Kudumbashree is a government sponsored program that focuses on women and empowers them to take up gainful enterprise. It has already brought in 37 lakh families below the poverty line under its fold.
We spoke to T K Jose, currently Secretary, Local Self-Governance, Govt of Kerala and the man behind the idea.
What is the key element that determines the success of a neighborhood group?
Correct identifying poor families through an objective and rational Poverty-Index, mobilization of women from all such families to the Community Based Organization (CBO), regular participation of members (minimum 90%) in weekly meetings and informed discussions are the key elements of success of a neighborhood group. A process of gathering information, creating awareness and making use of existing and emerging opportunities are required to help the poor get out of the vicious cycle of poverty. An enabling and facilitating organization is needed as a platform to support these activities.
Of the various activities taken up by the neighbourhood groups, which is the most common?
Thrift & credit operations, internal-lending, bank-linkage, bala-sabha and health-related activities are the most common activities. Health related activities include immunization drives and health campaigns. Future activities include micro-enterprise development, leased-land farming and micro-housing. ‘Ashraya’- a destitute rehabilitation programme has also been started. Other new activities include geriatric care, caring for disabled children and HIV/ AIDS related activities and campaign.
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This project has seen governments and Directors change. How has it managed to continue without faltering?
A committed Kudumbashree team of people from 19 government departments with experience in governance and the efficiency and empathy of the private sector and NGOs working in the spirit of innovation and creativity in a flexible organizational set up are the key to the constant momentum.
As a social entrepreneurship initiative, can the model be adapted to the rest of India and the rest of the world?
I strongly feel so, at least in the Indian context, in spite of the diversity present. In a general sense, all poor families face similar risks and vulnerabilities. Of course, there are location-specific issues that need to be tackled in reducing poverty. However, the concepts, strategies and approaches in Kudumbashree are universal. State-specific variations and location-specific strategies can be developed within this approach. Please understand that Kudumbashree is not a single project, nor a set of programmes. It can be taken as an approach and a process.
What is the most significant challenge that the program faces today?
Taking Kudumbashree to the next level would be the biggest challenge. Tackling poverty by pin-pointing it precisely at a micro-level, coming up with special packages for the most vulnerable and marginalized amongst the poor - a concept known as S3 (read as S-cube) CDS and creating new organizations to suit emerging scenarios are other challenges.
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What is the one abiding image you have associated with the Kudumbashree project?
Aspirations of poor families can be inspired and ignited to help them achieve decent and honorable living. Convergent Community Action can help to achieve this.
When will the project reach a stage when the government can withdraw and it will run on its own?
CDSs of Kudumbashree are in various stages of development and maturity. There are already a few CDSs where the government can withdraw support. Many others can be taken to that level shortly; a few of them will need more time, say 2-3 years. A few others will need still more. It is an organic and growing process. We cannot mechanically withdraw all of a sudden. We are experimenting with models of the best CDSs where the government can slowly withdraw. We may even have an apex organization of CDSs which can take on the role of the State Mission.
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