<p><strong>Kudumbashree </strong>signifies different things to different people.</p><p>For some, it is Kerala's state government’s poverty eradication initiative. For others, it represents a network of women involved in social work. Many also associate Kudumbashree with the women who collect waste from households monthly.</p><p><strong style="color: rgb(92, 0, 0);">Kudumbashree</strong><span style="color: rgb(92, 0, 0);">, a poverty eradication mission,</span> operates through Neighbourhood Groups (NHGs) in villages, and Community Development Societies (CDS) at broader levels. These terms are interchangeably used to describe the organization’s various aspects. Women credit Kudumbashree for providing nutrimix to Anganawadis, among other support.</p><p><em>To understand Kudumbashree’s history and evolution, we need to explore the community network of women and the supporting Mission. We will trace the experiments and experiences that shaped Kudumbashree.</em></p><h3><br></h3><h3><strong style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); color: rgb(161, 0, 0);">Evolution of the Kudumbashree Idea:</strong></h3><ul><li>Kudumbashree originated from the People’s Plan Movement, a state strategy for mass mobilization for decentralized planning.</li><li>It extended from the CDS experiments in Alappuzha and Malappuram, which themselves were influenced by NABARD's SHG Bank Linkage Programme.</li><li>The foundation of Kudumbashree is NHGs, a concept deeply rooted in Kerala’s development history and traditional community organization forms.</li></ul><p>The NHG concept contrasts with the SHG model promoted in various states and countries, as NHGs in Kerala were designed for planning and development actions.</p><ul><li>Kudumbashree evolved through community mobilization experiments and various civil society initiatives aimed at different community goals.</li><li>The decentralization of powers to Panchayati raj institutions and the People’s Plan Campaign catalyzed Kudumbashree’s formation.</li></ul><p><strong>Launched during the 1996 People’s Plan Campaign</strong>, Kudumbashree operates under the local self-government department with support from the union government and NABARD. It comprises NHGs, ADSs at the ward level, and CDSs at the local government level. As of 2023, Kudumbashree includes over 300,000 NHGs, 19,000 ADSs, and 1,070 CDSs. It has also launched supplementary groups for young women, providing income-generating opportunities and social intervention platforms.</p><h3><strong style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); color: rgb(92, 0, 0);">Role in Crisis Management:</strong></h3><p>In crisis like floods and pandemics, Kudumbashree has consistently supported Kerala and its people. Initially a cluster of microcredit neighborhood groups focusing on thrift and credit, Kudumbashree transformed women from poverty-stricken families into crisis managers and entrepreneurs.</p><p>Launched in Malappuram 26 years ago by Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee, Kudumbashree aimed to integrate women into the societal mainstream.</p><p>Over the years, these women have become integral to grassroots planning for employment generation, poverty alleviation, and women empowerment.</p><ul><li>Kudumbashree mobilized women from various social sections into community activities statewide. Celebrating its silver jubilee, Kudumbashree now connects over half the families in Kerala, understanding the community’s evolving needs.</li><li>Kudumbashree bridges the government and the common people, facilitating initiatives in micro-enterprising, social collectives, agricultural projects, rural development, and more. It has significantly empowered Dalit and tribal women, improving their lives.</li></ul>

History and Evolution of Kudumbashree Mission - Its impactful analysis.

Governance

<p>Recently RBI has categorized Kerala among five highly stressed states. This shows that Kerala is one of the worst financially managed state. The condition was so severe that government is not able to pay salaries, pension, provident fund etc. to government employees.</p><h3><strong style="color: rgb(92, 0, 0);">Some Facts related to the financial position of the state:</strong></h3><ul><li>The revenue deficit of Kerala as a percentage of state gross domestic product be 3.17% for 2021-2022, higher than all state average of 0.46%. (In simple terms, it means that Kerala's government spent more money than it earned in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, and this deficit was 3.17% of the state's total economic output (Gross Domestic Product or GDP). This percentage is higher compared to the average deficit percentage for all states, which is 0.46%. Essentially, Kerala's deficit is relatively higher compared to other states.)</li><li>The fiscal deficit rate of Kerala to be 4.94%, compared to average of all states is 2.80%.(It means Kerala's fiscal deficit rate of 4.94% means its government borrowed money equivalent to nearly 5% of its economic output (GDP) in 2021-2022, which is higher than the average borrowing rate of all states, which stands at 2.80%.)</li><li>Now the economic facts say that the revenue deficit must be almost equal to zero, as it shows the burden of the state, as this deficit have no return value.</li><li>Now the recent economic review of Kerala 2023, tabled in the Assembly said that the state has effectively reduced its revenue deficit to 0.88% from 2.23% of GSDP( Gross State Domestic Product) in 2021-22.</li></ul><p>From all this we can say that the state of Kerala hasn’t been able to earn higher profit or earn higher share of revenue from the taxes. This was the reason that RBI has categorized Kerala as worst financially managed state.</p><h3><strong style="color: rgb(92, 0, 0);">The Developments in the current economic scenario of the state :</strong></h3><ul><li>Kerala government went to Supreme Court to urge central government to relax the borrowing limit, and also urge centre to give the relief package to Kerala to deal with the current situation.</li><li><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 235, 204);">Supreme Court also urged the central government to provide the relief package and consider rescuing Kerala and provide a </span><strong style="background-color: rgb(255, 235, 204);">bailout package</strong><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 235, 204);"> to tackle the financial crisis of the state.</span></li></ul>

<ul><li>A revenue deficit is&nbsp;a shortage of Government's funds to maintain daily affairs. It occurs when total revenue expenditure surpasses total revenue receipts.</li><li>Fiscal deficit arises when&nbsp;<strong>the expenditure of a government is more than the revenue generated by the</strong>&nbsp;government in a given fiscal year.</li></ul>