Mon Jun 23 16:02:54 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text and a news article version:

**Summary:**

The Kerala Women’s Commission held a public hearing in Kozhikode for women working in the IT sector, particularly at UL Cyber Park and Government Cyber Park. The hearing addressed challenges women face related to work-life balance, discrimination, maternity benefits, and other workplace issues. Immediate actions were taken, including the appointment of a psychological counselor at UL Cyber Park. The Commission emphasized the mandatory nature of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) and highlighted existing initiatives like the common crèche facility. The Commission plans to make recommendations to the government based on the findings of these hearings across various sectors.

**News Article:**

**Kerala Women’s Commission Addresses IT Sector Challenges, Psychological Counselor Appointed for UL Cyber Park**

**Kozhikode, June 23, 2025** – The Kerala Women’s Commission took decisive action on Monday to address the challenges faced by women working in the IT sector during a public hearing held at UL Cyber Park in Kozhikode. Chaired by P. Sathidevi, the hearing brought together women employees from UL Cyber Park and Government Cyber Park to voice concerns related to work-life balance, discriminatory practices, and access to maternity benefits.

In a significant immediate response, the management of UL Cyber Park, led by COO T.K. Kishore Kumar, announced the appointment of a psychological counselor to provide support for the emotional well-being of its female employees.

The interactive session saw women raising issues such as discriminatory treatment during pregnancy, denial of maternity benefits, unfair termination, and withheld salary increases. The Commission panel, comprised of Shaji Sugunan, K. Chandrashobha, R. Jayasree, and N. Divya, offered legal advice and emphasized the mandatory requirement for all organizations to establish and maintain functioning Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs). The Commission stressed that non-compliance is a punishable offense.

The Commission further addressed the need for lighter workloads during menstruation, career gap training for women returning to work, and safe transportation for those working night shifts. R. Jayasree cautioned against gender-based salary discrimination and urged women to report such incidents to their ICCs. At the same time, she also advised against lodging false complaints.

Existing resources, such as the shared crèche facility between UL Cyber Park and Government Cyber Park, were highlighted, with plans underway to introduce after-school care.

“Women must equip themselves to overcome crises,” stated Chairperson P. Sathidevi, emphasizing the need for increased confidence despite educational qualifications and legal protections.

The Kerala Women’s Commission has been conducting similar public hearings across various sectors for the past two years. The Commission intends to formulate recommendations for the government based on these findings to improve the working conditions for women throughout Kerala.

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