Arts and sports clubs have been a constant presence in Kerala’s towns and villages for decades, but most of these have remained spaces exclusively for men to hangout. Now, various local self government bodies are taking an effort to address the lack of such hangout spaces for women by setting up these using their own funds for the purpose.

One of the local bodies to take the initiative to set up a dedicated space for women to get together is the Pullampara grama panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram, which opened ‘Pennidam’, a building located in a plot of land adjacent to the panchayat office in August this year. The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has also set up a ‘Vanitha Kendram’ at Attukal ward, which is expected to be inaugurated soon.

The Pullampara panchayat’s ‘Pennidam’ has a small library, newspapers and periodicals, chess, carrom board and board games, as well as various training programmes to attract more women to the space. According to Aswathy S.R., vice-president of the Pullampara grama panchayat, over 30 women from the area have begun frequently visiting the space, ever since it opened a few weeks ago.

“We had initially spread word about the new initiative for women through grama sabhas, Kudumbashree groups and social media. Later, we started organising events including job fairs and cultural programmes to get people to visit. Now, we have training programmes on the weekends for Kerala Nadanam and painting, for which a few women have signed up. In a short time, it has become an active space with older as well as younger women frequenting it,” says Ms.Aswathy.

In Iranimuttom located in the Attukal ward in Thiruvananthapuram, a two storied building spread over 2,680 square feet has been constructed for the ‘Vanitha Kendram’. A ‘She gym’ has also been set up adjacent to the building.

“The Vanitha Kendram has rooms for women to come together, read or organise events as well as an air-conditioned mini hall, rest rooms and a small kitchen facility. We are hoping to open the doors of the Vanitha Kendram to the public soon. In addition, another ‘She Hub’ will also be coming up in the ward,” says R.Unnikrishnan, councillor of the Attukal ward.