Kudumbashree opens membership to all

Thiruvananthapuram: Kudumbashree, Kerala’s acclaimed women empowerment and poverty eradication mission, has expanded its reach by allowing all families to join its neighborhood groups. Until now, membership was restricted to poor households. The Local Self- Government Department has approved amendments to the bylaws of the Kudumbashree Community Development Society (CDS) to enable this change.

Special neighborhood groups can now be formed for the differently abled, senior citizens, people with HIV/AIDS, transgender persons and other vulnerable sections, with up to 40% male participation permitted. Auxiliary groups of 10–20 young women outside the neighborhood network have also been recognised.

The bylaws mandate inclusion of SC/ST and coastal families in neighbourhood groups. If an Area Development Society (ADS) denies affiliation, the CDS must intervene, and unresolved cases will be decided by the District Mission Coordinator within a month.

The Kudumbashree Evaluation Committee has been renamed the CDS Coordination and Development Committee, with ADS -level coordination and audit committees also planned to strengthen ward-level functioning and financial transparency.

CDS chairpersons will now get six months’ paid maternity leave. However, those with loan arrears or receiving monthly honorarium or salary cannot contest elections within the Kudumbashree system.