According to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the government is attempting to expand women's participation in the workforce from 24% to 50% through effective execution of labour policies.
He spoke after inaugurating the sixth National SARAS Mela, which was organised by the Kudumbashree in the State and held at the Kanakakkunnu Palace grounds.
According to the Chief Minister, the government is attempting to employ 40 lakh people in the state over the next five years. Twenty lakh of these jobs would be in new industries. Women would be the primary benefactors of these fresh opportunities.
One of the causes of violence and atrocities against women was a lack of financial independence. The administration planned to address these issues through programmes centred on the Streepaksha Navakeralam slogan. Women needed to be guided toward financial independence in addition to legal and social security. Gender quality could only be realised after that. The government was attempting to expand women's participation in the labour and discover new sources of income with this goal in mind.
Mr. Vijayan explained that gender budgeting was being done to provide financial support for women's empowerment. This year's gender budget has been enhanced to Rs 4,665 crore. This amounted to 20.9 percent of the State's overall Plan fund. The budget contained measures to strengthen Kudumbashree.
260 crores have been set aside for the Kudumbashree. The Kudumbashree units could be viewed as local economic development nodes. Through different programmes, it was planned to provide employment to two lakh individuals.
To locate a market for Kudumbashree products, a long-term sales network would be established. Neighborhood group members, auxiliary group members, and members of the general public will be included in the Streepaksha Navakeralam programme. For local economic growth and poverty eradication, a loan of 500 crore will be made accessible at reasonable interest rates.
An amount of Rs. 18 crore has been set aside for interest subsidies. Along with major plans, the government is developing micro-level programmes aimed at improving the lives of all citizens, he said.
Even as the world looked more seriously at balanced resource distribution and modest consumption in the post-COVID age, there was a belief that local collectives and enterprises should remain thriving. During these times, the government's objective was to foster small businesses and self-help groups alongside large corporations. This was demonstrated at the SARAS Mela.
The fair provided a venue for rural businesses to sell their wares as well as traditional handicrafts from around the country. Mr. Vijayan stated that obstacles to establishing a continuous market have to be removed in order to assist rural firms and entrepreneurs.
Women entrepreneurs dressed in traditional clothing from 13 states, including Kerala, presented the Chief Minister with a single thali including their own cuisine.
Minister for Local Self-Government M.V. Govindan, who presided over the event, said the fairs helped connect the country's different cultures and delicacies, and that they should be viewed as a cultural awareness project.
