CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

10
1.1 INTRODUCTION

Kudumbasree, the poverty eradication mission of the state of Kerala, is a

community-based self-help initiative involving poor women. It has been
envisaged as an approach to poverty alleviation focusing primarily on micro
finance and micro enterprise development, and integrally linked to local self-
government institutions. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
(NABARD) initiated women Self Help Groups (SHGs) in India with the
support of local NGOs. The formation of SHGs led to the implementation of
Swarna Jayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), launched by the Ministry of
Rural Development. In a similar line Kudumbasree is sponsored by local self-
government institutions in Kerala. Though local government institutions are not
organically linked to Kudumbasree, they are active partners in the programme.

In 1998 Government of Kerala introduced Kudumbasree scheme as a

comprehensive poverty alleviation programme to focus primarily on poor rural
and urban women. The aim of the Kudumbasree scheme is to improve the
standard of living of poor women in rural areas by setting up micro-credit and
productive enterprises. It opened a new string of expected events in our
development history Kudumbasree is the poverty eradication mission of the
state of Kerala. It is a community-based self-help initiative involving poor
women. “Kudumbasree” in local language means prosperity of the family
which helps enjoy the economic opportunities by a good number of the poor
women folks in rural and urban Kerala. It makes every effort to alleviate
poverty through an integrated approach which involves an affective
convergence of resource and actions, and moreover, the programme is
essentially linked to local self-government institutions. Though local
government institutions are not organically linked to Kudumbasree, they are
active partners in the programme. Today, Kudumbasree is one of the largest
women empowering scheme in the country.

11
To eradicate absolute poverty in ten years through concerted community action
under the leadership of local government, by facilitating organisation of the
poor for combining self-help with demand led convergence of available
services and resources to tackle the multiple dimensions and manifestations of
poverty holistically” is the mission statement of Kudumbasree programme.

1. 2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The title of research is „A study on women empowerment through

kudumbasree with special reference to Mayyanad grama
panchayath‟. This indicates how far the women are empowered through
kudumbasree units. The satisfaction level of women in Mayyanad grama
panchayath are analysed by using primary data.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

 To assess the effectiveness of Kudumbasree in the economic

empowerment of women.
 To identify the influence of various factors on women empowerment.
 To study the financial support provided by women to their family.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

In this context it is necessary to study the women empowerment through

Kudumbasree programme. It is essential to study whether Kudumbasree
programmes are succeeded or not. If it is not, the reason has to be pointed out
and remedial measures have to be suggested in order to increase the
performance of Kudumbasree programmes.

1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study empowering in the women through Kudumbasree is focused on

Mayyanad Grama panchayath in Kollam district. There are 22 ward and
18 active Kudumbasree units are in Mayyanad Grama panchayath. Out
of these 10 Kudumbasree units are selected at units.

12
1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The data needed for the study is collected from the Kudumbasree members
through questionnaire. Analysis and interpretation has been done using
statistical tools and data presented through tables and chart.

1.6.1 RESEARCH DESIGN

The research is based on both primary and secondary data.

1.6.2 SOURCES OF DATA

 Primary Data: This paper work is mainly based on primary data which
is collected with the help of questionnaire which is asked to the
members of selected unit of Kudumbasree. They are asked to fill the
questionnaire in.
 Secondary Data: The secondary data are also used for the study which
is collected from various books, journals and public and private
publications available on various websites.
1.6.3 SAMPLE DESIGN

 SAMPLE POPULATION
Sample population consists of 380 Kudumbasree members.

 SAMPLE SIZE
The sample size of this study is 50 respondents

 SAMPLE METHOD
The sampling method used here is quota sampling. From 10
kudumbasree units, 5 members each are selected for the study.

1.6.4 TOOLS FOR ANALYSIS

For the purpose of analysis and interpretation of the data collected relevant
statistical tools are applied. They are,

 Percentage analysis

13
  Table and graphs

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

 The information available from primary data are not always accurate.
 Time is a big constrain for conducting the study.
 Primary data are collected by only a sample from population.
 Study is conducted within Mayyanad Grama panchayat only

1.8 LAYOUT OF THE STUDY

CHAPTER 1- Introduction
CHAPTER 2- Theoretical Framework
CHAPTER 3- Data Analysis and Interpretation
CHAPTER 4- Findings, Suggestions, Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendix

14
 CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

15
2.1 EMPOWERMENT

In simple terms we can define empowerment is giving power. Power is the key
word of the term empowerment. Power means control over material assets,
intellectual resources and ideology. In Webster‟s English Dictionary the verb
empower means to give the means, ability and authority. Empowerment
implies a state of mind and attitude of a person. It is a process through which
people or communities increase their control or mastery of their own lives and
the decisions that affect their day-to-day life. Awareness is a necessary part of
empowerment. Awareness of rights is required for a person to develop his
capacity of self-control, self-strength and self-reliance and to build freedom of
choice and action. Empowerment is about change, choice and power.

