Fest to showcase women enterprise and leadership

T'puram: Kerala State Women's Development Corporation (KSWDC) will host Escalera Women Fest 2026, a seven-day women-centric public event, at Kanakakunnu Palace Grounds from Feb 3 to 9. Organized jointly by women and child development department and KSWDC, it will be one of the largest women-focused initiatives to be held in the state this year. The festival will be hosted under the theme "Karuthaaranna penn chuvadukal karuthalode Keralam munnottu", which was officially announced on Tuesday, by women and child development minister Veena George through her social media platforms. Escalera Women Fest 2026 will be positioned as a public showcase of 10 years of sustained progress made by women in Kerala in entrepreneurship, social participation and leadership. The festival builds on Escalera Expo series that was conducted annually since 2023 and expands it into a larger platform combining enterprise, culture and policy dialogue. More than 200 women entrepreneurs, including transgender entrepreneurs from within and outside Kerala, will participate in large-scale exhibitions and fairs, showcasing women-led enterprises, products and innovations. A series of seminars and workshops aimed at enterprise development, skill upgradation and market access will run alongside the exhibitions. Adding policy weight to the festival, a two-day women's conclave will be organized as part of golden jubilee celebrations of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). The conclave is expected to focus on women's development, delivery of welfare programmes and future priorities in the sector.With commitment to strengthening opportunities for women entrepreneurs and young professionals, this platform reflects the state's belief in their potential.