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Kudumbashree with its core mission to wipeout absolute poverty through women empowerment has indeed touched many lives through its integrated, comprehensive approach. Thousands of the poor and the marginalized population are building their lives, their families and their society through these neighborhood groups.

The financial empowerment of women in Kerala through the focused initiative of Kudumbashree has gone long way drawing even International recognition. Since inception Microfinance has been the basic thrust of Kudumbashree to address poverty. It has been proved without doubt that microfinance is the effective tool for development and contributed to the women and economic development of the society to a great extent.

The various activities taken up by Kudumbashree under MF are as follows

 

 

Kudumbashree plays a vital role in enhancing the financial status of the less privileged women in the State through its thrift and credit program . The small regular savings of neighborhood groups are pooled together and given out as internal loan to the most deserving member of the group. These loans acted as a leveler to address the immediate financial shocks of the group members.

The function of thrift and credit is the core activity of the Kudumbashree neighbourhood group (NHG), and forms the basis of the weekly meetings of the NHG. The amount of loan and the priority of disbursement are decided by the NHG. The repayment is collected weekly during routine NHG meetings. The total thrift collected by NHGs in the state comes to Rs. 3679 Crore and the internal loans generated are to the tune of Rs. 14,813 Crore . Details are reported in the monthly meetings by the CDS.

 

 

The Bank linkage program has made inclusive growth possible by providing easy access to bank loans without any physical collateral. The efficiency and effectiveness of the NHGs are verified on the basis of some objectively verifiable and easily identifiable parameters. NABARD has developed a 15-point index for rating NHGs on the basis of which they will be allowed to link with various banks under the Linkage Banking Scheme. The total amount which has been mobilized under linkage banking is Rs. 6,45,365 Lakhs (current live linkage) and 1,78,898 NHGs have availed of the loans. The linkage loans may be raised directly by the NHG or as bulk loan through the CDS.

 

Bank Linkage Status
Financial Year Linked NHGs Linkage Amount in Lakh
1998-1999 10 6
1999-2000 86 100
2000-2001 106 97
2001-2002 169 121
2002-2003 471 302
2003-2004 1098 643
2004-2005 2572 1440
2005-2006 3829 2633
2006-2007 5586 4517
2007-2008 8308 8998
2008-2009 13151 18763
2009-2010 25858 36421
2010-2011 23758 38396
2011-2012 22004 41381
2012-2013 26694 55010
2013-2014 47284 92821
2014-2015 54468 133514
2015-2016 33752 96800
Linkage Amount wise graph

 

 

 

 

Easy access to bank linkage program has checked the poor from approaching money lenders. In order to motivate the NHGs to come forward for bank linkage program Kudumbashree has designed an incentivizing program called matching grant. Here the linked NHG will be given a grant of Rs.5000/- or 10% of their thrift( Whichever is lesser)

 

Matching Grant
Financial Year Number of NHGs received Matching Grant Matching Grant Amount in Lakh
1998-1999 3 0.2
1999-2000 24 1
2000-2001 52 2
2001-2002 49 2
2002-2003 146 6
2003-2004 433 16
2004-2005 1009 32
2005-2006 789 29
2006-2007 2660 103
2007-2008 6754 261
2008-2009 5001 198
2009-2010 22029 865
2010-2011 16579 651
2011-2012 6531 243
2012-2013 5968 222
2013-2014 10354 397
2014-2015 9198 370
2015-2016 2173 87
     
  89752 3485.2
Matching Grant Amount wise Graph

 

 

 

Govt of Kerala has introduced a new interest subvention scheme to promote Bank Linkage Program among Kudumbashree Neighbourhood Groups. Under this scheme all Kudumbashree NHGs are eligible for interest subvention to avail the loan facility at an interest rate of 4% on credit upto Rs. 3 lakhs. The benefit of this scheme will be available to the NHGs from April 2016.

The interest subsidy would be provided as annual installments to the NHGs. One highlight of the scheme is the inclusion of joint liability groups for farming in the ambit of the scheme.

Under NRLM( Central Scheme) Interest subvention program all women NHGs in category 1 districts namely Palakkad ,Malappuram, Idukki and Wayanad are eligible for interest subvention on credit upto Rs. 3 lakhs at 7% per annum. Further, these NHGs will be provided with an additional 3% subvention on the prompt repayment of loans.

For category II districts, all Kudumbashree NHGs in rural area are eligible for interest subvention to avail the loan facility at an interest rate of 7%. Here Banks will charge the SHGs as per their respective lending norms and the difference between the lending rates and 7% subjected to a maximum limit of 5.5% will be subvented in the loan accounts of the NHGs by Kudumbashree with the support of NRLM Fund.

 

 

KAASS, the Kudumbashree Accounts & Audit Service Society; is a home grown enterprise to ensure proper account keeping in the community network. Each district has been furnished with a KAASS team that has been drawn from commerce graduates and is guided by professional chartered accountants. These teams have been facilitating management of accounts at the NHG, ADS and CDS levels.

KAASS team mainly point out the defects in existing accounting system prevailing in respective NHGs/ADS/CDS and rectify wherever required .There are over 350 members in 43 KAASS groups across the state.

 

 

Kudumbashree programs cover 41 Lakhs families organized under 2.59 Lakhs NHGs through 1071 CDSs. All NHGs have bank accounts through which members of NHGs have access to savings and credit services of banks. The NHG is acting as intermediary between banks and ultimate beneficiary. At NHG level, it is observed that there is lack of knowledge about banking procedures, misconceptions regarding interest rates and lack of awareness about banking ombudsmen and so on . Kudumbashree has chalked out a comprehensive Financial Literacy Campaign in order to provide a platform for NHGs to be aware of and benefit from formal banking services.

Now there are annual financial literacy programs of various kinds to address both NHG members and Balsabha Children.

 

 

Street vendors Survey & ID card distribution-Status
Street vendors Survey & ID card distribution-Status
 
Street vendors Survey & ID card distribution-Status
Street vendors Survey & ID card distribution-Status
 
Street vendors Survey & ID card distribution-Status
Street vendors Survey & ID card distribution-Status
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Micro Enterprise promotion and development is one of the significant strategies of Kudumbashree Mission to facilitate economic empowerment of the poor. The Mission developed specific strategies analyzing the requirements of enterprises. This constitutes trainings, partial financial support marketing support and hand holding support to the enterprises. These kinds of supports are applicable for both existing micro enterprises and new ones.
The Mission gives priority on the concept of Local Economic Development (LED) – local production, catering to local consumption to increase the economic activity within the local areas for micro enterprise development. In order to facilitate this concept we ensure the involvement of the community and LSGs to analyze the market demand and the development of products and services accordingly.  

ME Orders-Guidelines    Nutrimix Details     19th Anniversary Trade Fair-Sales Details

 

Rural Micro Enterprise scheme (RME Scheme)

Through this scheme only women micro enterprises groups will be supported with the capital subsidy of Rs. 10000 per member or 50% of total project cost which ever is less. The number of members in this group is 5 -10. Individual micro enterprise units are eligible to get a subsidy of Rs.7500/- or 30% of the total project cost which ever is less.

Yuvashree

Yuvashree group consists of both men and women in the age group 18-45 years. This is an initiative of Kudumbashree mission to provide work to the unemployed youth who are below poverty line. These people are given the freedom to start an enterprise in which they are interested and Kudumbashree supports them just like how it supports the other enterprises run by women. Here the subsidy norms for individual and group enterprises are same as that of RME scheme.

Financial Assistance Services

Analyzing the specific financial requirements, the Mission provides financial assistance to the entrepreneurs as and when required.

Subsidy support: Individual enterprises are given Rs.7500/- as subsidy or 1/3rd of the total project cost whichever is less. Group enterprises are given a subsidy of Rs. 10,000/- per member or 50% of the total project cost whichever is less.

Revolving fund: Revolving fund is meant for meeting urgent requirement of working capital. Enterprises are eligible for revolving fund after completing 6 months of operation. 15% of the total project cost subject to a maximum of Rs.35,000/- per group is admissible RF.

Innovation Fund: Innovation fund was initiated for supporting innovative micro enterprise. The main objective is to cover initial risk. The maximum amount eligible should not exceed 50% of total project cost including subsidy plus innovation fund. Suitable innovative micro enterprise projects will be identified by Micro enterprise teams in Districts based on the opportunity and then submit proposals to the Head Office for approval.

Technology Fund: Technology fund is planned to procure advanced and innovative technologies for setting up micro enterprises under Kudumbashree. The cost of technology includes the cost to develop a new technology, purchase of a technology from research organization, laboratory, and individuals, NGOs etc. Project proposals for the procurement or development of technology for micro enterprises are drafted by the District Missions and are scrutinized and approved by a screening committee constituted for the purpose at State level.40% of the project cost (except the cost of land and building ) subject to a limit of Rs.30,000/- per family or 3,00,000/-

Technology upgradation fund: Technology upgradation fund is provided for updating the technology already acquired by the MEs. The eligible amount is Rs.35,000/- per person subject to a maximum of Rs.3,50,000/-.

Second Dose Assistance to ME: This is a special assistance programme to help units which have fallen on hard times to revive and develop strategies to become viable again. This assistance is applicable for units which are interested for diversification. Eligible subsidy under second dose for a group is 40% of the total project cost or Rs.3,00,000/-

Crisis Management Fund: Crisis management fund is meant for responding to an unpredictable negative event to prevent it from escalating into an even bigger problem related to Micro enterprise activities of Kudumbashree. Kudumbashree adopts a four pronged approach towards crisis management:

1. Anticipate potential crisis situations and prepare for them
2. Provide accurate information during a crisis
3. React as quickly as possible to the situation
4. Long-term solutions

Here proposals were verified and forwarded by the District Mission and are approved by a screening committee constituted for the purpose at State level. The maximum amount which can be disbursed as CMF is Rs.3,00,000/-

Related Downloads
 
Download Crisis Management Fund Guidelines
Download Second Dose Assistance to ME Guidelines
Download Technology Upgradation Fund Guidelines
Training support services

General Orientation Training (GOT): GOT provides a general orientation about various livelihood opportunities available in the locality with specific focus on the support provided by various agencies and departments for setting up enterprises and livelihood development. The training will provide broad information on various livelihood programmes of Kudumbashree Mission. The expected outcome is to help the women/ youth identify the employment opportunity based on their skill & interest.

Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP): EDP is given to persons who opts entrepreneurship as a means of livelihood, which is done over three to five days by trained resource persons or specialized training agencies. They cover sessions to develop basic entrepreneurial skills of the participants.

Project planning and skill training: Persons completing EDP are formed into groups in the case of group enterprises and based on the sector in which the business is planned, appropriate skill development training is conducted by specialized and accredited training agencies.

Performance Improvement Programme (PIP): Training programmes that are aimed at improving the capabilities of entrepreneurs in various areas of enterprises are being offered. These include technical, operational, marketing related and general management training programmes.

Accounting training: Entrepreneurs are being provided training to help them improve the accounting and book-keeping of their enterprises.

Micro Enterprise Consultants (MECs)

It was identified by the mission team that there must be a local expert support mechanism for strengthening and handholding enterprises and it was not feasible to have professionals from outside placed for this purpose. This lead to the development of an institutionalized support mechanism called Micro Enterprise Consultants (MECs).

MECs were men and women graduates identified by the CDS from among Kudumbashree families who were provided adequate trainings by the Mission. Over the years, MECs have been equipped with wide range of capacity building inputs by the Mission for disseminating business plan preparation, business counseling and marketing support to needy entrepreneurs.

Collectives
 
Consortiums
Details of Consortiums
Amrutham Nutrimix Consortium
Producer Companies
Details of Producer Companies
Monthly Markets

Kudumbashree took its first step in marketing by facilitating monthly markets at the district level. Fixed venue, date and infrastructure facilities were provided to CDS for the markets. The support of LSGs ensured in the conduct of the fairs. Monthly markets became functional on 2 October 2007.

