Kudumbashree

 

Kudumbashree – State Poverty Eradication Mission

Kudumbashree

Kudumbashree – State Poverty Eradication Mission is an innovative initiative established by the Government of Kerala through the Local Self Government Department in 1998, with the objectives of poverty eradication and women’s empowerment. Its activities are implemented through a community-based organisational system functioning under the leadership of Local Self Government Institutions (Panchayats/Municipalities).

▣ Organisational Structure

  • Neighbourhood Group (NHG): A group consisting of 10–20 women members, with one woman member aged 18 years or above from each participating household.
  • Area Development Society (ADS): A federation of Neighbourhood Groups functioning at the ward level.
  • Community Development Society (CDS): The apex-level community organisation functioning at the Panchayat/Municipality level. Its office-bearers are elected democratically from among women members. Elected representatives of the Local Self Government Institution provide leadership through their roles as patrons/heads of the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

◎ Major Objectives

  • Poverty Eradication – The primary objective of Kudumbashree.
  • Economic Empowerment – Promoting income generation, entrepreneurship and microfinance activities.
  • Social Development – Interventions in areas such as health, education and Agathirahitha Keralam (Destitute-Free Kerala).
  • Women’s Empowerment – Promoting leadership, participation in decision-making and gender equality.

✦ Major Areas of Activities and Programmes

1. Economic Development / Livelihoods

  • Micro Enterprises: More than one lakh micro-enterprise groups are engaged in diverse activities such as Cafe Kudumbashree, Janakeeya Hotels, Nutrimix, Haritha Karma Sena, construction groups and apparel groups, among others.
  • Bank Linkage and Savings & Credit: Bank-linked credit facilities are provided to lakhs of Neighbourhood Groups, along with savings and credit activities through the Self-Help Group system.
  • Marketing: Marketing opportunities are facilitated by listing Kudumbashree products on online platforms such as ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce).
  • Agriculture / Animal Husbandry / Value Addition: Activities include collective farming, Farmer Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), processing, branding, participation in fairs and other value-added activities.

2. Social Development

  • Agathirahitha Keralam: Activities aimed at identifying poor and destitute families and providing comprehensive support, rehabilitation and social protection.
  • BUDS and Balasabha: Initiatives focusing on the education, care, protection and overall development of children.
  • Relief and Rehabilitation: Livelihood assistance and rehabilitation support for families affected by disasters and other emergencies.

3. Women’s Empowerment

  • Women’s Status Self-Learning Programme and Snehitha Gender Help Desk: Various interventions aimed at promoting women’s empowerment, awareness and gender justice.
  • Skill Development and Employment: Skill training and employment opportunities are provided to rural youth through programmes such as DDU-GKY 2.0.
  • Leadership Training: Capacity-building programmes are conducted at the CDS, ADS and NHG levels in areas such as democratic governance, microfinance and livelihood management.

4. Other Major Interventions

  • PMAY-LIFE (Kerala): Kudumbashree functions as the Nodal Agency for the implementation of PMAY-LIFE in Kerala.
  • SVEP / SRLM-NRLM: Supports rural entrepreneurship and livelihood development activities.
  • Marketing Interventions: During the Onam season, marketing interventions such as ‘Onakkani’ are undertaken to support the supply and distribution of prod