Kudumbashree
Kudumbashree – State Poverty Eradication Mission
Launched in 1998 by the State Local Self Government Department, Kudumbashree is an innovative initiative aimed at complete poverty eradication. With poverty alleviation as its primary mandate, the Mission implements its action plans through a community-based organization (CBO) system formed under the leadership of Local Self-Government Institutions (LSGIs). Over the years, Kudumbashree has grown into a powerful and expansive organizational network of women, successfully driving economic, social, and women's empowerment across the state.
Organizational Structure
The bedrock of this network is the Neighbourhood Group (NHG), formed at the local grassroots level. Each NHG consists of 10 to 20 members, representing one woman (aged 18 or above) from each family in the locality.
These NHGs are federated hierarchically into a three-tier system:
Neighbourhood Groups (NHGs): The basic unit at the local street/cluster level.
Area Development Societies (ADS): The federation of NHGs at the political Ward level.
Community Development Societies (CDS): The apex federation of all ADSs at the Panchayat/Municipal level.
The leadership positions across all three tiers are held by democratically elected women from within the network. Elected representatives of the local bodies guide this community organization—serving as patrons of the ADS at the ward level, while the LSGI President/Chairperson heads the Kudumbashree CDS Evaluation Committee at the local body level.
Currently, more than 4.3 million (43 Lakh) financially backward families are registered members of Kudumbashree. Alongside general mainstream NHGs, special neighborhood groups have been formed exclusively for elderly citizens, transgender communities, and families caring for individuals with physical, mental, or intellectual challenges.
Major Schemes & Projects
Kudumbashree Microfinance: NHG members pool their small savings into a common fund, which is then distributed back to members as internal thrift loans to meet urgent financial needs.
Linkage Banking: This project transforms small thrift savings into capital investments. Through bank linkage programs, NHGs secure bank loans to help members start small livelihood enterprises.
Micro-Enterprises: Aimed at creating self-employment opportunities for Kudumbashree women, this initiative is driven by programs like RME (Rapid Micro-Enterprise) and Yuvashree. The Mission provides interest subsidies and financial assistance to support these micro-enterprises.
Amrutham Food Supplement: Operating under the Take Home Ration Strategy (THRS) of the Department of Social Justice, this scheme aims to tackle malnutrition and provide nutritional supplements to children aged 6 months to 3 years. Kudumbashree units (consisting of 6 to 10 women entrepreneurs) produce fortified Amrutham Nutrimix and distribute it through local Anganwadis.
Santhwanam: An imaginative healthcare initiative where trained Kudumbashree volunteers conduct door-to-door home visits. They monitor lifestyle diseases such as hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes right at the doorsteps of local residents.
Harsham (Geriatric Care): An innovative project addressing elderly care by deploying trained executives. The scheme focuses on forming specialized enterprise groups that offer essential geriatric services to the senior generation.
Haritha Karma Sena (Green Action Force): A specialized enterprise group formed at the local body level to handle waste management and eco-friendly disposal. Implemented through LSGIs, the project works in close integration with the Haritha Keralam Mission and the Suchitwa Mission.
Prathyasha (Hope): A dedicated micro-enterprise livelihood scheme designed for the marginalized sections of society. This includes unmarried mothers, transgender persons, bedridden individuals, women caregivers, elderly widows, and mothers of mentally challenged children.
ARISE (Acquiring Resilient Income through Livelihood Support): Launched to help families rebuild their livelihoods after catastrophic floods in the state, this program provides free vocational self-employment training across 10 vital sectors: plumbing, electronics repair, electrical work, agriculture-allied jobs (including tree climbing/weed cutting), laundry & ironing, sales, housekeeping, day-care services, domestic help, and data entry.