Monthly markets provide a new platform for Kudumbashree to develop a brand image in the minds of the public. The demand for more markets, increase in the number of market days, the demand for product in remote areas led the Mission to expand the market in municipal, block, taluk-level fairs to Panchayat-levels. In several LSGs, the monthly markets eventually became weekly markets and wherever LSG has come to provide permanent space, they have become daily shops.

IITF

As part of brand building, Kudumbashree participates in national and international festivals. India International Trade Fair is one event Kudumbashree participates.

State Trade Fair

Kudumbashree as part of brand image creation and to promote state wide products conducts special trade fairs, food fests and cultural fests featuring Kerala’s cuisine, art forms and various products made by Kudumbashree women.

Home shop

It is a process of marketing products made by Kudumbashree beneficiaries to the local community through the support of CBOs in the local community. The distribution system or the marketing groups are managed by a professional management team. Thus three systems - production, marketing and management - work in close coordination.

Sales and marketing enterprises (SME)

To promote marketing of Kudumbashree products the Mission initiated the SME concept where women or youth who has an aptitude for selling can start a marketing enterprise group.

Retail Shops

The retail shops are proposed to be set up with the help and support of LSGIs. If space is provided by LSGs then Kudumbashree will provide financial support for working capital and for designing and developing interiors. Monitoring will be done by the concerned LSGs and CDSs. Outlets are being started functional in Ettumanoor CDS of Kottayam district and Cheruthazham CDS of Kannur district

Food Fests

Promotion of canteen and catering units and ethnic delicacies enabled the Mission to start food fests in association with leading newspapers and other departments across the state. The ethnic delicacies across Kerala are brought on a single platform so that customers can taste and understand the various cuisines familiar in each locality in the districts.

Branding

Kudumbashree’s present marketing channels includes monthly market, fairs, homeshops and retails outlets.The products which have already shown a regular demand among customers and are ethnic and unique in some districts are suggested to be considered as premium products. The main objectives behind branding demaned products are adding more marketing segments especially high end markets for these selected products.

As a first stage, 10 products from various sectors are selected and planned to fine tune to compete with established brands. Work is in progress including certification of the products.

Going forward, more products and services can be added to the premium sectors considering the USP. Parallel market research and analysis will ensure that the ever-changing demands of the market are accounted by the micro-enterprises making them more sustainable in long run.

The uniqueness of Kudumbashree’s marketing sector is that equal importance should be given to all type of microenterprises as the beneficiaries ranges from a home stead activity to consortium model. Considering the range of the Micro Enterprise feasible strategy is adopted.

 

Related Downloads
 
Kudumbashree Districtwise Onam Fair Details-2016
Kudumbashree Categorywise Onam Sales Details-2016
Kudumbashree Agriculture Sales Details-2016
Special Enterprises

There are special enterprises that have been specifically sponsored and developed by the Kudumbashree Mission

Some special micro enterprises are listed below,

Santhwanam: Santhwanam is a major intervention of Kudumbashree in the Health sector. With lifestyle diseases on the rise, a visit to hospitals and clinics for periodical check ups has become common among the poor as well as the elite. This prompted Kudumbashree to think of an alternative and thus Santhwanam project became part of Kudumbashree livelihood programmes.

Santhwanam is a collaborative effort of Kudumbashree, Health Action by People (HAP) and the State Bank of India (SBI). Women from Kudumbashree families having a plus-two education or graduation in science are selected for enterprises. They are given seven days of intensive training on technical inputs and personality development by HAP, an NGO headed by a group of committed doctors. The entrepreneurs are trained in checking the height, body weight, body mass index, cancer detection, blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol of people they visit at home to check on their diseases. The medical equipments and strips required for the check ups are supplied by HAP.

Kudumbashree imparts performance improvement training to these people after every six months of functioning. The Santhwanam groups also take part in fairs and festivals, where they get plenty of patients to carry out check ups on and earn a good income. This is in addition to the regular house visits they undertake for periodic check ups. The main benefit of this scheme is that the periodic check ups give individuals a warning about their state of health so that they can go to a hospital in time for further treatment if necessary.

Amrutham Food Supplement: Nutritional food supplement provided through the 33000 anganwadi of the State to children in the age group of 6 months to 3 years.

Cafe Kudumbashree:Cafe Kudumbashree is a sub brand of Kudumbashree in the hospitality sector. More than 1000 units serving ethnic delicacies are functioning across the state. Café Kudumbashree specializes in ethnic Kerala cuisine, prepared by women from various cultures, traditions and customs. Arguably, this is the only brand that brings together the diversity of ethnic Kerala cuisine under one roof. Over the years, Cafe Kudumbashree has established itself as a strong brand in the restaurant sector, through a series of food festivals, catering orders and also by running canteens.

Kudumbashree Travels:Concern about the safe travel of women and children especially at odd timings led the Mission to think of an innovative enterprise- the Kudumbashree Travels. The women taxi service piloted in Thiruvananthapuram the State capital was expanded to almost all the districts. Call centre, GPS monitoring system, web enabled services and other features associated with a professional taxi services have been provided by Kudumbashree travels. Specific design & colour combination along with the Kudumbashree logo makes the vehicle easily identifiable. The project is implemented in the urban areas though women from rural areas too can become part of the service.

Kudumbashree Wellness Centers:Kudumbashree wellness centers evolved as an outcome of Santwanam programme. Women who do not have the facility to exercise, or to find time for their health care are encouraged to visit wellness centers run by Kudumbashree women. Modern equipments, classes on health habits, cookery classes are conducted as part of this initiative. The project is implemented in urban areas.

Kudumbashree Women Construction Teams:The concept is developed and designed with the support of HUDCO. Women having civil engineering background are trained as consultants, diploma/ITI holders in civil engineering are provided site supervision training & unskilled/semi skilled women labourers (masons) are given skill up gradation training in construction techniques. The training module is developed by Laurie Baker Center for Habitat Studies and training is provided by KITCO, Kochi, & Archana Women’s Center, Kottayam. The objective is to upgrade, diversify and certify the skills of labourers in new technologies and emerging standards in the construction industry, as a pilot, the project is implemented in Ernakulam and based on its success, will be replicated in cities.

Training Groups:

An enterprise of training specialists from the community network of Kudumbashree.(EKSAT and TRISAT)

KAASS: Kudumbashree Accounts & Audit Service Society; a home grown enterprise to ensure proper account keeping in the community network.

 

 

 

Collective Farming is an initiative introduced by Kudumbashree to encourage cultivation among neighborhood groups. It not only brings in significant changes in the lives of the poor but also helps to increase agricultural production by bringing fallow and cultivable waste land into agricultural use, and has significance as a food security measure. Women enter the programme as cultivators as opposed to agricultural labour and control over the means of production and access to formal credit help in increasing the returns from farming. The programme is being implemented in all districts with the support of LSGs.

Related Downloads
Collective Farming Details
Group Farming Guideline
 
Activities

Activities include identification and leasing of available land, selection of beneficiaries, clustering them into groups, giving training, distribution of inputs and release of incentives. The land identified may be government land lying fallow, or private land taken up for cultivation. The identified beneficiaries are collectivized into joint liability groups to undertaken agriculture. Agriculture incentive based on the crop types and interest subsidy on agriculture bank loans are provide as support by Kudumbashree to the joint liability groups

Joint liability groups of women farmers

Joint liability groups of women farmers are formed under the collective farming initiative to help women cultivators access agricultural credit from the banking system. These JLGs are structured along NABARD guidelines, and open bank accounts in the name of the JLG. JLGs are brought under the purview of Interest subsidy scheme of Kudumbashree(ISS). They become eligible for ISS when they avail agricultural loan from banks. 5% subsidy on 7% interest agricultural loan is provided by state government of Kerala through Kudumbashree.

 

Mahila Kisan Sashakthikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) a sub component of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) aims at increasing the visibility of women in agriculture, reducing drudgery and providing a livelihood opportunity by adopting sustainable and eco friendly agriculture.

Kudumbashree, the programme implementing agency (PIA) for Kerala, has undertaken the project through the institution of Joint Liability Group (JLG) of women farmers. The project target was kept at promoting 30,000 JLG, with 1,50,000 women farmers undertaking cultivation in 24,000 Ha.

MKSP project focuses on capacity building of the farming community through the identification of best practices among the community. Resource persons are selected from the community and act as the grass root workers of this programme. Trainings form an integral part of project aiming at providing scientific practices and solution to the door step of the farmers.

 
 
Related Downloads
MKSP-Value Chain Project-duties and responsibilities of Regional Co-ordinator- Circular
MKSP-Kudumbashree Rice-Collection & Branding-Guidelines - Circular
JLG- Bank Linkage - Circular
Group Farming - Guideline
Master Farmers - Guideline
Block Co-ordinator - Guideline
JLG - Guideline
Jeeva - Guideline
Bhakshya Surakha Bhavanam - Circular
Providing infrastructure for FFCs - Circular
Onam Vegetable Marketing - Circular
 
 
Components and achievement under MKSP
JLG and bank linkage details
Sl No Particulars 2015-2016 2016-2017 (Till March)
1 No.of JLGs 54,167 65,601
2 No.of JLG Members 2,65,273 2,88,005
3 Area of Cultivation 49,960 Ha 51,112.76 Ha
4 Bank Linkage 27,381 JLGs linked with credit of 341 Crore 26,738 JLGs linked with credit of 331 Crore
 
Support for the diverse farming activity
Sl No Particulars Target Achievements
1 Integrated Farming System 1800 1559
2 Innovative/ Indigenous farming system 140 119
3 Seed Bank   35 units
Trainings details Community (JLG members)
Sl No Particulars Target Achievements
1 Capacity Building 1,50,000 2,01,650
2 Technical Trainings 60,000 55,408
3 Exposure visit to institutes of prominence 140 127
Master Farmers details
Sl No Particulars Target Achievements
1 Capacity building 10,000 10598
2 Technical trainings 10,000 8393
3 Mechanisation trainings 1656 912
 
Community infrastructure development
Sl No Particulars Target Achievements
1 Farmer Felicitation Centre 972 916
2 Market support 140 79
 
Haritha Kerala: Fallow land identified and started cultivation on Dec 8
Name of the district Total area identified and stated cultivation as part of Haritha Kerala as on 18.12.2016 in cents Total number of water bodies cleaned as part of haritha mission Name of the best CDS for POLIVU award Name of the best JLG selected for award along with CDS name Name best master farmer selected for award along with CDS name
Kottayam 49377 921 Thrikkodithanam Harithashree JLG, Kidangoor CDS Urmila Govindan, Manjoor CDS
Ernakulam 45310 879 Manjallur CDS Aavani JLG, Kadungallur CDS Achamma Eliyas, mazhuvannur
Kannur 41300 32 Pappinisseri Krishnadeepam JLG, Madayi CDS Pankajavally. V.V, Madayi
wayanad 24614 290 Poothadi Haritha JLG Thondarnadu CDS Jery Vargees. Sulthan Bathery CDS
Malappuram 122721 1629 TIRUVALY Parisudham-Alankode CDS Chinnamma George, Urngattiri CDS
Idukki 18300 65 Pampadumpara Priyanka, Pampadumpara Manju Mathew, Pampadumpara
PALAKKAD 9018 1576 Kumaramputhur CDS Samridhi JLG, Kuthanur CDS Mercy George, Vaniyamkulam CDS
Thrissur 46863 559 Valappad Sneha JLG,Nadathara CDS Meera Sujanan,Madakkathara CDS
Kasaragod 37505 210 Kinannur Karinthalam Harisree,Kinannur Karinthalam CDS Valasala Baskarn Thrikaripor cds
Alappuzha 67899 331 Kanjikkuzhi Kisan jlg, Chennam Pallipuram Liji Satheeshan, Ezhupunna cds
Pathanamthitta 11860 54 Pramadom Aranya, Niranam CDS Smt. Lissy Achankunju, Omalloor CDS
Kozhiikode 11130 479 chekkiyad thanima JLG, CHakkitapara Beena vellam CDS
Kollam 5500 48 Kadakkal Aswathi JLG Kulasekharapuram Sunitha kumari Chathanur
Trivandrum 202500 214 Kottukal Nethaji JLG , Poovachal Sreeja S Perumkadavila
total ( in cents) 693897 7287      
In acres 6938.97        

 

To strengthen the Kudumbashree community organization and to engage community in five chief principles of good lifestyle, good health, clean water, waste management and clean surrounding along with promoting agriculture based well being, Kudumbashree mission is initiating a state wide campaign titled “POLIVU”. Under this campaign, special NHG meeting deliberating on planning and implementing the POLIVU campaign will be held across the state on 3 rd July 2016. Through this campaign each of the NHG would be cultivating in minimum of 3 cents land, growing 5 kinds of vegetable and nurturing 3 kinds of fruit trees. This campaign would start with planting by the seeds on 9 th and 10 th July 2016. This will be one of the ongoing activities of Kudumbashree.

