I. Social Mobilisation, Social Inclusion & Social Development
1) Comprehensive tribal and particularly vulnerable tribal group development project : The Attapady pilot project plans to mobilise 10,000 families of Irula, Muduga and kurumba tribal communities in Attapady block in Palakad district of kerala into a three tier institutional structure of self-sustaining institutions and endeavours comprehensive development of these families with reduced vulnerabilities, improved socio-economic and livelihood status and maximized access to their rights and entitlements. The pilot would build up the area as an immersion site and training ground for tribal and PVTG communities across the country on one hand and the pilot would nurture the social capital of community resource person/ trainers along with protocols and modules developed for deployment where needed to support and guide the tribal and PVTG communities across the country.
2) Tribal special interventions in four districts : Thirunelly Panchayat (Wayanad district), Aralam Farm (Kannur district), Nilambur Block (Malppuram district) and parts of Idukki district : In line with the project implemented in Attapady, a comprehensive approach and sustainable development programme is envisaged in major tribal predominant areas of the State as an expansion. The project aims at effectively attaining socio-economic development in these areas through the construction of strong social institutions of women and enable them to engage in micro-credit, sustainable livelihoods, upliftment of social status, accessing entitlements and rights and asserting agency as equal citizens in the development process. The project aims to alleviate the social and economic deprivation of kattunayakan, Adiya and Paniya tribal communities of Kerala. Women’s institutions would be built up strongly in these areas to be able to lead towards total financial inclusion leading towards poverty alleviation and social development.
2) Handholding support/CRP for tribal areas : Community Resource Persons will be deployed in tribal areas for building organisations of the poor by mobilising them into NHGs, deepening the activities and addition of various layers such as health, nutrition, interventions for Persons with Disability (PwD), etc.
3) Gender Sensitization and Capacity Building / 2. Counseling and psycho social support : Gender sensitization Training for Kudumbashree Officials, Gender sensitization Training for CDS Chairpersons, Capacity building training for Gender Resource persons and Community Counselors, Counseling and psycho social support, Adolescent age group Programme- Special education programme, Ward level theme based counseling Session, Counseling support for the Buds school students parents and elderly group, Mental health enhancing programme (For monitoring progress, see the 'Social Development', 'Gender Development', Tribal Development', 'Attapady Special Project' sections)
2) Capacitation of Micro Enterprise Consultants
Over the years, Community Resource Persons – Training programme has enabled many of the Micro Enterprise Consultants to obtain first-hand understanding of micro enterprise management techniques. Kudumbashree is in the process of identifying, capacitating and engaging more MECs by providing advanced trainings for assisting the micro enterprises, considering the twin objective of strengthening the microenterprises and creating livelihood opportunities to MECs. Focus will be to transform MECs as a dedicated and expert Community Cadre for Livelihood promotion. The MECs will assist CDSs for all kinds of Economic Empowerment activities.
3) Development of a Women’s Product Line - product enhancement workshops
The aim is to increase women’s capacities to look at better product quality and designs, while raising their knowledge and confidence to know about new markets for their products. The Design Clinic Series will strengthen the products and value-chains of microenterprises to bring more economic value to their products. In these design clinics, an attempt to up-value these products in terms of quality, design, packaging and so forth will be made. The initial rounds will focus on key topics aligned with the concerns of their business and giving recommendations and assignments. The latter rounds will focus on product development and branding.
4) Community Enterprise Fund
Kudumbashree proposes to provide Community Enterprise Fund as Seed Capital to rural CDSs to meet the working capital needs of Micro Enterprises and collectives member-owned by NHG members. The objective is to enhance the livelihood opportunities for the poor through investment into asset creation and improvement in productivity and income. The most important aspect in implementation of Community Enterprise Fund would be the inclusion of ‘micro level livelihood planning’ as an empowerment tool for the marginalised communities. A Micro Credit cum Livelihood Action Plan will be a prerequisite for availing the funds under the CEF component. Livelihood action plan should contain schedule of activities, interventions, no. of NHG members to be assisted and expected outcome. NHGs can undertake any permissible activity jointly as a group or the group may decide to support individual(s) for the activities under the umbrella of the main SHG/ADS/CDS. In case of individual support under the SHGs, the individuals will be accountable to the main SHG for finances and performance. The financial support to enterprising individuals who prepare and submit a viable livelihood proposal shall be considered on the recommendation of the group.
IV. Institution Building & Capacity Building
1) Saturation of Coastal Panchayats : Kudumbahsree proposes a saturation approach in Coastal Panchayaths as participation in institutions of poor by coastal population is comparably less in the coastal areas of kerala.
2) Promotion of NHGs, ADSs and CDSs : To promote and strengthen the NHGs/ADSs/CDSs, Kudumbashree had conducted a campaign, namely, ‘DISHA 2017’, in January, 2017. One of the highlights of the program was that all the 2.58 lakh NHGs had conducted a special NHG meeting on 28th January (Morning 10 AM to 5 PM) and people’s representatives (from ward member to chief minister) attended the NHG meetings in their constituencies. As part of follow up of ‘DISHA 2017’, it is proposed to introduce a 12 hours of training course, termed as NHG School, to all NHG members. The thrust of the NHG School will be capacitate the NHGs and their federations to take up or function as the intermediary of various development programmes of State and Central Government departments. Two voluntary Resource person preferably retired hands or teachers from each ward will be appointed as NHG School faculty.
3) Capacity building of institutions of marginalised people : The most important focus of the Disha Campaign was to form special NHGs with the inclusion of marginalized like persons with disabilities, transgenders, migrant labourers and elderly. As per reports, 3954 Special NHGs were formed by Kudumbashree in different categories. Institutional training is important to these NHGs and their institutions, along with other newly formed institutions of poor.
3) Capacity building of Mission staff : Professional training to district and state level mission staff is proposed to be provided with the support of major reputed institutions like IRMA, EDI, BIRD, SBIRD, NABARD, IIM, TISS etc in the financial year 2017-2018.
4) Convergence with PRIs and government programmes : Kudumbashree will ensure that mutually beneficial working relationship and formal platforms for consultations between Panchayats and institutions of the poor are put in place in a manner that PRIs are actively involved in various activities of Kudumbashree but the autonomy of the institutions of poor is also preserved/ protected. Kudumbashree proposes a training of elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the State and to explore ways for women representatives to involve themselves in the democratic governance process. The Objectives of the programme will be to explore ways for women representatives to involve themselves in the democratic governance process, to enable elected representatives to upgrade their knowledge and skills to perform their responsibilities and to excel in these in the development of the Panchayat, to build their confidence in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the Central and State programmes which have defined roles for Panchayat, to integrate them in the planning process by incorporating their demands in the Plan pertaining to their areas and to provide orientation to the key officials and other stakeholders like media, CSOs, representative of legislatures and key citizen resources associated with the functions devolved to the Panchayat. Further, familiarization about the process of developing Village Development Plans, understanding on the reasons for poverty and exclusion, and building a vision for developing a model panchayat will be the focus of the PRI – CBO convergence programme. (To monitor progress, see the 'Organisation Strengthening' section)
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