Actor Manju Warrier along with Health Minister Veena George inaugurating a campaign by the State Women’s Commission for empowering women, at the Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.
| Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Gender-based discrimination remains pervasive even though the State has seen a significant increase in women in higher education, particularly in health education, Health Minister Veena George has said.
The Minister highlighted this troubling contradiction in Kerala’s social landscape after inaugurating ‘Parannuyaraam Karuthode’ (Let Us Rise with Strength), a year-long Statewide campaign by the Kerala Women’s Commission aimed at equipping women to navigate life’s crises with mental fortitude here on Monday. The event also marked the 30th anniversary of the commission’s efforts in upholding women’s rights in the State.
“When victims are silenced, it is a failure of our society. It is distressing that we still report deaths related to dowry and gender issues in a State as progressive as ours,” the Minister said, stressing that a society without “women’s tears” is the ultimate goal.
Actor Manju Warrier, the official campaign ambassador, said that financial independence was the most critical factor for empowerment. She praised women who pursued their aspirations later in life and noted a positive shift where the younger generation viewed marriage as a choice rather than an inevitable end.
In her keynote address, Women and Child Development Principal Secretary Sharmila Mary Joseph observed that Kerala consistently secured the top position in NITI Aayog data and UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) across parameters such as sex ratio, life expectancy, and low maternal mortality.
She noted that except for polytechnic courses, women outnumbered men in almost all academic admissions. “Despite these data-backed improvements in political and social empowerment, the dignity of women is still frequently questioned,” Dr. Sharmila said.
She urged families to be the primary support system of women so that they could fly high.
Inspector General of Police S. Ajitha Beegum spoke on the rising rates of domestic abuse and urged women to maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward physical violence.
A panel discussion moderated by dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi explored how institutions like the family and school occasionally stifled the dreams of girls. The session addressed the vulnerability of Malayali women to “love traps” and emotional exploitation, stressing the need for psychological counselling and other professional support to overcome such experiences.
The event concluded with a musical performance by singer Arya Dhayal.
Published – January 19, 2026 10:40 pm IST