Polivu campaign progress
  Number of NHG in the district Number of NHG starting culitvation on 9th or 10 th July percentage coverage total area under cultivation (acre)
Alappuzha 19622 19139 98% 574.17
Ernakulum 20680 19157 93% 628.153
Idukki 12041 9783 81% 463.18
Kannur 18995 8991 47% 535.75
Kasaragod 11003 7643 69% 318.42
Kollam 21846 11130 51% 277
Kottayam 14,872 14,622 98% 585.95
Kozhikode 26,998 12,184 45% 335
Malappuram 23,842 19989 84% 743.52
Patanamtitha 9,626 6230 65% 574.01
Trivandrum 28037 13619 49% 512.5
wayanad 9441 6793 72% 256.07
Palakkad 21053 14500 69% 739.52
Thrissur 23535 17342 74% 655
  261591 181122 69% 7198.243

 
 
JLG details for Onam
District Number of JLG Number of participating JLG Total area under production (Ha) Area under each crop
        C1* C2* C3* C4* C5*
Thiruvananthapuram 4092   2113.3 70.6 522.7 447.6 1072.4  
Kollam 4049   3579.464 320.57 886.88 1135.242 1236.772  
Pathanamthitta 3608   1976.14 271.47 421.99 452.7 755.5  
Alappuzha 5376   3563.42 1142.09 1122.98 770.32 264.43  
Kottayam 2237   2222.55 655.51 213.15 557.88 714.52  
Idukki 8461   4130.7 121.5 1510.7 1486.5 1012  
Ernakulam 4761   2277.4 728.65 497.73 479.16 679.24  
Thrissur 4593   4679.524 1665.51 1081.57 693.338 1238.34  
Palakkad 2443   2310.948 1149.148 317.4 283.2 561.2  
Malappuram 3883   6339 3644 796 545 1354  
Kozhikode 3633   3120.1 354.34 699.03 836.27 1230  
Wayanad 4875   1825.632 470.07 202.7 815.64 373.03  
Kannur 4210   3303 1210 230 886 975  
Kasaragod 3257   1934.7 734.2 568.1 330.4 302  
*C1: Paddy, C2: vegetable, C3:Tubers, C4:Banana, C5 others

 

 

Asraya is a destitute rehabilitation program designed by Kudumbashree. The program is targeted at the poorest of the poor population. While implementing the poverty alleviation programmes, it was observed that the programmes implemented by the Government and other agencies never reach this population. These people, who live in utter distress and despair, constitute a very small number in the society, approximately the bottom two per cent of the total population. Kudumbashree designed a project called Asraya - Destitute Identification Rehabilitation and Monitoring Project for the rehabilitation of destitute families. Destitute families are identified using a transparent risk index framed by the Mission. Individual needs of the family are identified through a participatory need assessment. The project envisaged to address lack of food, health problems including chronic illness, pension, educational facilities to children, land for home, shelter, drinking water, safe sanitation facilities, skill development, employment opportunities, etc.

Asraya started off with a demand based approach. Initially elected heads of the local governments were sensitized on issues affecting the ultra-poor. It was primarily initiated in the gram panchayat areas in the state. Panchayats which were willing to take up the difficult and sensitive task of improving the livelihoods of such people, accept the continuous responsibility and meet at least 75 per cent of the cost of the project were identified for piloting the project.

The Asraya project, supported by State Government was tried in 179 Gram Panchayats in the year 2003. From the XIth Five Year Plan, Asraya programme was universalized and plan preparation began in the remaining gram panchayats, and the urban local bodies. Today,it is implemented in 1042 local bodies, including the gram panchayats, municipalities and corporations across the state.

Resources required for funding different components of the plan are mobilized, as much as possible, from existing schemes and programmes.Since most of the anti-poverty and social welfare programmes have been brought under Local Governments in Kerala the convergence exercise has been made easier. After identifying available resources in this manner the gap is filled up by the untied resources transferred to Local Governments for development purposes.

As an incentive to Local Governments to take up Asraya, Government have committed to provide 40 per cent of the project cost subject to a maximum of Rs.25 lakh as special grant to each of the local bodies. This is known as Challenge fund, and is provided via the Kudumbashree Mission. According to the guidelines for Asraya, the fund allocation has to be on a ratio of 60:40, wherein a minimum of 60 per cent of the funds need to come in from the local government by means of plan fund, convergence with schemes etc. There is no restriction on the amount the local government can contribute towards the project. But all other sources including the challenge fund cannot exceed 40 per cent of the total project cost. Also, the challenge fund cannot be used to meet the infrastructural needs of the Asraya beneficiaries, which needs to be done in convergence with the schemes under the local government or the Plan fund.Special Asraya projects for the tribal population have also been initiated in Local Self Government Institutions where Government provides up to 40 per cent of the project cost subject to a maximum of Rs.40 lakhs.

Since Asraya has tremendous social appeal some of the enterprising local governments have managed to mobilize additional resources by way of donations from philanthropic individuals, sponsorships from institutions, and service commitments from hospitals and so on.

If one has to list down the major achievements of the programme, the following would be the most important of the lot:
  • The complete involvement of the community and their participation in the destitute rehabilitation programme of the LSGI. The role of the community in the identification of the destitute, providing continuous care, support and services and especially in the monitoring of the programme in their LSGIs.
  • All-round acceptance of the identification process and willingness to provide greater assistance to the identified families.
  • The gradual but progressive empowerment of the identified section of poorest of poor families who begin to access entitlements starting with food security through the public distribution system, moving on to health security, social security in the form of pension and then reaching out to human development aspects like education and skill up-gradation, and finally leading to developing the foundation for economic development. During this process the LSGI ensures that the household gets basic minimum needs like land for houses, shelter, sanitation and drinking water.
  • There has been visible transformation in the attitudes and approaches of officials and elected representatives directly involved in the project – with inculcation of a spirit of empathy.
  • The State Poverty Eradication Mission has been able to play the role of a conscientious facilitator by motivating the elected local governments even while consciously keeping away from actions that would affect the autonomy of local governments.
  • The project is implemented under the leadership of the Local Governments. The individual family plans prepared for each destitute family are part of the Anti Poverty Sub Plan of Local Governments and get integrated with their Five Year Plan for which enough funds are devolved in Kerala.
  • From the State Government there is tremendous policy support and from the Central Government there is great encouragement.
  • Its adoption of a simple rational methodology and its being rooted in the partnership of NHGs and Local Governments provide the surest foundation of sustainability.
  • The involvement of the Community Based Organisations (CBO) of the poor at all levels of the project implementation is a key factor for its sustenance. What has to be recognized is that the poorest of the poor who are the beneficiaries of the Asraya programme come from amongst the families of the LSGI who are all part of the Kudumbashree NHGs, and hence the identification of the destitute happens properly since the entire process is accountable to the community itself.


The success of this particular programme has been attributed to quite a few reasons, the most important of which would be the conscious decision to reach the sections of population that were untouched by the usual local self-government programmes, having transparent criteria for inclusion of the poor, understanding the concept of ‘need’ holistically, having had plans tailored to each family, convergence of existence schemes and services, primacy being given to care and compassion more than solely material assistance, and continued support till the family is able to come out of destitution.

Objectives of Asraya

Related Downloads

First Phase Details
Second Phase Details

 

 

 

Kudumbashree as the poverty eradication mission has been actively involved in the process of empowering women by making them aware of their rights and entitlements. In the mission of eradicating the poverty a need assessment was performed using the deprivation criteria. It was a unique survey compared to the conventional BPL survey performed. In the identification of poverty through the deprivation criteria the families shared their real life situations and problems which gave hither to unknown picture of poverty. It was revealed that destitution and disability are the major challenges encountered by the community. Kudumbashree thus initiated two major projects which are: Destitute identification and rehabilitation program named Asraya and Disability mainstreaming program namely BUDs.

The birth of the first BUDs school happened at Venganoor Panchayat in 2004, inaugurated by the former honorable chief minister then Sri. AK Antony. The school was unique in its various ways. The entry and exits to these schools stood away from all sorts of discrimination based on religion, caste, class. To avoid the sin of labeling and stigma towards mental retardation the school was named as “BUDs”. The community accepted the center whole heartedly, but could not replicate it as there was no sustained financial support available for BUDs. The project resurrected when the decentralized plan guidelines of 11th plan included BUDs as one of the important projects in support of Persons with disability. It endorsed LSGI to meet some expenses for managing BUDs.

In 2008 Kudumbashree mission took the challenge to organize BUDs schools in other Panchayats with recognition under Persons with Disability Act of 1995. By 2010, the Department of Education approved the initiatives of Kudumbashree and began to sanction grant in aid to BUDs. Now there are 63 approved BUDs school in the state.

Related Downloads
List of BUDS Schools
M.S No.148-2009_29-07-2009 BUDS Special School
M.S No.152-2009_01-08-2009 BUDS Rehabilitation Centres
No.43145-FM-1-2010_26-07-2010 BUDS Special School
No.77737-FM-1-2011 _ 01-04-2011 BUDS Special School
P No.162-2011_29-07-2011 BUDS Special NHG
M.S No.144-2013_06-04-2013 BUDS Rehabilitation Centres
KS No.H1-17778-2013_17-06-2013_Circular_DSJ-Recognition BRC
G.O - 0206-2016 (BUDS, Malappuram_BUDS_School_BusDriver)_04-08-2016
 

With the policy focus on inclusive and integrated education more and more children with mental retardation began to be enrolled in government schools. This has provided the mentally retarded children an opportunity for schooling in inclusive atmosphere where they can learn upto the age of 18. However there was no institution to take care of the mentally challenged above the age of 18 especially in rural areas which became another problem and issue of the family. The neighborhood groups began to demand for day care and training for mentally challenged adult persons within the local area. The panchayats also demanded for such an initiative. It was in this circumstances Kudumbashree mission evolved the concept of BRC and the government of Kerala approved the proposal. Thus Kudumbashree decided to shift the focus from school age group to post school age group. The government of Kerala accordingly approved the innovative model. BUDs Rehabilitation Center was formed thus in 2013.The center focuses on the rehabilitation, training and day care of these mentally challenged persons. It follows a unique rehabilitation approach which ensures the participation of all the stakeholders associated with it.

Related Downloads
List of BUDS Rehabilitation Centers

 

BUDS Monitor Progress

 

 

A knowledge base is often eclipsed due to the conventional roles a person adheres in the society. An imperative attempt to retain the knowledge base through self evaluation, participation and inquiry can be considered as the newest form of empowerment process. Along with about 2,00,000 Neighbourhood groups all over the state, a similar yet distinctive methods have been used to mobilise and nurture childrens collective-Balasabha. The Sabhas are structured neighbourhood network of children. Each Sabha consist of 15 – 30 children in the age group of 6 – 18 years. The prime objective of constituting Balasabhas is to prevent inter-generational transmission of poverty through capability enhancement of children. Small Learning Groups for experimental and systematic learning, opportunities for understanding democratic process, participation in conserving environment, enabling children to unfold the intricacies of collectivisation are the basic focal points of Balasabha. At present, 66,743 Balasabhas, covering 10,59,283 children, creating glorious dimensions to the endeavour.

