Profcon Demands End to Discrimination Against Women in Professional Training

PALAKKAD — A major student conference has sounded the alarm on the pervasive discrimination and safety threats women face during professional internships, calling for urgent systemic change. The 30th Global Professional Students Conference (Profcon), hosted at Ahalia Campus in Kanjikode, turned its spotlight on the challenges female students confront while gaining practical experience.

Safety Concerns in Fieldwork

Female students in courses like civil engineering reported a troubling lack of safe accommodation during fieldwork—a basic necessity that remains unaddressed. The conference urged educational institutions to take these complaints seriously, emphasizing that without proper safeguards, women's professional training remains compromised.

Challenging Patriarchal Norms

Beyond physical safety, the gathering highlighted subtler forms of discrimination. Participants were encouraged to reject patriarchal notions of beauty that foster inferiority and to resist campaigns that commercialize women's identities or restrict their freedom in dress, customs, and beliefs.

"Women and men should complement each other and women should make the most of the opportunities available to them," said Minister for the Welfare of SC, ST and Backward Classes K.A. Thulasi.

Call to Action

Minister Thulasi, who inaugurated a dedicated women's session, urged students to develop their talents confidently while cautioning against forces that undermine democracy and historical truth. The message was clear: empowerment requires both personal courage and institutional support.