In ancient India, women enjoyed equal and honourable status in the society as men. No 'yajna' could be performed by a husband without the participation of his wife. Modern India has also seen many great women leaders like Smt. Sarojini Naidu, Smt. Vijaylakshmi Pandit, Smt.Capt.Laxmi, Smt. Indira Gandhi, etc. In spite of this, it has been seen that a great majority of Indian women are still victims of harassment and cruelty both in their homes as well as at their workplaces. The unequal status meted out to Indian women in almost every possible sphere of life has prompted several women activists and voluntary organizations having large number of members during 1980s to make persistent demands for setting up a Commission for the specific purpose of facilitating the redressal of grievances of women. Progress of a country is incomplete when inequality persists with reference to half of its population. Having realised the importance of the issue because of the women €™s organizations outside and women parliament members inside the parliament, the Government of India decided to set up a Commission for women, to be called the National Commission for Women. Thus, the National Commission for Women Bill 1990 was passed by both the Houses of Parliament and it received the assent of the President of India on 30th August, 1990.

A Bill corresponding to National Commission for Women was drafted out in the State of Kerala as the Kerala Women's Commission Bill, 1990 and sent for the consent of the President of India in 1990. The draft Bill was framed under the guidance of the then Minister for Social Welfare Smt. K. R. Gouri Amma with legal aid from Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer and Justice Subramanian Potti and suggestions of womens organisations. But unfortunately the bill was pending for five years from 1990 to 1995 to get the consent of the President. The Kerala Women's Commission Act was finally passed with the consent of the President on 15-9-1995. The first Commission, formed during the tenure of Shri. A. K. Antony as Chief Minister came into force on 14-3-1996. The Commission was headed by Smt. Sugatha Kumari, the eminent poetess and social worker. The Commission also constituted of 3 other Members and 2 ex-officio members who are noted dignitaries of the society.In 1997 the newly constituted commission was reconstituted as per the act and started function after the inauguration by Smt.Suseela Gopalan, Former Minister of Social Welfare.

Organisation Chart