Balasabha is set as the three tier system as NHG, ADS and CDS level.

Balasabha - Major Programmes / Activities
  • Regular Balasabha meetings based on different themes
  • Bala Panchayath Meeting
  • Bala Parliament – District and State level
  • Summer Camp
  • August 15th Independence day Celebrations
  • Onakkoottam
  • Gandhi Jayanthi Programme
  • NakshathraKoottam – Christmas programme
  • Balasamgamam in 1072 CDS and model Grama Sabhas in 7253 wards
  • Trained Adolescent resource persons (Bala RPs) – 5360
  • Formation of Souhruda Samiti at Panchayat and ward level(Support team)
  • Conducted a Samgamam of selected Bala Panchayat Presidents
  • Carrier guidance for ST students
  • Insight programme- Carrier guidance and leader ship training includes civil service guidance for the children from poor family - 350 children
  • Holistic health programmes
  • Agriculture related activities, Maths day programmes, Bio diversity initiative, Workshop on media, Programmes related to child right are the major district initiatives

Balasabha Structure

It is a collective attempt of children to ensure their participation in the democratic space at the local Government level and in their community. Small Learning Groups for experimental and systematic learning, opportunities for understanding democratic process, participation in conserving environment, enabling children to unfold the intricacies of collectivisation are the basic focal points of Balasabha. It aims to accomplish the following:

Related Downloads

Circular - Balasabha Activities

 

 

GSLP Books

Kudumbashree have been working on a programme that aims at getting women to discuss the gender dimension of their issues. For this we had to break the mould of thrift and credit based discussions which alone were taking place in the NHG, apart from the odd health or other dissemination.

Locally contextualised modules on issues such as women and work, women and health, women and mobility, women and entertainment are developed and deliberated in Neighbourhood Group meetings. The different voices of women and their perceptions about the topics of discussion will be captured on a web-based portal accessible at the level of the Local Self Government.The portal is being developed with the support of the Minister of Information Technology, Government of India.

Awareness building programmes seem not to leave any sustained impact. It was felt therefore that a learning process in which the women felt themselves to have a stake, and would be delivered not through trainings, but through discussions focusing on some aspect of their lives and livelihoods they could relate to, either through a story line, or through some other format- press cuttings, poems, skit etc. had to be the mode of delivery. State level consultations help identify the themes of the ‘learning modules’, The content for the learning modules are prepared by local women resource persons, who source the stories out of their own experiences for further contextualisation and development.

Once the modules are developed, they are consolidated and disseminated by resource persons in the neighbourhood groups. Women are encouraged to ask questions about themes ranging from work and environment to health, power and power structure. This programme is expected to directly touch the lives of over 35 lakh women of the state. Not only will these discussions and debates be documented, but also shared with a larger community through a special SreeSakthi web based portal being developed by CDAC with financial support from the Ministry of Information Technology, Government of India.

Kudumbashree is working on work and wages as our first theme. The module for entry will be based on NREGS (National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme). Today NREGS touches the lives of most women in the network – over 80% of the people who are entering the programme are women, and most of these, are from Kudumbashree. Kudumbashree is actively involved in the myriad aspects of implementation of the programme, from job card registration through labour budgeting and work site facilitation to social audit. Moreover, it is the single rights based programme spearheaded by the state, which recognises women’s work participation concerns as a matter of rights and equity. NREGS therefore poses for us the best opportunity to engage women in rights based discourse with the consensus of the state and of most involved stakeholders. The exercise is expected to generate over 200000 resource persons, who would have been sensitised to the issues of women in the development context and understand the gender implications of development and welfare scenarios. These people would be available to carry this strategic citizenship programme forward, and to manage the change that is inevitable if rights are to translate as achievements and justice. A total of Rs 1.63 Crores is estimated for the implementation of the project.

Gender Self Learning Programme could be regarded as the first social educational process that would have direct implications on rights and entitlements of women in grass roots. Unlike conventional women empowerment programmes that adhere to awareness classes, gender self learning programme aims at facilitating neighborhood groups on discussions that reflect on discrimination, violence and inequality. Each woman represented in the network is regarded as a participant, information provider and knowledge creator.

As part of women empowerment activities a pilot project for GSL is running in four Block Panchayats and one Municipality of Kerala, viz Nedumangad, Kanjikuzhi, Kodakara and Kanhangad blocks and in Aluva Municipality. In 2009-10 the project is being scaled up across the entire state.

Modules for Self Learning

Modules and hand outs were prepared by the Gender team to help the Kudumbashree members learn by self. The different topics included in the modules were discussed in the NHG meetings. This helps them think and learn their living situations, possibilities to grow, solve problems and opportunities.

Rationale of a topic based module

The modules are developed on the basis of topics that have implications on discrimination and violence. Society is not complete without addressing the problems of women. The topics identified for the learning process include- women and employment, women and health, women and environment, women and power structure, women and sexuality, women and education, women and media, women technology and so on. If we take any of these above stated topic, it is evident that it would have implications on discrimination and inequality.

A module has 3 parts:

1. Content based on the broad theme.
2. Quantitative questionnaire based on the content.
3. Points that helps to conduct discussions in the NHGs.
 

The module content is disseminated through NHGs and information is collected from NHGs, consolidated at points like ADS and CDS for the preparation of status reports. This method enables women to get a better understanding of the ground realities. The realistic figures that arrive through the process is an aid for learning the self. For example: If a question like this is posed to NHG regarding to the long journeys they make for employment – “How many NHG members have decided not to take up employment because of long journeys?” The quantitative information we get out of it would be of use in such a way that it facilitates both visible and invisible implications.

Theme- Woman and Employment
Centralised Module Development

Parallel to the induction training, it was decided to start working on a module that could be disseminated across the state. A centralized core team was against the earlier decision of having decentralized module development teams at districts. The renewed decision was made so as to give a logical picture for the next phase of module development that would be of a decentralized one. So an in depth module on ‘Women and Employment’ was suggested. The selection was approved in the view of many points.

Module reading in NHG level

1. Each NHG will have a facilitator who would lead the learning process. The selection can be on a rotation basis as it the learning process should not be blocked because of the absence of the facilitator.
2. The facilitator would explain the content and data collection format. The facilitator would be responsible to make entries in the data collection format. The entries would be the suggestions and opinions of the respective NHG and not of an individual.
3. NHGs should place GSLP as one of its major agendas, and allocate at least 1 hour for the learning process.
4. The Panchayat level resource pool would look after the activities under the learning process.
5. Consolidation of the data entries from the NHGs would be done and made available for status report preparation. Gender Resource Person would take initiative in delivering the consolidations at ADS and CDS levels.
Women and Workplace

The first module produced for GSLP was based on “Women and Workplace”. Since the method was the first of its kind to be introduced in the Kudumbashree network, a centralized team of gender resource person coordinators and experts from academia and development was constituted for this purpose. Besides experience sharing and a lecture series, secondary data was also brought in for developing the module. The module had eight chapters concentrating on gender-sensitive issues.

1. Employment rights
2. Equal wages for equal work done
3. Employment opportunities
4. Exploitation in workplaces
5. Practical needs in workplaces
6. Strategic need of obtaining social space
7. Changing work culture
8. Women and the NREGS

Each chapter was supplemented by a questionnaire (quantitative) and discussion points. Examples of quantitative questions ranged from “How many members in your NHG are engaged in income-generation activities?” to “list out the income-generation activities done by the members of your NHG”. An example of a discussion point was “Do you think that mobility, confidence and social networking increases with the increase in work participation?” A similar module was also prepared for urban settings. In addition, a separate hand book on constitutional and employment rights was distributed for additional reading.

NREGS in GSLP

The relevance of NREGS in GSLP can be seen in different ways. The NREGS has emerged as an ideal scheme in the employment sector by confirming the dignity of labor and the principle of equal wages for equal work done. It has enabled strengthening the middle layer of the community organisation of Kudumbashree—Area Development Societies(ADSs)—and led to an increase in the number of women employees under the scheme. Women appeared to understand the aims of GSLP through examples pertaining to the components of the NREGS.

Lab Panchayats

In all the 14 districts of the State, a panchayat was selected exclusively for testing the tools of the learning process. A panchayat that showed a moderate level of results was chosen for this purpose. This enabled the teams to modify the tools according to specific needs. The modules and questionnaires were tested in these panchayats before they were disseminated throughout each district.

Vanita Sabhas

Vanita Sabhas form creative learning groups that share, understand and recognise experiences and come up with concerns and solutions that eventually influence policy decisions. Women from different sectors of employment and experts are invited to participate in Vanita Sabhas at the district level. In the very first attempt, a total of 3,530 women participated in the district Sabhas.

Gender Resource Centre

Gender Resource Center focuses on addressing gender concerns, and capacitating Kudumbashree NHGs and LSG representatives to develop gender sensitive policies and to prioritize gender sensitive action. This would require constant collation and analysis of local gender issues and supporting a resource pool of gender experts to facilitate equitable policy setting and action in the field. The concept of resource center in Kudumbashree is inclusive of human resource trained at each level. We are also on the process of getting up a library cum documentation on gender.

Theme - Woman and Health
Decentralized module development

For a learning process to be effective; it should be continuous, interesting and innovative. Different from the process we adopted in the first phase, it was decided to have modules, which would be developed by the resource pool from the grass roots. In effect the learning process would have 14 different context specific modules based on a common topic. We selected Employment and Health as the broad topic for decentralized module development a detailed plan was made in the core team meeting to identify the prominent employment sectors. Based on the enlisted sectors, the district resource pool was divided into teams. The teams went out and collected data on health issues through surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews etc.

The information was put into a matrix (like the one which was framed for the first module). Important employment sectors and health issues emerged from it were entered in the matrix. This gave the resource persons an idea to chapterise the topic according to the severity of the problem. The task was completed in earlier November 2010.

The decentralized methodology motivates women to take ownership in the learning process and gives an edge to work forward in developing similar materials in the future. Later the theme of the module was changed from “Employment and Health” to “Women and Health”. To ensure the effective dissemination of the information which includes the module, service of Anganwadi workers and Asha workers, was ensured. They were provided with GSLP orientation training and module training.

Along with the dissemination of Module, Health resource mapping is done in CDSs to understand the present status of health care system and health care providers. The report of the same is submitted to LSGI so that they can take necessary actions to improve the health care facilities.

Health Resource Mapping

Along with the dissemination of Gender Self Learning Second Module, “WOMEN & HEALTH” Health resource mapping is done in CDSs to understand the present status of health care system and health care providers. The report of the same is submitted to LSGI so that they can take necessary actions to improve the health care facilities.

Aim
1. As a tool for module based training
2. Understand gaps between resources and demands
3. Knowledge sharing and creation among the participants
Parameters
1. Infrastructural capabilities- health facilities
2. Availability of such facilities
3. Access and control to facilities
Infrastructure
1. PHCs
2. Sub centers
3. Clinics and dispensaries
Forums and committees
1. Health and sanitation committees
2. Local forums
3. Voluntary organizations
Individuals
1. Doctors
2. Health volunteers
3. Para medics
Local bodies/Kudumbashree
1. Programmes and schemes
2. Fund allocations
3. Monitoring systems
Employment sectors
1. Health Insurance schemes
2. Medical assistance
3. Reimbursements
4. Working conditions
Natural Resources
1. Herbal, indigenous system of medicines
2. Environmental hazards
3. Commonly found ailments
4. Attitude of the system
Methodology
1. Divide the participants into groups comprising of 5 to 10 numbers each.
2. Ensure ample numbers of chart papers and bright colored sketch pens.
3. Demographic details pertaining to women and children- proportion of women in the panchayats, proportion of children in the panchayats, literacy rates (women), political or any type of formal participation (number of women panchayat members), composition of SC/ST. This could be elicited from the basic data of panchayats’ plan document. This enables them to understand the facilities according to the number of people; access and control to these facilities according to the education level of women; the same according to the level of formal participation in the development process.[The information to be made available by the facilitators]
4. Draw a matrix on the chart paper; indicating 4 titles- (1) Resources, (2) Description of the resources, (3) Viability of the resources, (4) Defects of the resources.
5. List down maximum possible resources-institutions, collectives, individuals, agencies and so on.
6. Describe each one of it in a sentence or two.
7. List down the most important positives of the resources.
8. List down the most important defects of the resources.
9. Listing down of the above points should be associated with the availability, access and control to the resources.
10. The mapping should be followed by discussions on the viability factor (both positives and negatives).
3. Monitoring systems
11. The causal factors could be listed down on a separate piece of chart paper.

Then try to analyze the causal factors and gender sensitiveness of each point.

Pusthaka Yathra

Pusthaka Yathra was a programme organized to collect the books published by Kudumbashree CDSs containing life experiences of Kudumbashree members during their course of Kudumbashree activities. These experiences can be regarded as a learning material for Kudumbashree members themselves, research material for those who want to study about Kudumbashree and a study material for Kudumbashree to revise the existing programmes. Moreover, these experiences are highly motivational to every woman to understand their status, limitations, opportunities and their wisdom. 8-10 CDSs join a centre with a procession carrying their book called Pusthaka Yathra was started from both northern (Hosankady, Kasaragod on 9th September 2012) and southern (Udiyankulangara, Thiruvananthapuram on 10th September 2012) ends of Kerala and joined at Ernakulam (October 1st, 2012). A total of 1072 Books were published at Ernakulam. For this programme, every NHG members were asked to write their own experiences and read it in their NHG meeting. There they decide which experience could be selected for self learning, and select some of the experiences from their group and hand over to ADS- CDS levels. At CDS level, Editorial Board is formed including only women members, who select different experience which can be regarded as the best in their CDS and prepare a book. At the welcome points of procession, a meeting will be arranged and some of the best experiences will be presented. The programme was organized as a part of 15th Anniversary celebrations in which the modules containing life experiences of Kudumbashree members had been collected from two ends of Kerala through a procession accompanied by an art form “Bheri”. There had experience sharing by selected members and honoring them. 1048 books were published.

Kala Team

A 26 member Team was formed for to accompany Pusthaka Yathra. The team consisting Gender RPs were given training to present an art form, theme and script of which was developed by themselves. The team was divided into two and they performed in 120 stages in 22 Days. The theme of the programme included different kinds of issues faced by women and children and services by Government. It is proposed to start Kala teams in every district.

Formation of Gender resource team and Supporting Team

Gender Resource person’s teams were constituted at different levels and expanded the network including new Gender Resource Persons. They were given Gender Sensitization training and orientation about GSLP activities. They are the ones who take classes during the trainings, monitor all the self learning activities. District level resource person’s pools were created in the entire 14 district and there is a core team who coordinate Gender programmes at the district which consist of 10 – 15 members. They are the back born of GSLP. District level Support team were formed in the entire state, which consist of 4 representatives from a CDS and CDS level support team consist of 4 representatives from ADS. These groups give all the support for the programme implementation to the resource persons. Now we formed a strong network of Resource Persons/ support team at the grass root with 433313 resource persons in all over the state.

Theme- Women and Mobility
4 Phases
1. Society and Mobility
2. Atrocities and Mobility
3. Rights and Mobility
4. Opportunities and Mobility

Theme for third module is ‘Women and Mobility’ and it was a thread given in Sreesakthi portal. Last two modules were prepared as a hand book and distributed to NHGs for discussion but third module will prepare after the discussions and activities held at all the levels of Kudumbashree net work. Third module implementation is planning through activity oriented learning process and sensitization on different gender related issues. First phase training completed. And the NHG level discussion started in districts.

Snehitha Gender Help Desk

Gender help desk started in 3 districts, Malapppuram, Eranakulam and Thiruvananthapuram on regional basis. The main aim of the centre is to provide help and support to those women and children who were in distress for a short duration of time and facilitating the women in distress to access the service of other institutional agencies to address the issues. The Help Desk initiated by Kudumbashree Mission is working on the principle of convergence, which is followed by a close interface and collaboration with the registered service providers of the state. Kudumbashree started Anti Human Trafficking programme in three districts of Kerala – Idukki, Palakkad and Wayanad with the financial support of National Rural Livelihood Mission, Government of India. As part of this programme we started Three more Gender Help Desk- “Snehitha” in the respective districts. Total 5798 survivors Approached in Snehitha (6 centers) directly and over phone. And provide shelter for 1076 including women and children. (As on 31-July-2016)

Gender Corner

Gender corner give a creative space in the CDS for women and children and for the active initiative of women empowerment programmes of Kudumbashree. It is a local body to keep up a link between CDS and Snehitha. 2 RPs and 2 CDS members are in charge of gender corner; also they are directly involving in the issues of women and children and resolving it locally with the support of Jagratha Samithi. 857 CDSs formed gender corner and took initiative in more than 1000 issues reported to gender corner.

Nirbhaya & Crime mapping

Gender team developed a handbook comprising the information regarding the activities that Kudumbashree can undertake as part of Nirbhaya, what Panchayat can do, support systems for the victims of atrocities, relevance of the project in Kerala etc.

Crime Mapping is a participatory tool for preventive interventions. Crime mapping conducted in 71 panchayats from all over the state. For this a questionnaire is distributed to all women in the panchayat. They are asked to fill up the same. Places where crimes occur are spotted by both men and women in a map of the concerned panchayat. The same map is then super imposed to get a clear picture about crime spots. Crime mapping helps in identifying the vulnerable spaces and time that lead to violence against women and children; in locating the nature and impact of violence; in assessing and addressing the socio- economic variables in gender based violence and child based violence; and in equipping the citizens to resist violence against women and children in their respective panchayats. The follow up works of Crime mapping is ongoing in these CDS with the aim of creating a women and child friendly and secure local area. Crime mapping State& District level Report published as part of Kudumbashree 16th Anniversary function.

Anti Human Trafficking (AHT)

Today’s development dialogue abounds with discourses and debates on equality, social justice, empowerment, marginalization and other human rights issues. But it is a paradox that even when the world discusses the Millennium Development Goals and the empowerment era, incidences of human trafficking are being reported, worldwide. Human trafficking caters to flesh trade, forced labour and illegal organ transplantation. Trafficking is the third largest organized crime.

Anti Human Trafficking project is an initiative of Kudumbashree which carried out preventive and rehabilitative interventions. The project was initiated as a pilot in selected 3 blocks namely Devikulam, Chittur and Mananthavady of Idukki, Palakkad and Wayanad respectively. The project aims to bring down and contain human trafficking in the selected blocks. Along with this, Project also aims to equip the victims, escapees, survivors and High risk group’s identified by the project with the help of AHT cells, rescue organisations, Social Justice Department and NGO’s etc, from across the state with technical skilling and economic rehabilitation and thereby reintegration with the community.

As a part of Anti Human Trafficking project Migration centers were started in these three blocks for the coordination of the activities and for the prevention of trafficking in that area. The center aims to focus on prevention of trafficking, emotional and vocational rehabilitation of the survivors through Counseling, Vocational Training and livelihood programmes. Snehitha (Gender Help Desk), round the clock working short stay home is also started as a part of Anti Human Trafficking in these districts. 1007 High risk people (Vulnerable to trafficking) were identified through the AHT intervention such as House visit, survey and focus group discussions. As part of the rehabilitation process of these High risk people Kudumbashree provide livelihood support to the identified.

Convergence programmes

Convergence meeting were organized in every districts with regard to Nirbhaya programme implementation and Snehitha –Gender Help Desk formation. District Collector / District Panchayath President were the Chairperson of the Committee. Representatives from different Government, non governmental agencies/ departments/ institutions, Local self government representatives, representatives from NGO’s are the members of the committee. The support and services provided by this committee are very helpful for the successful implementation of Kudumbashree programmes. Convergence meetings are conducting at all levels (State, District, and CDS).

Community Counseling Programme in collaboration with CDC

320 Counseling Educators were selected from all the 14 Districts. And given training based on a module developed by the counseling experts. As primary initiative Kudumbashree conducted a counseling day at the grass root level with support of LSGIs. Now these 320 counselors were working as the community counselors of Kudumbashree and collaborate with Gender Corner and Snehitha Gender Help Desk.

Community Theatre - Rangasree

Rangasree is a program to train selected women from Kudumbasree in Theatre with the aim of establishing community theatres in every CDS of the State. It also aims to disseminate the messages of social justice, equality, sustainable development etc. Women belonging to Neighborhood groups, who have talents got training and the aspire is to form local cultural organization. As a pilot this is implemented in three region Northern (Kozhikode/ Kannur & Malappuram), Southern (Kollam and Pathanamthitta) and Central region (Ernakulam). The training conducted through Theatre workshops based on a curriculum created with advice from experts in the field. 37 master trainers were trained through 4 levels of Training which include Orientation training, Gender Sensitization training, Theatre training including script writing, material preparation (Costumes and other material which is needed for the performance) , Music, Yoga and dance, And finally a technical training. These Master trainers will be in charge of imparting trainings at CDS level and also they can be national resource persons.

Developed with the support of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and the Department of Information Technology, Government of India, the Sreesakthi web portal has been put up to help make the GSLP a productive and successful initiative. This portal provides a useful venue for discussing issues and ideas, creating modules, collating programme reports, clearing doubts, and, most importantly, helping women become computer and technology savvy.

Specific to Gender Self Learning Programme, the Sreesakthi portal enables the learning process to enter a higher plane. Complete learning module development process would be web based. Active threads in discussion forum are “Inclusion of Women in Political Parties of India", Freedom to Mobility" Relevance of Nirbhaya in Kerala Society - Module feedback, learning experience, changes, interventions etc ". Web portal participation by CDS varies district by district. We have to develop a new team for web portal navigation. The team should include gender resource persons, CDS members ADS members-NHG level. For the same, we have to conduct different level of trainings. CDS level portal training is almost completed in districts.

Now 29,029 registered users, 93,600 posts and 2,91,796 views are there in Sreesakthi portal (As on March 2016).

 

 

Special project for the sustainable development of tribal livelihoods - A joint initiative of Tribal Development Department and Kudumbashree

The Tribal special project is an initiative of Kudumbashree in collaboration with the Tribal department to address the special issue of the tribal population of the state, in a systematic manner. The project primarily targets at bringing the marginalized tribals under the aegis of the Kudumbashree network and provide them with facilities which were otherwise less accessible or denied, as part of its poverty eradication mission.The objectives of the mission is planned to be achieved with the active convergence of various government and non government agencies as well as departments. The project was initiated as a pilot in select 10 panchayats of 4 districts namely Idukki, Wayanad, Palakkad and Kasaragod in the first phase. In the second phase the project was expanded to 10 selected panchayats of the remaining district excluding Alappuzha, owing to less number of tribal inhabitation in the district. In the third phase the project has been expanded to all panchayats with tribal inhabitation.

Community mobilization and NHG formation is important for people- centered, integrated development. It is a process for empowering local communities especially vulnerable groups like tribal and combining awareness creation, self organization and action so that communities can work for changes that will benefit the social, emotional, financial and physical needs of beneficiaries. The Tribal special project facilitates the creation of ST NHGs as well as at ADSs, if necessary in areas where there are more than two Tribal NHGs. The project provides a corpus fund of Rs. 10,000 at all newly formed ST NHGs. Micro finance and Micro enterprise activities are given special; focus among the tribals as part of the project activities. Measures have also been taken to ensure cent percent tribal participation in the MNREGS actives. Formation of special Ashraya projects, provision of supplementary food for the malnourished aged, infants and adolescent girls, formation of ST Balasabhas and adolescents club, holistic health programme, etc are some of the highlights of the project.

