Gender Framework Analysis of Empowerment of Women: A Case Study of Kudumbashree Programme

Abstract

Kudumbashree is innovative poverty eradication programme, it has gained reputation and goodwill at National and International Levels. It has also been appreciated for bringing about a silent revolution within the state; a reference to the quite way in which lakhs of poor women have brought about positive changes in their life. The success of the government-initiated programme has made others take notice, lot of states across the country are seeking support from Kudumbashree for replicating the programme. It has been identified as one among the 20 best practices of the country by UNDP. In 2000, Kudumbashree model has won gold medal for "Best innovation" under auspices of Commonwealth Association for Public Administrations and Management (CAPAM).

This report discusses the factors that enabled and constrained the scaling up of a multisectoral poverty alleviation program called Kudumbashree, initiated by the government of Kerala (GOK), India, in 1998 to eradicate poverty by 2008. It also discusses gender analysis framework for empowerment of women. This report draws primarily upon the available literature and qualitative data collected during a ten day visit to Kudumbashree project areas.The present study analyse structure, functions and process of Kudumbashree and convergence of services at local level and how for gender issues have been incorporated in the over all programme. The study further focuss the measures taken by Kudumbashree for economic empowerment of women with special focus on micro-credit and micro-enterprises development.

Keeping the above in view the Institute has under taken the case study of Kudumbashree. This case study aims at examining the process of women empowerment through measures taken by Kudumbashree with special focus on micro-credit and micro-enterprises development, how it helped in enhanced the decision making convergence of services at local level and how far gender issues have been incorporated in the over all programme. It seeks to examine the possibilities of replication of innovative practices adopted for capacity building and empowerment of women in the other on going programmes.

Keywords: Gender, Women, Empowerment