Commonwealth hails Kudumbashree model

The Commonwealth has hailed Kerala's ‘Kudumbashree' initiative for poverty eradication, which involves four million workers and has been instrumental in turning around the fortunes of millions of families, as a role model in economic and social empowerment of women.

The tribute came at the conference of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) held in Cardiff, UK, from March 15 to 18.

The conference assumed significance as a prelude to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) slated in October at Perth, Australia.

The CLGF recommendations will decisively influence the policies concerning local-self Governments in the Commonwealth countries.

Launched by the Government of Kerala in 1998 for wiping out absolute poverty through concerted community action, Kudumbashree is one of the largest women-empowering projects in the country.

The programme has 37 lakh members and covers more than 50 per cent of the households in Kerala.

Built around three critical components — micro credit, entrepreneurship and empowerment — the initiative has succeeded in addressing the basic needs of the less-privileged women and providing them a more dignified life and a better future.

KEEN INTEREST

A number of representatives drawn from 52 countries were keen to study the Kudumbashree model further and replicate it in their respective countries, said Ms Sarada Muralidharan, Executive Director, who made a presentation at the CLGF.

Contents of the presentation, in particular, the micro-finance activity and strategies for marketing, evoked interest, Ms Muralidharan said.

Women's participation in the local development framework, inclusion of the ultra poor in various strategies, and opportunities available to local governments for engaging poor women towards achieving economic empowerment were also appreciated.

There was a great deal of admiration for the women of Kerala and the policy scenario that had made such a movement for women empowerment possible.

PARTICIPANT COUNTRIES

The CLGF conference on ‘Energising local economies: Partnership for prosperous communities' saw representation from over 52 countries from the Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean and African regions.

The audience included administrators, ministers, representatives from UN agencies, local Government leaders and academicians from countries like Bahamas, Maun, Canada, Cameron, Swaziland, Fiji islands, Sri Lanka, the UK, Nigeria, and South Africa, as well as from international organisations like the International Union of Architects.

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