimination, and violence against women.
• Governance: Ensuring women’s representation in decision-making bodies and promoting gender-sensitive governance.

Also Read: Minister Rajeev debunks myths around Kerala and recalls its many firsts in technology

Key recommendations from the policy

Women’s ‘Policy 2024’s draft introduces a range of forward-thinking initiatives aimed at fostering gender equality.

• Introducing a legally binding rule ensuring that gifts or property received by a woman as part of a wedding can only be used by her, thereby safeguarding her financial independence.
• Setting a ceiling limit on wedding expenses to curb the economic pressures often placed on families, promoting a more equitable and sensible approach to traditional marriages.
• Gender protocols in educational institutions and embedding gender studies into school curriculums and establishing gender clubs to raise awareness and promote discussions on equality from a young age.
• Ensuring school and college campuses are designed to be more welcoming and supportive of girls’ needs, promoting a safer and more comfortable learning experience.
• Transforming the traditional Parent-Teacher Association to a more inclusive Parent-Teacher-Student Association, giving students a voice in matters affecting their education and wellbeing.
• Conducting gender audits of undergraduate and postgraduate syllabuses to eliminate biases and ensure equal representation in educational content.
• Launching comprehensive mental health studies focused on women and girls, and revising the state’s Mental Health Policy to be more sensitive to their specific needs.
• Initiating in-depth studies into the rising cases of lifestyle diseases among women, ensuring healthcare is tailored to tackle these issues effectively.
• Hosting gender inclusive festivals to celebrate and raise awareness about gender equality and empowering women and other gender minorities. – Preparing a comprehensive social history of women in Kerala, recognising their contributions and struggles throughout the state’s development.
• Expanding legal literacy programmes for women and girls, empowering them with knowledge of their rights and how to protect them.
• Conducting gender audits of existing laws to identify and rectify any legal gaps that perpetuate inequality.

The draft will soon be released to the public and comments will be invited from the general public before it is finalised.

(Edited by Rosamma Thomas)

Follow us