The past 10 years, about 106162 tribal families were covered under 6375 NHGs under the project. Formation of NHGs alone was not the prerogative of Kudumbashree in tribal areas. It is such instances that prompted Kudumbashree to form Special Ashraya projects for tribal beneficiaries. State Kudumbashree Mission has sanctioned 77 Special Tribal Ashraya Projects with 4440 families from districts.

During this period 43556 Women got registered under the MGNREGS. Efforts were also undertaken to train the women in different skills which could help them to start their own micro enterprises so that they needn’t depend on somebody else to provide them opportunities for a livelihood. The skill development programme is gaining a steady momentum in the districts as more and more women come forward to initiate micro enterprises on their own. By this process 435 Group Micro Enterprises and 131 Individual Micro Enterprises started along with 2035 Joint Liability Group (JLG) groups. Training programmes were also given to NHG functionaries in maintaining records and convene meetings regularly. Corpus fund was also distributed to newly formed NHGs to ensure the sustainability of activities associated with NHG formation. General trainings and awareness classes for women and teenaged children, based on specific subjects and medical camps were also a regular feature of activities undertook for tribes by the mission in Kerala.

Tribal special project facilitates the creation of ST NHGs as well as At ADSs, if necessary in areas where there are more than two Tribal NHGs. The project provides a corpus fund of Rs. 10,000 at all newly formed ST NHGs. Micro finance and Micro enterprise activities are given special; focus among the tribals as part of the project activities. Measures have also been taken to ensure cent percent tribal participation in the MNREGS actives. Formation of special Ashraya projects, provision of supplementary food for the malnourished aged, infants and adolescent girls, formation of ST Balasabhas etc are some of the highlights of the project.

Ooril Oru Dinam - Report

Ooril Oru Dinam Report - Thiruvananthapuram - Peringammala

Ooril Oru Dinam Report - Thiruvananthapuram - Vithura
Ooril Oru Dinam Report - Pathanamthitta
Ooril Oru Dinam Report - Thrissur

Ooril Oru Dinam Report - Kasaragod

Ooril Oru Dinam Report - Idukki

Related Downloads/Pages

Sustainable Development Special Project for Scheduled Tribes
Attappady Special Project

ST Animators / Co-ordinators Training - Report

Thiruvananthapuram
Idukki
Malappuram
Kasaragod

 

Basic Statistics of Tribal

Sl No District Tribal LSGIs Total Colonies Total Families Total Population Total NHGs Total Tribal Asraya
1 Thiruvananthapuram 31 260 6374 22072 293 4
2 Kollam 20 26 1045 3988 64 5
3 Pathanamthitta 14 32 1743 6347 53 3
4 Alappuzha 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Kottayam 67 115 4658 18969 143 7
6 Idukki 48 246 14457 49143 712 12
7 Ernakulam 2 20 1259 4692 71 16
8 Thrissur 13 77 1664 5574 79 1
9 Palakkad 33 282 5167 14733 121 9
10 Malappuram 30 241 4100 16300 139 1
11 Kozhikode 31 134 3095 10535 112 14
12 Wayanad 26 2904 38983 148520 2348 26
13 Kannur 32 330 8458 34744 410 0
14 Kasaragod 32 933 20218 70913 1070 9
  Total 379 5640 111221 406530 5615 107

 

 

MF Related Achievements of TRIBAL NHGs till 28-02-2017

Sl No District Thrift Internal Loan No.of Tribal NHGs Graded No.of Tribal NHGs Linked Linkage Loan Amount No of Tribal NHGs received Matching Grant Amount No.of Tribal NHGS Received Corpus Fund Rs.10,000
1 Thiruvananthapuram 17757146 45157208 130 84 21493401 92 246202 202
2 Kollam 2108975 2897374 7 14 6393600 4 15517 22
3 Pathanamthitta 3248673 4334263 32 26 8740160 10 47160 32
4 Alappuzha 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Kottayam 11377468 39473432 81 66 7356300 39 24520 71
6 Idukki 50008353 168237571 351 351 56571400 351 455946 642
7 Ernakulam 4547701 15086871 51 25 2685000 11 81854 62
8 Thrissur 2495625 7348211 32 9 3147000 8 8024 41
9 Palakkad 9209276 20140240 58 18 6466000 42 30027 57
10 Malappuram 5257243 7951581 136 136 6201000 50 9293 5
11 Kozhikode 4049156 4610714 55 55 3617400 35 8300 56
12 Wayanad 99236453 339108905 748 453 109984314 389 1312136 1454
13 Kannur 41815618 164137599 229 131 29986100 100 513226 367
14 Kasaragod 90116189 351583321 537 453 56377600 570 1312578 392
  Total 341227876 1170067290 2447 1821 319019275 1701 4064783 3403

 

Social Development Sector

Sl No District No. of Tribal Balasabha No. of Members in Tribal Balasabha No. of Tribal Adolescents Clubs Formed No. of Tribal Cultural Group Formed No. of Tribal CraftsMan Identified No. of Tribal Youths Identified Special Talents
1 Thiruvananthapuram 70 1054 1 8 92 80
2 Kollam 6 78 2 3 0 0
3 Pathanamthitta 6 60 1 0 0 0
4 Alappuzha 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Kottayam 21 236 0 0 0 0
6 Idukki 72 355 13 10 5 17
7 Ernakulam 2 37 0 0 1 6
8 Thrissur 12 168 4 1 8 8
9 Palakkad 20 174 14 1 0 0
10 Malappuram 18 290 7 1 0 2
11 Kozhikode 24 360 2 10 12 17
12 Wayanad 208 0 64 34 5 50
13 Kannur 90 1176 4 1 15 353
14 Kasaragod 219 3890 25 164 351 266
  Total 768 7878 137 233 489 799

 

 

Agricultural Sector

Sl No District No. of Tribal JLGs No. of Tribal JLGs Received Corpus Fund No. of Tribal JLGs Participated In POLIVU Campaign First Phase No. of Tribal JLGs Participated In POLIVU Second Phase No. of Tribal Master Farmers Trained
1 Thiruvananthapuram 75 0 43 0 0
2 Kollam 16 0 12 12 0
3 Pathanamthitta 28 0 0 23 0
4 Alappuzha 0 0 0 0 0
5 Kottayam 36 0 36 36 0
6 Idukki 280 130 173 152 0
7 Ernakulam 27 0 30 10 2
8 Thrissur 11 1 7 7 0
9 Palakkad 13 0 1 0 0
10 Malappuram 24 4 9 12 2
11 Kozhikode 14 0 14 0 0
12 Wayanad 395 0 340 0 2
13 Kannur 230 0 0 0 1
14 Kasaragod 185 20 195 180 0
  Total 1334 155 860 432 7

 

 

TRIBES in DDU-GKY

Sl No District No. of Tribes Mobilized For DDUGKY Campaign No. of Tribal Candidates Attended DDU GKY Training No. of Tribal Candidates Got Placement No. of Tribal Candidates Completed 3 Months Placement
1 Thiruvananthapuram 11 54 10 9
2 Kollam 17 9 2 2
3 Pathanamthitta 23 23 4 2
4 Alappuzha 0 0 0 0
5 Kottayam 4 36 17 12
6 Idukki 9 500 8 65
7 Ernakulam 23 0 0 0
8 Thrissur 164 38 16 3
9 Palakkad 315 164 30 30
10 Malappuram 285 7 2 0
11 Kozhikode 3 8 3 2
12 Wayanad 800 368 178 102
13 Kannur 3 98 14 0
14 Kasaragod 472 138 68 35
  Total 2129 1443 352 262

 

 
100 days Paniya programme

100 days Programme, financed by the ST department, being implemented in 100 Paniya colonies of Wayanad, Kannur, Malappuram and Kozhikode. The project proposes to provide food through a community kitchen in each of the 100 colonies by engaging special NHGs. The food would be prepared in consultation with the need and demand of the tribal population in each district. The project proposes to incorporate certain key interventions, besides providing three meals a day, to address the issues that have pushed the Paniyars to their present vulnerable situation and has resulted in their exclusion and marginalization. Special NHGs, comprising tribal women were identified to cook food, three times in a day, for the beneficiary includes in tribes. The beneficiaries includes under the category of pregnant women, children, lactating mothers, elderly and the bed ridden.

The project also implemented Non- Formal Learning Homes (NLH), This was envisaged to address the issues in a holistic manner than mere distribution of food for 100 days, which was seemed to be quite unsustainable. As a part of the NLH, houses/ community spaces/ halls under the panchayats were taken as NLH. Paniyar women completed matriculation and unmarried was selected in every colonies if them not selected the Paniya young men were selected and participated in three days training programme as the caretakers and non- formal teachers of the proposed NLH.

All the 100 tribal hamlets conduct a cleaning campaign by the initiative of Asha workers, community and the NLH teachers. Panchayats and CDS took active participation in this campaign. NLH teachers took initiative to identify the drop outs and toddlers who are not going to Anganwadis and both of them were joined attend the NLH. The medium of communication at NLH is Malayalam, so that the children, when they go to regular schools, would not find Malayalam that alien. Besides, the atmosphere in NLH is also conceived in such a manner that it introduces the toddlers (3-5years) to the formal schooling environment. This would facilitate the toddlers to get acquainted with the schooling environment in a friendlier and conducive manner rather than a hostile one, the tribal non-formal teacher also uses books, which were availed from Bala Sahithya Institute to introduce to the children to the world of stories.

The above programme completed in the entire four districts.

 

Micro Level Planning (MLP)

Micro Level Planning (MLP) is an inclusive participatory planning process drawing on the principles of grassroots democracy and democratic decentralization and aims to facilitate regional and culture specific sustainable development. MLP facilitates the process of transformation of contemporary socio-economic, political and cultural structures and processes, foregrounding equity, social justice and empowerment of the tribes.

By actively involving people in the participatory planning process, MLP makes them aware of the various facets of the development problems in their region. It organizes them to react collectively and effectively to these problems and brings to light the conflicts that divide the various interest groups. In the process, people become politically aware and realize that they themselves hold the key to solve their own problems.

MLP is a common platform to bring together different stakeholders – tribes, elected representatives of LSGIs, bureaucrats, panchayat functionaries, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders- with multiple interests for initiating the change processes for better development. Through training and Conscientising programmes, the exercise aims to build capacities of tribes to make their own hamlet- level plans, drawing on the experience and wisdom of their own lives, with facilitation from the formal and technical knowledge of bureaucrats/technocrats. This would further enable promotion of convergence and integration into CDS Annual Plan document, which could be integrated into the Tribal Sub-Plan.

 

 

Attappady Comprehensive Tribal Development and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group Development Project

Exclusive Adivasi Women’s Collectives for Regenerating Agriculture for Food Security, Economic Sustainability and Self-Reliance

 

Download Annual Action Plan 2017-2018

Attappady is an east sloping sub-plateau in Kerala nestling below the southwestern corner of the Nilgiri segment of the Western Ghats. The Coimbatore plains are along its eastern flank and the Mannarkad-Palakkad plains are to its south and west. Administratively Attappady is part of the Palakkad District, Mannarkad Taluk in Kerala. It is subdivided into 6 revenue villages namely, Padavayal, Pudur, Kottathara, Agali, Sholayur and Kallamala. It has three Panchayats namely Pudur, Agali and Sholayur, all falling within the Attappady Community Development Block.

Attappady has a long inter-State border. To its north is the Nilgiri District, Udagamandalam Taluk and to its east is the Coimbatore District, Mettupalayam, Coimbatore North and South taluks.

The NilamburTaluk of Malappuram District is along the northwest corner of Attappady beyond the Silent Valley National Park. Mannarkad town, the Taluk headquarters is 37 km west of Agali and Coimbatore city is 45 km to the east.

The geographical unit Attappady extends over approximately 750 sq.km. It is a part of the Western Ghats falling within Kerala. It is located exclusively within the catchment area of the Bhavani River and her tributaries, Siruvani and Kodungarapallam. A significantly long extent of the Western Ghat main watershed line passes through Attappady. The watershed line passing through Attappady is specifically very important from the point of view of Cauvery Basin with inter-State implications. It is equally importantfor the Bharathapuzha Basin which is a water deficit area in Kerala.

