Department of Women and Child Development

The establishment of the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD) in June 2017, which split the Social Justice Department to give a more focussed thrust to activities aimed at women's and children's social assistance and empowerment was one of the government's major accomplishments. The department is headed by a Cabinet Minister of the Government of Kerala. The department is administratively headed by a Secretary to Government. The secretary is assisted by additional secretaries, deputy secretaries and other secretariat staffs. The State Women's Commission, State Women's Development Corporation, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Gender Park, Nirbhaya project, women's and children's homes, ICPS, ICDS, and a vast network of Anganwadis are all part of this department.

Running 44 welfare facilities for the care, protection, and rehabilitation of women and children (16 for women and 28 for children) accounts for a significant portion of its activity; NGOs and volunteer organizations also play a significant role in providing institutional care to the vulnerable population. The Department of Women and Child Development strives to create a gender-sensitive family and community while ensuring the holistic, physical, psychological, cognitive, and emotional development of women and children.

Allied Institutions

■ Directorate of Women and Child Development Department

■ Gender Advisory Board

■ Gender Park

■ ICDS Mission

■ Juvenile Justice Board

■ Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights

■ Kerala State Sisu Kshema Samithi

■ Kerala State Social Welfare Board

■ Kerala State Women's Development Corporation

■ Kerala Women's Commission

■ NIRBHAYA

■ Sree Chithra Poor Home

■ State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA)

■ State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Welfare Fund Board

■ State Child Protection Society

■ Vanchi Poor Home