Kerala to Boost Women's Participation in Local Governance

By: WE staff | Wednesday, 15 October 2025

• Minister M. B. Rajesh announced that the share of women in the state will rise from 20% to 50% within the next 5–10 years
• Rajesh promised more participation will lead in drastic changes within the state

Thiruvananthapuram local Self-Government Minister M. B. Rajesh said women's participation in the state is likely to go up from 20 percent to 50 percent in the next five to ten years.

Addressing the inauguration of a face-to-face programme organized by the Women's Commission on 'Innovative Kudumbashree Enterprises, Opportunities and Review' at the district panchayat hall on Tuesday, Rajesh said the increase in participation would bring a major positive shift.

He observed that Kudumbashree will also enable women to begin home-based industries as part of this initiative.

Unoccupied houses in Kerala would also be prompted to become productive units, with a law already passed for enabling local body clearances. Loans and subsidies would be offered to promote such initiatives.

Rajesh informed that proposals for amendment of issuing licenses to all legal businesses will be tabled shortly, and Kudumbashree is likely to achieve 50 lakh memberships in the near future.

From a livelihood programme, it has grown to cover digital service enterprises as well, enhancing the credibility of Kudumbashree as a good brand.

He also underscored the people's welcome of Haritha Karma Sena, a women's wing working in all fields, as an index of their increasing excellence.

Kudumbashree is now providing skill training to enable women to commence enterprises matching their skills and interests, and discovering new opportunities in harmony with emerging trends.

Women's Commission Chairperson P. Sathidevi stated the programme was conducted to source and establishes new career prospects for young women. She observed that with the help of Kudumbashree, women who earlier were restricted to traditional employment opportunities have been able to enter new fields and prove themselves.

As part of the continuing one-to-one programme, a discussion on 'Empowerment of Women through Responsible Tourism' will be conducted at the district panchayat hall on Wednesday, to be inaugurated by Public Works and Tourism Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas.