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Women participation in labour force to be raised to 50%: Minister

Women participation in labour force to be raised to 50%: Minister

The Hindu14-07-2025
Women's participation in the labour force will be increased from 20% to 50%, Minister for Local Self-Governments M.B. Rajesh has said.
He was speaking after performing the State-level inauguration of a meet of Kudumbashree community development society (CDS) chairpersons and release of CDS-level progress reports in Thiruvalla on Monday.
The Minister said the Kudumbashree aimed at providing women skill training and employment in various sectors in association with the Vijnana Keralam project. 'The goal is to provide wage employment to one lakh women before Onam and three lakh women by March. This will pave the way for progress of their families and the State's economy. It will also help raise the State into the company of middle-income countries,' the Minister said.
Mr. Rajesh said another goal of the Kudumbashree was increasing the membership of the self-help groups to 50 lakh. He pointed out that Kudumbashree had been able to bring women to the forefront of the State's social, political, and cultural spheres in the past quarter of a century. He spoke of the Kudumbashree Technology Advancement Programme, K4Care, Kudumbashree Premium Cafe, Ma Care that were being implemented by the Kudumbashree.
Gift packets comprising Kudumbashree products will reach the market through the Pocketmart app in time for Onam, the Minister said.
Mathew T. Thomas, MLA, in his presidential address, called for widespread diversification in Kudumbashree's future activities.
CDS chairpersons from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Idukki, and Ernakulam took part in the CDS meet. A presentation on the Kudumbashree's future activities and district presentations were also held. Kudumbashree executive director H. Dineshan was present.
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