2.2 WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Women Empowerment is any process that provides greater autonomy to

women through the sharing of relevant information and provisions of control
over factors affecting their performance. According to United Nations,
Women‟s empowerment definition has five major components:

 Women‟s sense of self-worth;

 Their right to have and to determine choices;
 Their right to have access to opportunities and resources;
 Their right to have the power to control their own lives, both within and
outside the home;
 Their ability to influence the direction of social change to create a more
just, social and economic orders, both nationally and internationally.
Women empowerment is a stage of acquiring power for women in order to
understand her rights and to perform her responsibilities towards oneself and
others in a most effective way. Acquisition of personal skills, power to take
decisions, knowledge about their rights and privileges, self-confidence and
awareness are necessary parts of empowerment.

2.3 KUDUMBASREE

16
Kerala Model of Development is widely discussed throughout the world.
Kerala had witnessed the radical reforms like caste reform movements of 19th
and 20th centuries and the peasants and labor movements in the second half of
the 20th century. Kudumbasree was launched by the Government of Kerala in
1998 with an aim to eradicate poverty in rural and urban areas of Kerala
through community development schemes, under the leadership of Local Self
Governments. The slogan of the mission is “Reaching out to families through
women and reaching out to community through families”. It is now considered
as one of the largest women-empowering projects in India. The programme is
linked to local self-government institution and it makes all the effort to
alleviate poverty through an integrated approach involving effective union of
resources and action. It combines different kind of activities like thrift and
credit, micro enterprises, income generating activities and a wide range of
welfare activities.

Kudumbasree chooses a family-based approach; it reaches the family through

women and the community through these families. Kudumbasree forms self-
help groups with members preferably from the same socio-economic
background and a village-based financial intermediary usually composed of 10-
20 local women. Each member makes a small regular savings contribution over
a few months for generating a capital within the group. The collected funds
may then be lend back to the members to serve different purposes. Many SHGs
are associated with banks for the delivery of micro-credit. The Reserve Bank of
India has issued instructions permitting the nearest Commercial or Regional
Rural Bank, or even a Cooperative Bank to open Savings Bank account for
SHGs. Kudumbasree is thus granted the same privileges. It thus chooses to
focus on three major aspects ie; Women empowerment, economic
empowerment and social empowerment through the use of such funds.

2.4 ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE OF KUDUMBASREE

17
Kudumbasree has three tiers Community Based Organization (CBO) for its
effective administration and decentralized operations. The community
structures adopted by Kudumbasree at various levels and listed below.

 Kudumbasree Ayalkkoottam (Neighbourhood Groups):

To restore the denied or deprived entitlements of the poor the capability of poor
has to improve first. Capability deprivation is the root cause of poverty and to
make them aware of their entitlements the first and foremost step adopted by
the Mission is to build an organization structure of the poor. The Community
Based Organization (CBO) of poor setup by the Mission under the leadership
of Local Self Government play vital role in eradication of absolute poverty.
The organization of built up by the Mission give them an opportunity to realize
the causes of poverty, different variables of poverty and the magnitude of
poverty. It enables them to identify their entitlements and utilize the common
platform to achieve it together. The Community Based Organization, which
encompasses all sections of poor, is organized in to a three-tier structure. The
Neighbourhood Group at grassroots level consist of 15 to 40 members; each
member representing a family forms the building block of the organization. In
each Neighbourhood Group from among its members, five volunteers are
elected for undertaking various functional activities. They are Community
Health Volunteer, Income generation activities volunteer, Infrastructure
volunteer, Secretary and President. The position of a volunteer is the first
stepping-stone towards leadership for women from poor family.

 Kudumbasree Ward Samithi (Area Development Society):

The second tier is Area Development Society, which is formed at ward level
federating 8-10 Neighbourhood Groups. The activities and the decision in the
ADS are decided by the representatives of the poor elected from various
federating NHGs. Area Development Society function through three distinct
bodies viz.

