Department of Women and Child Development (Kerala)

The Womenand Child Development Department is an administrative department in the Indian state of Kerala, responsible for formulating and implementing policies and programs aimed at the welfare and empowerment of women and children. It operates under the Government of Kerala. The Department of Women and Child was established in 2017 as per GO (MS) No.24/17/SJD 30.6.17 bifurcating The Social Justice Department. ^[1] The department has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.

Women and Child Development Department

Department overview
Jurisdiction	India Kerala
Headquarters	Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Minister responsible	Veena George, Minister for Women and Child Development
Department executives	Sharmila Mary IAS, Principal Secretary Haritha V Kumar IAS, Director of Women and Child Development
Parent department	Government of Kerala
Website	wcd.kerala.gov.in

Ministerial Team

The department is headed by a Cabinet Minister of the Government of Kerala, and the incumbent Minister for Women and Child Development is Veena George. ^[2]

The department is administratively headed by a Secretary to Government, an IAS Officer. The current Secretary to Government is, Dr. Sharmila Mary Joseph IAS. ^[3] The secretary is assisted by additional secretaries, deputy secretaries and other secretariat staffs. ^[4]

Functions

• Administration of Acts and Rules relating to the welfare of women and children ^[4]

• Implementation of policies relating to women and child welfare ^[4]

• Implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes relating to women and child welfare

• Administration of the following institutions:
  • Directorate of Women and Child Development Department
  • Kerala Women's Commission
  • Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights
  • Kerala State Women's Development Corporation
  • Juvenile Justice Board
  • Gender Park
  • Kerala State Social Welfare Board
  • ICDS Mission
  • State Child Protection Society
  • State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA)
  • NIRBHAYA
  • Kerala State Sisu Kshema Samithi
  • State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Welfare Fund Board
  • Gender Advisory Board
  • Sree Chithra Poor Home
  • Vanchi Poor Home

References

1. "Profile - WCD Kerala". wcd.kerala.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2025-05-30. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
2. Kerala Council of Ministers - Kerala Legislative Assembly
3. "KeyPeople - WCD Kerala".
4. Rules of Business of Government of Kerala PART II -FIRST SCHEDULE;