At the time of the formation of Kerala State, Attappady was a healthy rich land. This was hardly three generations’ life time ago. Many people with clear memories and experiences of those days are still alive in Attappady. Then ninety percent of the population was Adivasis; 10,200 people in 1951. Forest covered more than 75 percent of the land providing environmental security. Agriculture of extraordinary crop diversity, productivity and sustainability provided food security. The less than 80 Adivasi settlements scattered across the land provided social as well as cultural security. Monetary requirements were minimal and resource flow outward almost non-existent. There was no government. But this whole scenario underwent a radical change within the next half a century.

Waves of immigration first from the eastern Tamil Nadu and later from the western Kerala side resulted in the Adivasi population becoming a minority (around 35 per cent). Their self- sufficient subsistence economy, life support natural systems as well as ecologically harmonious lifestyle were destroyed in a very short time. They lost their collectively owned land and became dispossessed and disempowered. Their cultural as well as unique agricultural foundations were totally destroyed and devalued. A number of development programs from malaria eradication programs (spraying DDT) to the Kunda Soil Conservation Plan to the Integrated Tribal Development Plans and later the Japanese aided eco restoration program in the name of Attappady Hills Area Development Society (AHADS) were brought in to the area. In short, within a limited period an enormous amount of public funds were invested in Attappady for a population of less than one lakh of which hardly 35 percent constituted the tribal community. Every conceivable government programme was tried out in Attappady. In spite of it all Attappady came to represent sloth, tardy implementation of schemes, widespread corruption along with increasing marginalization of the tribal community, exclusion of tribal people from decision-making, extensive land alienation and social disintegration.

Demographic Profile of Adivasis in Attappady

Name of the tribe Number of Families Men Women Total
Irula 7616 13160 13361 26521
Muduga 1274 2225 2443 4668
Kurumba 543 1128 1123 2251

People’s Plan Programmes, Gram Sabhas, OoruKootams, Ayalkootams, VanaSamrakshanaSamithies (VSS) and a plethora of social institutions under AHADS were all built up for inclusive participatory, just and sustainable development. Yet Attappady still retains its prime position in the media for environmental destruction, poverty, tribal right violations of every conceivable kind and so on. In addition to poverty, starvation and every sort of exploitation, malnutrition of pregnant women, infant mortality, especially death of newborn babies plague this once rich land. Perhaps the single-most important contributory factor to the child malnutritiondeaths, and the cause for the overwhelming poverty of the Adivasis, which fails to beaddressed to date, is the alienation and loss of most of their fertile agriculturally suitable land,total destruction of their indigenous mixed cropping system, change in diet and lifestyle, and loss of hope.

Though liquor has been banned in Attappady, men consume large amounts of spurious and lethal brew from the bar connected with TASMAC (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation is a company owned by the Government of Tamil Nadu, which has a monopoly over wholesale and retail vending of alcoholic beverages in the State of Tamil Nadu), from the liquor shops in Mannarkad and also illicit brew being distilled rampantly in the hamlets. There are several women who are single, either deserted or widowed and have to fend for themselves. Women are the worst affected by the male consumption of alcoholism. The men die very early in life due to alcoholism and women have to look after families on their own. Women are the main providers for the family through the income earned by NREGP. The other main source of income for wo men is work in the Tribal Co-operative Farming Societies. The Neighbourhood Groups (NHGs) by the Kudumbashree program hardly existed in the tribal areas.

It is in this context that the Attappady Comprehensive Tribal Development and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group Development Project was envisioned. This pilot project of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Ministry Of Rural Development was initiated in Attappady in 2013.

Vision

The project aims to uplift the social and economic status of Irula, Mu duga and Kurumba tribal communities of Attappady. Sustainable livelihoods like agriculture and allied activities need to be developed where the community can be self-reliant and self sufficient in food. Women’s institutions would be built up for total financial inclusion leading towards poverty alleviation and social development. Awareness generation would be enhanced on all issues for the communities to be able to access all entitlements and schemes. The institutions would enable women to access credit, engage in sustainable livelihoods, build up entrepreneurship, marketing and negotiation capacities and capacity to assert their agency in all realms from the domestic front to the various forums like the area of work, Panchayat and various departments. The social, economic and political status is to be enhanced and they should be able to assert their cultural identity as Adivasis.

The project area would ultimately be an immersion site for the community resource persons in the most vulnerable tribal communities of India. Similarly, the Community Resource Persons (CRPs) in this area can engage in the mobilization and institution building processes in other parts of the country. Modules and protocols would be developed for building the capacities of the community resource person’s and professionals for this upscaling process. The needs of the other vulnerable areas would be understood before the mobilization processes are undertaken.

Aims and expected achievements of the project are:
  • Building up of powerful and effective exclusive institutions of women from the tribal communities who should develop negotiation power, ability to critically analyze their own situation and collectively work towards social transformation
  • Institution at the Ooru (hamlet) level and Panchayath level for tribal women to enable them to access all entitlements and schemes of each department and engage in the proactive process of preparation of tribal sub-plan.
  • Institutions to ensure availability of nutritious food, access to health care, edu cation, etc.
  • Institutions should have the ability to prevent social issues like child marriage, domestic violence , trafficking and other forms of violence which affect the status of women
  • Skill training to youth to save them from unemployment, despondency and alcoholism.
  • Livelihoods in agriculture and micro-enterprises that would lead to economic development
  • Funds disbursed to the community
  • Attappady will ultimately developed as the immersion site for the community resource persons and professionals working in the extremely vulnerable tribal areas of the country.
     

 

 

Formation of Local Groups and Institutions for Achieving the Above Mentioned Goals of the Project

Exclusive Social Institutions for Tribal Women

Kudumbashree model of poverty alleviation was chosen as the method of building social institutions. Though this programme had reached the Attappady and despite reservation of SC/ST communities in CSD and ADS, it has been naturally under the leadership of settler community. The NHGs were in a very dismal state and the groups had to be renewed. The Adivasis naturally felt distanced from Kudumbashree for a variety of reasons. So it was decided to have exclusive institutions for the tribal communities. Social mobilization, institutional building and capacity building in order to enable the community to access their rights and entitlements were the basic foundation of the project.

Community Kitchen and Nutritional enhancement

Along with the process of building women’s collectives in the hamlets, it was decided to initiate Community Kitchens wherever the need was felt. Series of meetings were held with women from all communities at various levels to incorporate their perceptions about the necessity, feasibility and acceptability of such a program. The modality and logistics of running a food providing program were discussed in detail after getting their concurrence on the concept. Most women were of the opinion that the community kitchens should be managed by the tribal women’s Neighbourhood Groups (NHGs) and women would serve food in the evening. The menu was decided as white boiled rice, ragi powder, a variety of pulses like cherupayar (green gram), muthira (horse gram) and kadala (chick pea). Women were delighted about the whole idea as it was a revival of the earlier practice of “Ooraduppu” (Hamlet Hearth) sharing food and having meals together. It was decided that children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers and senior citizens would benefit from community kitchen. At present, there are 192 Community Kitchens with a population of 9287 consuming the food. A special community kitchen is being managed in Tribal hospital at Kottathara for pregnant women who are anemic.

According to the Health Department’s report the weight of newborn babies have increased from one and a half kilograms to two and two and a half kilograms after an year of providing regular meals to pregnant women. Community Kitchens are being extended to provide breakfast with a variety in food items such asidli, rice gruel, green gram, beaten rice flakes (avil), and broken wheat upma. The Community Kitchens are funded cyclically by the Department of Social Justice, Social Security Mission, Kudumbashree and the Tribal Department.

Community Kitchens to Nutritional Education Centres

Nutritional Education Centres are being initiated in select hamlets to spread awareness regarding the basic essentials of food, nutritious food and health. The idea is to restore their indigenous collective knowledge and the rich diet of seasonally grown and most suitable diet and food habits they had till very recently. A cadre of health and nutrition workers is being trained to help the community make correct choices regarding crops they grow and the wild edible leaves and tubers they collect, the food they cook in their traditional ways, health care and land care. This is being done in the hamlets with the full participation of elder women. Nutrition re-education classes and specifically designed cooking lessons are also being planned. The women are guided by the principle of Food Security – Safe Food without lethal chemicals – Nutritional Security– Health Care – Self Care – Earth Care. This means connecting the micro to the macro, meaning the individual health/food/nutrition to the society as a whole and reconnecting the whole process to the health of the soil, land, water sources and ecosystems.

Poshakaharamela (Nutritional Food Festival)

As part of spreading awareness and instilling pride in their rich agriculture and unique and diverse food items, a festival was organized where 40 hamlet level women’s groups (Oorusamithies) cooked a variety of traditional cuisine and displayed their items.

They explained the nutritional and medicinal content and qualities and customary importance of the diverse food items they exhibited. A wide variety of food items made from millets (ragi or finger millet, chaama or little millet, aricholam or sorghum), grains from bamboo seeds, many kinds of legumes and pulses like avara (lablab bean), thomara (pigenon pea), vanpayar (red cow pea gram), tubers, wild edible leaves, leaves of kantharimulaku (bird’s eye chillies), manathakkali (sunberry), chundakkai (Turkey Berry) wild tomatoes (cherry tomato), cooked in variety of ways, chutneys, ada, vada, puttu, kali, kozhukkatta etc.

This was followed by a panel discussion on nutrition, health and nutritional content of the pulses, millets, vegetables, tubers. The workshop had animators, oorusamithi leaders and traditional healers as participants. This is an endeavor to transform the community kitchens into educational nutrition centres. The workshop had presentation from the traditional healers about the value of the leaves, roots, tubers, bark, etc. Some presentations were in the form of poetry. Nutritional experts also made presentations. The education will be imparted and discussions generated in the hamlets with the help of audio visual material and in a phased manner.

 

 

 

Empowering From Below – Enriching the Grassroots

The First Step - Formation of Neighbourhood Groups

Sustainable socio-cultural and agricultural development cannot succeed without the full participation and collective action of the community as a whole. In order to develop the community kitchen into a real space and forum for community empowerment, social mobilization and information dissemination, newspapers were distributed in the hamlets. Mathrubhumi and Manorama, the two leading newspapers as well as ThozhilVartha and ThozhilVeedhi, two magazines that provide information on employment opportunities are being distributed in adjacent hamlets. It was also an instrument for institution building.

The very first meeting for discussing community kitchen was attended by 300 women.Community kitchens became a real empowering activity for the women because they are fully managed by women who purchase all the groceries from theMaveli store on their own, manage the store, do stock-keeping, write stock-book, fill in vouchers and formats and submit to the Project Management Unit’s office. The funds are electronically transferred to the NHG’s account. Community kitchen and constant discussions at the community kitchen paved the way for total

Social mobilization of the community into Neighbourhood Groups (NHGs). The focus was on the need for institutions to achieve social equity. All the 192 hamlets were accessed and all women irrespective of their status and ability were included. Neighbourhood groups were formed of women in close proximity within the hamlets and women formed NHGs comprising of 10 to 15 women. Small NHGs comprising of 5 to 10 women were formed among primitive tribal communities, elderly, infirm and mentally ill women. Today, there are 5 50NHGs of women comprising of 10 to 15 women. The NHGs adhere to the non-negotiable principles such as regular meetings, free and honest discussions on the various problems in the hamlets, especially those related to women and children, regular savings, books of accounts, internal lending and repayment. All the NHGs are registered with the Project Management Unit (PMU) and have bank accounts. A government order was issued elucidating the role, responsibility and functions of the various institutions.