18
 (a) General Body- Consists of all Presidents and Secretaries of federated
NHGs along with representatives of Resource Persons selected from that
area.
(b) Governing Body- Constituted by electing a President, Secretary and
five-member Committee from among the General Body.
(c) Monitoring and Advisory Committee- To streamline their activity
with the activities of Local Self Government, a ward level monitoring
and advisory committee is formed under the chairmanship of ward
member of the Local Body. The salient feature of this arrangement is
the fixation of priorities by the poor, in tune with the policy framework
of Local Self Governments.
 Kudumbasree Panchayat Samithi (Community Development
Society):
At the Panchayat level a Community Development Society (CDS), a registered
body under the charitable Societies Act is formed by federating various ADSs.
The CDS has three distinct bodies viz.

(a) General Body- It consists of all ADS Chairpersons and ADS Governing
Body members along with representatives of Resource Persons, Officers
of the Local Body who are involved in implementing various Poverty
Alleviation and Women Empowerment Programmes.
(b) Governing Body- The Governing Body consists of President, Members
Secretary and five selected Committee Members. The President will be
elected whereas the Member Secretary is the Project Officer of UPA
Programmes. Other Government Officials and representatives of
Resources Persons will be nominated to the Governing Body.
(c) Monitoring and Advisory Committee- Municipal Chairperson /
President of the Panchayat will be the Chairman of the Monitoring and
Advisory Committee which is convened by Municipal Secretary/
Panchayat Secretary as Convener. In urban areas the Urban Poverty
Alleviation (UPA) Project Officer will be the Joint Convener.
2.5 OBJECTIVES OF KUDUMBASREE PROGRAMME
19
The main objective of Kudumbasree programme is women empowerment. The
other objectives are:

 Identification of the poor families through risk indices-based surveys,

with the active participation of the poor communities which they belong.
 Empowering the poor women to improve the productivity and
managerial capabilities of the community by organizing them in to
Community Based Organization.
 Improving incomes of the poor through improved skills and investment
for self-employment.
2.6 WORKING OF KUDUMBASREE PROGRAMME
FORMATION OF WOMEN COLLECTION

The poor women from families were identified into the Neighbourhood Groups
(NHGs) representing 15 to 14 families. A five-member team elected from the
NHGs will be the cutting edge of the programme. It will be federated
democratically in to Area Development Societies (ADS) and then into
Community Development Societies (CDS) at the panchayat level, the
organizational structures will provide opportunities for collective public
actions.

 Meeting: Weekly meetings of NHGs, sharing of experience,

discussion, organized/ unorganized trainings etc. will broaden their
outlook on better health, better education, better social and economic
status. To facilitate economic development, suitable skill up gradation,
trainings will be given to the women.
 Thrift Credit Operations and 26 Hour Banking System: Small
savings generated at the families are pooled at various levels as thrift
and used to attract credit from banks, which will operate as 24-Hour
bank for the poor, acting as a subsystem of the formal banks. The need
identified at NHG level is shaped as micro plans, which are integrated
into mini plans at ADS level and action plan at CDS level.

20
2.7 INNOVATIONS IN KUDUMBASREE

 Amrutham Nutrimix
Amrutham Nutrimix is an innovative Kudumbasree programme that was
launched in 2006. When the state government, under instructions from the
Supreme Court of India, came up with the Take Home Ration Strategy
(THRS), a feeding programme for children up to three-year-old from Below
the Poverty Line (BPL) families through Anganwadis, the mission approached
the government to procure orders for the supply of the food supplement. As it
was baby food, hygiene, quality and a regular supply had to be ensured while
maintaining the caloric value directed by the Supreme Court. The
infrastructure facilities of all the units showed evidence of Kudumbasree‟s
intervention. A tie-up with the Civil Supplies Corporation was made for the
continuous supply of wheat at a minimum rate. The present production
capacity is around 1442 tonnes of Amrutham a month.

 CAFE Kudumbasree
CAFÉ Kudumbasree is the brand developed by mission for its food fests and it
has developed a service and production protocol to the entrepreneurs who
intends to participate in the fests.PIP trainings and handholding support are
provided to the entrepreneurs to ensure the quality and hygiene standards.

 Kudumbasree Wellness Centres

Kudumbasree wellness centres came as an aftermath of santhwanam
programme. Women who are reluctant and are not having facility to exercise,
find time for their health care are encouraged to visit wellness centres run by
Kudumbasree women. Classes on health habits and cookery classes are
conducted as part of these centers. This project was implemented in urban
areas and at present, three centres are functioning.

21