VISION

To achieve a just society where people of all gender identities have equal access to development opportunities, resources and benefits, and an equal voice in the key decision-making processes that shape their lives, communities, and the state.

MISSION

To create and garner state-of-the-art knowledge, and encourage learning through transformative research as well as develop innovative partnerships to support gender equality and inclusive growth.

INITIATIVES

1. SHE-TAXI

She Taxi is one of the Gender Park’s flagship projects. It is an innovative public-private partnership (PPP) that serves as a platform to promote a sustainable business model for the economic empowerment, safety and security of women through promotion of entrepreneurship. This was achieved with little investment from the Government, and though partnership with several private sector agencies and is initiated by the Gender Park, Government of Kerala. She Taxi was launched in Trivandrum by the Honourable Minister for Social Justice & Panchayats, Dr. M K Muneer in November 2013 with five entrepreneurs, and the venture became fully operational on December 1st 2013.

Currently, there are 45 She Taxis across three cities – 25 in Trivandrum, 15 in Cochin and 5 in Kozhikode. The project will expand to four more districts – Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Thrissur shortly. She Taxis are driven by women, for women, and provide them with a safe means of transport. She Taxis are equipped with safety enabled technology that makes travelling safe and secure for both the driver and the passenger, in addition to being equipped with entertainment facilities such as music, play stations, etc. The fleet system enables the traveller to book/reserve the cab via an online system or a mobile on a 24×7 basis. The traveller receives a Unique Identification Code along with a 24/7 Women taxi service number. The traveller can pay via Credit Card/Debit Card/Cash. Women are the fundamental partners in this arrangement where they are owners, as well as drivers, of their cabs, and are expected to work a minimum eight hours per day and 22 days in a month.

Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC) and nationalised banks provide access to financing for women entrepreneurs. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. is the vehicle provider for She Taxis who provides several types of vehicles at a special price. Database of all Emergency Response Systems in the city including police, ambulance, automobile workshops, fire force, safe night shelters for women and hospitals are available to the drivers, and vehicles are proactively monitored from a 24X7 Security Control Room. There have been no untoward incidents reported so far from the total of 20291 trips serving a over 44260 passengers.

2. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON  GENDER EQUALITY (ICGE)

The Gender Park hosts a biennial conference named the International Conference on Gender Equality (ICGE), with the aim of bringing together a global cross-section of scholars, practitioners, policy makers and professionals from around the world to a common platform to explore obstacles to gender-just development. The ICGE series aims to deepen the global dialogue for learning and action on different dimensions and dynamics of gender inequality and to present and share knowledge on good practices and innovative interventions. The second edition of the ICGE is due to be held in 2017.

3. INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT (IIGD)

The International Institute for Gender and Development (IIGD) is the research and learning component of The Gender Park. It is devoted to multidisciplinary research, theorization and policy interventions. Its mission is to conduct high-quality research and effective capacity development relevant to provide innovative, practical recommendations for policymakers and the public to foster just and inclusive societies for all, in addition to educating students in gender theory and practice. The Institute would aim to define critical issues, generate and garner required knowledge and develop data required for responsive policies that are tailored to the specific socioeconomic context of the state and other developing nations, and contribute to global feminist academia. The objective to link knowledge creation to policy making through a multidisciplinary research and learning process is particularly relevant, given that the IIGD is part of the Department of Social Justice, Government of Kerala.

The IIGD will carry out its work through three main wings:

• The KMC or Knowledge Management Center, which is the research wing of the IIGD that will be involved in the creation and dissemination of knowledge and data in key focus areas in the field of gender.

• The AMC or Academic Management Center, which is the academic center of the IIGD is focused on providing high-quality formal short and long-term education in gender studies. Degrees courses and certificate courses in gender studies will be run by the AMC.

• The CDC or Capacity Development Center, which is the training wing of the IIGD will run training and skill development modules in gender sensitivity, awareness, inclusion and diversity for various private and public stakeholders, students and professionals.

Please visit website :- http://genderpark.gov.in/