Society should utilise the concept of social entrepreneurship on a larger scale, said K.K. Shailaja, Minister of Health and Social Welfare. The Minister added that it is important to promote social entrepreneurship to give women and transgender persons equal justice and equal status in society. She was inaugurating the International Conference on Gender Equality at Gender Park, Kozhikode.
The minister said that there are many areas where women and transgender persons can prove their worth. However, victims of gender discrimination, they are often denied opportunities. Gender Park is ready to extend its possible support to them. She further said that the first Gender Park in South Asia would give full support to the initiatives of women and transgender persons, who form a key component of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The State Government is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for them in areas such as education, skills development and entrepreneurship. The Gender Park Study Center in collaboration with UN Woman aims to achieve this goal. In her inaugural address, the Minister said that the Center aims to study their problems in India, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka. The International Women’s Trade Center at the Gender Park intends to promote products by women entrepreneurs from these countries.