V. Priyadarshini, the newly elected president of the Thiruvananthapuram district panchayat, has pledged to place women and child welfare at the centre of the council’s agenda while completing projects already under way. Speaking after taking office, Ms Priyadarshini said the administration will focus on finishing initiatives started by the previous governing body within the current financial year and will expand programmes that support vulnerable groups across the district.
Thiruvananthapuram women and child projects and priorities
Ms Priyadarshini, who won the presidency representing the Left Democratic Front (LDF), takes charge as the chair of the district planning committee, a constitutional body that coordinates development and welfare activity. The LDF holds a 15-seat majority in the 28-member council following local body elections, with the United Democratic Front winning 13 seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party failing to gain representation. B.P. Murali, also from the LDF, was elected vice-president.
The new president said the committee established under the previous administration has already begun preparing a district-wide plan in line with government instructions. That plan, she added, will be completed soon and its priority recommendations will be implemented as joint, integrated projects in collaboration with local bodies.
Special attention will be paid to the needs of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, differently-abled people, the transgender community and children. Ms Priyadarshini said the committee would build on studies carried out earlier on the state of women in rural areas, particularly in relation to education and employment, and use that evidence to shape new interventions.
One immediate expansion will be the portable Animal Birth Control programme to manage stray dogs in the district’s rural belts. The measure aims to combine public health priorities with humane animal control, reducing risks to communities while avoiding aggressive measures.
Education and community participation are central to the new administration’s plans. A vision document will be drafted after consultation with elected representatives and subject experts to guide activities over the next five years. The district will accelerate programmes intended to reduce school dropouts and raise success rates, and will work with the Scheduled Tribes Development department to improve the functioning of study rooms in tribal areas.
Ms Priyadarshini said efforts would be made to involve children in planning processes, fostering an early sense of democratic participation. The administration will also examine ways to enhance public involvement in palliative care services through local government institutions.
Women-focused projects that have been piloted by the previous committee will be broadened. The Vanitha Junction initiative, which provided a platform for creative expression among women districtwide, will be expanded and more activities will be pursued following collective discussions with stakeholders. The new administration plans to install additional open gyms to promote health and community engagement.
By combining completion of ongoing projects with targeted new initiatives, Ms Priyadarshini aims to deliver measurable improvements in social welfare within the district. The emphasis on consultation, evidence-led planning and integration with local bodies is intended to ensure the work remains participatory and sustainable over the coming five years.
Key Takeaways:
- New president V. Priyadarshini prioritises women and child welfare alongside community health and education.
- Thiruvananthapuram women and child projects will be integrated across local bodies with a five-year vision.
- Portable ABC programme to expand to rural belts to control stray dogs while study rooms and open gyms will be strengthened.
