Comprehensive ‘women’s policy’ on the cards in Kerala: Minister Bindhu Krishna

The government will come out with a comprehensive ‘Women’s Policy,’ Minister for Women and Child Development Bindhu Krishna has said.

Addressing mediapersons at ‘Leader’s Vision’ meet the press organised by the Press Club, Thiruvananthapuram, the Minister said the government policy was zero tolerance for violence against women. Despite various schemes and programmes, the violence against women continued. Laws against dowry existed, but women were harassed for dowry and even driven to suicide.

“The draft of the women’s policy is ready. Next, some more discussions will be held with stakeholders and the Chief Minister for implementation of the policy without delay,” the Minister said.

The policy, she said, would focus on providing support from the time of birth of a girl to each stage in her development such as education, employment, family life, and old age and aspects such as health, living standards, and travel. The thrust of the policy would be on women safety.

The policy would address areas that had been left out by the Left Democratic Front government, the Minister said.

Directions had been given to ensure that six months of maternity leave was allowed to women.

The State also needs a creche policy to ensure child care when women went to work, the Minister said. In the first phase, creches or nurseries would be set up in industrial parks and other main locations.

Arrangements had been for health check-ups of children attending anganwadis once every three months. Referring to violence against children, she said since children could not always speak or fight for their rights, the government would ensure those for them.