Kudumbashree Movement

Ms. Saradha Muraleedharan

Ms. Saradha Muraleedharan presence at the 10th Fair Trade Forum National Convention gave us few insights on women empowerment initiative in Kerala by the Kerala Govt. She explained to us the meaning of Kudumbashree. It means the well being of a family which is a movement in its own right. This movement works through local govt and has outreached 200,000 neighbourhood.
An extract from the internet:
‘Kudumbashree, which means prosperity of the family, is the name of the women oriented, community based, State Poverty Eradication Mission of Government of Kerala. Kerala is a tiny state lying in the south-west part of Indian federation, where many development experiments are being tested, refined and implemented. The mission aims at the empowerment of women, through forming self help groups and encouraging their entrepreneurial or other wide range of activities. The purpose of the mission is to ensure that the women should no longer remain as passive recipients of public assistance, but active leaders in women involved development initiatives. Kudumbashree project for poverty reduction was launched on 17 May 1998’.
It was amazing to learn that this movement has brought hope, participation and collaboration of women in Kerala.
-There are 2,30,000 women farmers involved in the Kudumbashree family. -These women do not get loans from bank because their lands are not registered. But Kudumbashree has helped them in availing loans from the micro-enterprise.
-Kudumbashree helps with farming, building enterprises, works with placement opportunities, gender issues.
-The movement also helps the member in harnessing the market and collaborating with other organization.
-They have projects such as:
a.Banana cultivation
b.Milk supply
c.Animal husbandry
d.Cashew
e.Sewing machine
-Kudumbashree biggest dream is to have women groups involved in cultivation of cotton, women groups doing spinning work, women groups in weaving and in stitching.
-She explained to us about poor not only in monetary terms but also of not having any access to information and resources of the nation.
Tsering Youdon
IM Fair Trade Coordinator