Kudumbashree – State Poverty Eradication Mission

Kudumbashree

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

1. Organisational Structure

• Neighbourhood Group (NHG): Consists of 10–20 women members, each aged 18 years or above.

• Area Development Society (ADS): A federation of Neighbourhood Groups at the ward level.

• Community Development Society (CDS): Functions at the Grama Panchayat/Municipality level. Office-bearers are elected democratically and leadership is provided by elected representatives of Local Self-Government Institutions in their capacity as patrons and chairpersons of monitoring committees.

2. Major Objectives

• Poverty Eradication: The primary objective of Kudumbashree.

• Economic Empowerment: Promoting income generation, entrepreneurship and microfinance.

• Social Development: Interventions in areas such as health, education and Asraya – Destitute-Free Kerala.

• Women’s Empowerment: Ensuring leadership opportunities, participation in decision-making and gender justice.

3. Major Areas of Activity and Schemes

3.1 Economic Development and Livelihood

• Micro-enterprises: More than one lakh micro-enterprise groups operate in diverse sectors, including Cafe Kudumbashree, Janakeeya Hotels, Nutrimix, Haritha Karma Sena, construction groups and apparel groups.

• Bank Linkage, Savings and Credit: Bank-linked loans for lakhs of Neighbourhood Groups, along with self-help savings and credit activities.

• Marketing: Facilitating the marketing of products by listing them on platforms such as the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

• Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Value Addition: Activities include collective farming, Farmer Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), processing, branding and participation in fairs and exhibitions.

3.2 Social Development

• Asraya – Destitute-Free Kerala: Identifying poor and destitute families and ensuring rehabilitation and comprehensive support.

• BUDS Institutions and Balasabha: Activities aimed at children's education, care and development.

• Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation: Providing livelihood assistance and rehabilitation support to disaster-affected families.

3.3 Women’s Empowerment

• Women’s Status Self-Learning Programme and Snehitha Gender Help Desk: Initiatives to promote women’s empowerment.

• Skill Development and Employment: Providing skill training and employment opportunities for rural youth through DDU-GKY 2.0.

• Leadership Training: Building capacity in democratic governance, microfinance and livelihood management at CDS, ADS and NHG levels.

3.4 Other Major Interventions

• PMAY-LIFE (Kerala): Kudumbashree functions as the nodal agency.

• SVEP / SRLM-NRLM: Supporting rural entrepreneurship and livelihood activities.

• Market Interventions: Initiatives such as Onakkani during the Onam season to support market interventions for price regulation and distribution.

4. CDS Members List – 2026

Community Development Society (CDS), Chelembra Grama Panchayat