The Kudumbasree movement, which has played a significant role in empowering women and became a role model for other states and even foreign nations, is completing a decade of active and successful service.
I have been associated with the movement at each of its milestones and have also studied it deeply as it grew from strength to strength over the years. As each movement reaches a milestone, it stops to ponder what it can do next. My answer to such a question would be that Kudumbasree must now spend its energies to bring good and sustainable agricultural practices to the masses.
While the use of pesticides in vegetable cultivation is a national concern, in Kerala, a consumer state, the situation elicits grave apprehension. Faced with such a big challenge, the state should not be oblivious to the fact that there is a viable solution. None other than Kudumbasree is capable at this point of time to educate Keralites that healthy agriculture is very much possible. In fact, the point has been already proven by the organisation through collective farming. The state must play its part and ensure that initiatives that do away with pesticides and chemical fertilisers are capably and sustainably supported.
I had been to Idamalakkudy village to study the activities of self-help groups among tribal families. I was surprised that Kudumbasree was able to extend its service to the village where there is no electricity and which is so remote that one had to trek 18 kilometres to reach it. It was a sterling example of how the government, in association with the people, can do wonders to enhance the lot of the people, which achieving the dual benefits of eliminating poverty and empowering women. I was also surprised that such a politically-sensitive state like Kerala could think beyond politics and make such a campaign successful.
I saw that some Left-dominated Kudumbasree units had selected a Congress-sympathiser as the best Kudumbasree worker and vice versa. Credit should be given that such people-oriented moves are not watered down by petty political considerations.
About 41 lakh people are part of the movement that has bestowed significant enhancements to the social situation of women and children in the state. While family income, due to Kudumbasree activities, could be increased by Rs 1,000-Rs 2,000 is no mean achievement, higher objectives such as women empowerment are the highlight of the movement. In fact, the people at Idamalakkudy said that more than money, the prospect of social empowerment motivated them better.
I often hear that products made by Kudumbasree units are not easily sold, possibly because people underestimate the rigours involved in marketing such products. Such people must learn from other Kudumbasree units to understand how such deterrents are solved easily.
Other states have started similar initiatives that are modelled on Kudumbasree. Assam, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh have adopted the model successfully.
I noticed a very important trend that is attributed to Kudumbasree by people who had come from other states and the Centre to study about Kudumbasree. They told me that many ladies who decorate local-governance positions had reached there after making an impact through Kudumbasree activities. I feel this is the most important achievement of the organisation.
However, even as the movement has been receiving accolades from many quarters, one is still doubtful whether the state has paid its due to the organisation and whether the role of the movement has been adequately acknowledged at home. It must be said that the media in the state had many a times ignored the growth and achievements of the social movement at critical junctures.
(The author is a prominent media professional)
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