Increasing the Equal Opportunities for Women of Kerala’s IT Workplaces

By Priyanka Vaidya

Kerala is working harder to make information technology facilities and other workplaces more welcoming and safe for women:

• Appeal for the ICs (Internal Committees) in mission mode:

In order to properly execute the POSH Act, Health Minister Veena George said in August 2025 that the Women & Child Development Ministry and the IT Department will work together to create Internal Boards in all workplaces, particularly in information technology parks and public sector units.

• Dedicated monitoring portal:

To keep an eye on how these committees are doing, the Women & Child Development Administration has operated a portal since 2023. All Kerala government agencies had established internal committees by March 8, 2025, on International Women’s Day.

• Sector-specific training initiatives:

To prepare these ICs for the effective execution of the POSH Act, Technopark is hosting training sessions, including one that was attended by almost 100 council chairpersons and delegates. Steps are also being made to broaden such awareness campaigns to professions such as film production.

• Quick institutional adoption:

As of October 2024, more than 5,400 universities had established internal committees, and over 10,300 institutions had enrolled through the POSH compliance portal.

• High female representation and encouraging policies:

Kerala IT parks have higher rates of female engagement than the national average, with Technopark having 45%, Infopark in Kochi having 40%, and Cyberpark in Kozhikode having 40%, compared to India’s overall tech participation rate of about 29%.

Encouragement measures include childcare, feeding rooms, childcare services, accommodations for expecting moms, flexible work schedules, leadership programs (like WinIT), and return-to-work programs like Vapas.

• Providing post-break opportunities for women professionals:

The Work Near Home initiative, which was started in 2024, intends to set up satellite IT campuses in southern cities. These arrangements make it easier for women who have taken career interruptions to return to the workforce.

• In conclusion

Kerala’s strategy blends creative projects like Work Near Home, institutional preparedness (training & committees), compliance with laws (POSH Act implementation), and supportive on-ground infrastructure. When combined, these initiatives are making workplaces safer, more welcoming, and more adaptable, particularly inside and outside of IT ecosystems.