Thiruvananthapuram, March 1: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday highlighted significant progress in reducing crimes against women due to proactive government interventions, yet emphasized that the continued occurrence of such crimes remains deeply concerning for a progressive society like Kerala.
Speaking at the inauguration of the International Women's Day celebrations, organized by the Kerala Women's Commission (KWC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan called for collective action to eliminate crimes against women entirely.
"Although we've made commendable progress in women's empowerment, it's alarming that many women still lack the confidence to freely access public spaces," Vijayan noted. He expressed concern that due to lingering societal fears, many women remain unable to fully leverage the opportunities available today, underscoring the urgent need for change.
The Chief Minister commended the KWC's notable contributions to women's empowerment over the past three decades, expressing confidence that their ongoing initiatives will continue driving positive societal transformation.
Highlighting Kerala’s pioneering efforts, Vijayan stated that Kerala was the first Indian state to implement gender budgeting, a move that received recognition and appreciation from the United Nations. He reaffirmed the government's commitment, noting its objective to earmark 25 percent of the total project outlay specifically for initiatives aimed at women's empowerment.
The CM’s remarks reinforce the state's dedication to creating an inclusive, safe, and empowering environment for women, urging collaboration from all segments of society to achieve these goals.