Number of NHGs 550
Savings 8506387
Internal lending 3805773
Number of members 8637
Repayment 150867

The success of the institution building among Adivasi women is all the more remarkable because it broke most of the entrenched prejudices and myths about tribal women as “ignorant, incapable of saving money, keeping accounts...”. The latest data shows that there are NGHs having 10-15 members, with savings of Rs. 85, 06387, internal lending to the tune of Rs. 38,05773 and repayment to the tune of Rs. 15,0867. All of them manage their books of accounts brilliantly.Majority of the groups have savings in between Rs. 10,000 to 20,000 followed by savings below Rs. 5000.Majority have taken loan below 5000 followed by those in between 10000 to 20000 and by those in between 5000 to 10000.Majority of the groups have in between 15 to 20 members and others have 10 to 15 members.

Second Step – From NHGs to Oorusabhas and Panchayat Samithies

Following the formation of NHGs, they were consolidated at the ooru or hamlet level to form the “Oorusamithi” (Hamlet Level Group) and the Oorusamithies were consolidated to form the PanchayatSamithies (Panchayat Level Group). The Oorusamithi formation takes place after all the women in a hamlet have joined NHGs.

An Oorusamithi comprises of 5 to 10 NHGs. If a hamlet has a small population and only 2 to 3 NHGs, then two adjacent hamlets come together to form the Oorusamithi. The Oorusamithi is formed through a workshop in which all members are present. The session begins with an Joyous Dancing during the Get together of NHGs and Oorusamithy Members introduction about the significance of institutions and the process of formation of oorusamithi. Group participatory exercises and presentation about the relevance of the institutions, the perceived goals of oorusamithi and panchayath samithi would be discussed. Resource mapping and livelihoods like agriculture, cattle-rearing and non-timber forest produce would be drawn and presented. At the end of the discussions, the members would select the Executive Committee from the Presidents and Secretaries and a nominated member of each NHG.

At present 106 Oorusamithies have been formed out of which 40 are in Agali, 36 in Pudur and30 in Sholayur. They are being registeredand have bank accounts. Start-up costs and Vulnerability Reduction Funds have been disbursed. Panchayath Samithies were formed in all the three panchayaths, Agali, Pudur and Sholayur within a span of one year where all Oorusamithi executive members participated. It was a mass mobilization of around 500 to 600 women. The relevance of the institutions was discussed followed

Pudur Panchayat Samithy Election by group discussions and presentations and finally election of the Executive Committees of the Panchayath Samithies from the Secretaries and Presidents of the Oorusamithies. The Panchayath Samithies have opened accounts.

The Block Samithi is the consolidation of Panchayath Samithi at the Block level. The Executive Committee of the Block Samithi is selected from the Executive Committees of the Panchayath samithies.

Funds to the community

Corpus fund of Rs 10000 has been given to the 507 groups. Start-up- Costs of Rs 63 lakhs has been given to 63 Oorusamithies and 63 lakhs Vulnerability Reduction Fund to 63 Oorusamithies. This is based on the micro-plan and vulnerability index developed by the Oorusamithies. The Oorusamithies disburse the funds to the NHGs which are most vulnerable. VRF in Attappady is considered as a revolving fund and repaid to the Oorusamithi by the NHGs. Community Investment Fund of Rs. 75,60,000 has been given to the 3 Panchayath samithies. The fund has been transferred to the NHGs and will be returned to the Panchayath samithi. An amount of Rs 60,000 is being given to the NHGs and they are using it for the purpose of livelihood by developing business plan looking into available resources, skills and marketing facilities.

It is seen that corpus funds are being used for health and education needs. VRF is used similarly for health and education needs and livelihood needs like purchase of goats, cow and agriculture and the amount is being repaid to the Oorusamithi. The disbursement is based on micro-plan and vulnerability indicators developed by the Oorusamithies.

 

 

Community Cadres – the Backbone of the Process

The most important strategy and strength with respect to the entire project has been the selection of Animators from the tribal community and the capacity building programmes for the community cadres. The mobilization, institution building was successfully accomplished as the animators belonged to the community, spoke the same language and were well versed in the social and cultural background and needs of the community. The mobilization and institution building was accelerated as the animators understood the pulse of the community and the strategies to be adopted. Capacity building for the cadres has been a continuous process with constant reflection and review meetings where conceptual clarity about the project was achieved apart from the thematic training on agriculture, natural resource, education, health, gender, etc. There are around 120 Animators. Through the capacity building process, the Animators have been strengthened to access their rights and entitlements and strengthen the institutions to raise their voices and assert their agency and access their rights. They support the capacity building programme in the field. All the community cadres belong to the respective tribal communities and speak the Adivasi dialect. All the thematic trainings are held for the Animators first and they in turn conduct trainings in their respective areas and function as catalysts and social change agents.

Community Resources Persons, 62 in number were appointed for MKSP. The CRPs are women from the community, mostly illiterate but really knowledgeable in traditional methods of agriculture and are involved in full time farming. They are proving as models by engaging in agriculture.

Staff

The Project Management Unit has a Mission Manager as Chief Operating Officer of the project, an Assistant Project Officer in charge, 2 Vertical Co-coordinators, one for institution building and capacity building and one for social development, 3 Young Professionals, one Consultant for MKSP and one Financial Manager, 3 Panchayath level Co-ordinators and one Accountant.

Capacity Building

Capacity building programs have been facilitated for NHGs, Oorusamithis and Panchayat office-bearers and members. Trainings have been held to explain the non-negotiable principles and various activities like community kitchen and health interventions. Women were trained in topics related to Oorusamithiand Panchayat Samithi formation, roles and responsibilities of these social organizations, management of corpus funds to the communityand book-keeping. Women have been trained in social development and livelihood aspects. Trainings have been held with respect to natural resources and agriculture with focus on organic farming without lethal pesticides and chemical fertilizers and other agro-chemicals.

Exposure visit was undertaken to Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, Kovel Foundation and Jattu Trust in Vishakapatnam to understand the institutions of women from Animators and Co-ordinators.

the tribal communities, the agriculture and Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) operations they have undertaken. Visits were made to Oornatikiri, Malapuram, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. They learned about the functioning of joint liability groups, saw the exhibition of Kudumbashree products.

It was a revelation to the women to understand the potentials of marketing their invaluable produce. Kurumba women were aghast to see that products like ragi could be sold at such high prices. The confidence in organizational structure to be able to manage agriculture and marketing and undertake micro- enterprises was built up.

The number of trainings on various subjects which the Animators, CRPs, NHG, Oorusamithi and Panchayath Samithi members, farmers, mothers, adolescent groups received are numerous and comprehensive, holistic and educative. Some of the most important subjects dealt with in the training programmes are:-

  • Management of Funds, Book keeping, roles and responsibilities, the project rationale, main aims and objectives and also the method of implementation through exclusive Adivasi women’s collectives.
  • Building resource persons to deal with health covering aspects of child, adolescent, reproductive and mental health
  • Relevance of the Right to Education Act and the basic provisions of the Act from infrastructure facilities to quality of education
  • Role of the mothers in monitoring the schools and hostels and focusing on universalizing enrolment, retention, quality of education, etc.
  • Gender concepts, gender and poverty, vulnerability, gender and natural resources, access to and control over assets, resources, gender division of labour, socialization, stereotyping, patriarchy, violence against women, etc.
  • Training by traditional healers to form producer groups under MKSP and explain the concepts and work under MKSP.
  • Concepts of natural farming, importance of rejuvenating the indigenous multi cropping system, value of local cultivar diversity, seed saving, environmental and health impacts of using pesticides, chemical fertilizers, soil and water conservation and ecologically suitable land use and conservation of natural resources.
  • The issue of severe malnourishment and curative measures to be undertaken by mothers of severely malnourished babies. Stock keeping and maintenance of stock book for community kitchen
  • Masonry training for 60 days by Nirmithi Kendra
  • The concept of Farmers Field Schools in select suitable agro-climatic zones of Attappady.
  • Field work and discussions with the Animators, CRPs and Oorusamithi women.
  • Child rights, lifeskills and campaign for suicide prevention using various participatory exercises and one to one interactions - 53 programmes were held with 2877 adolescents.
  • Training for the CDS and ADS members and Bankers on the objectives and rationale for the comprehensive development of the tribal community and need for convergence.

 

 

 

For as long as people, especially the ecosystem people, have engaged in agriculture, farming has been possible and viable in the long run only as a collective process. Adivasis of Attappady have always worked together on land management, land preparation, seed selection and conservation, their unique multi-cropping system, labour sharing and all the rituals and functions connected with farming. The NHG women were eager to take up a kind of “collective farming” after many years since modern agriculture took their land by storm. However, most of them still retain their knowledge, seeds and desire for farming in the indigenous way.

The only difficulty was preparation of land which has been lying fallow for many years, which needed collective effort. A unique community ritual of land preparation before and after sowing seeds namely “Kambalam” was held in some of the hamlets as part of the beginning of the agricultural restoration work. There was major mobilization of the community in the festival.

Women and men, young and old participated with songs and dance with accompanying musical instruments and dramatic characterization including the appearance of a “komali” ( wise mendicant baffoon) , ritualistic performances, clearing the fields of weeds and stones, Women were given the choice of opting to be members of producer groups in agriculture or cattle - rearing or non-timber forest produce.

Diverse cultivars of local seeds of millets like ragi (finger millet), thina (foxtail millet), chaama (little millet), ground nutand a large variety of vegetable seeds were provided as inputs to women farmers under MKSP.

Farm in Paloor & Agricultural Produce Collected for Sale

Agricultural production was undertaken in all hamlets and the result has been most remarkable and encouraging. Large quantities of millets and vegetables produced thus are being regularly sold in the Thrissur Collectorate on Mondays on a weekly basis. Groundnuts have been shelled and the produce is being packed,sealed and sold in the name of ‘Malleeswara Products’. Ragi is similarly powdered and sold.

Farmers Field School

Farmers Field School is a novel concept of initiating agricultural group training activity where a long-term process of restoration and rejuvenation of agro-ecosystems and indigenous and sustainable agricultural foundations are taking place. All the ecologically and economically suitable organic/eco-friendly/natural/indigenous farming techniques from soil and water conservation and rejuvenation to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) that rely on ecologically suitable principles, and from breeding and improving indigenous cultivar seed varieties , land races and commercial varieties to saving crop wild relatives will be experimented, demonstrated, and suitable methods developed in these field schools. The expertise and local knowledge of the whole community will be brought together in these demonstration plots.

Initial discussions, training programs and field surveys to decide on the suitab le hamlets, interested farmers and farmlands in the several agro-climatic and ecologically distinct zones of Attappady have been held. FFS should optimally consist of 20-25 farmers (but not limited to as anyone interested can join and contribute); the expertise is field based, initially lasting a few cropping seasons to take into the vagaries of weather and climate, water availability, wildlife depredation and so on.

Meleparappanthara & Vellakulam selected as possible sites for setting up Farmers Field Schools

Farmers should be able to compare the diverse methodologies and the results and document the whole process so that the good results and lessons learned can be emulated elsewhere in Attappady.

NTFP Based Livelihoods

Yet another breakthrough has been achieved in the marketing of Non Timber Forest Produce by breaking the nexus of exploitative middlemen traders. The produce is sold by Care Keralam to various Ayurveda Pharmaceuticals and NTFP collection especially that of medicinal plants has begun and the nexus of traders has been broken and now the Panchayath Samithi has begun collection and the produce is being sold to Care Kerala, a Government of India enterprise for sale to several pharmaceuticals. The payment is transferred electronically to the Panchayath Samithi and Oorusamithi. There are efforts to form micro-enterprises of value added tribal medicines and oils and various other products like coffee and pepper. A special Government Order was issued by the Chief Conservator of the Forest Department lucidly explaining thesole power and authority of the Oorukkoottam (Gathering of the people of the hamlets, all officials concerned and other stake-holders) under the Forest Rights Act permitting them the choice of their agency to collect and market forest produce.

Producer Fund has been disbursed under MKSP and the amount has been used for agriculture, cattle and goat rearing, etc. Marketing linkages have been established and the agriculture produce using organic methods is being sold at improved prices. The endeavor is to break the nexus of traders in Attappady Black, the reputed genre of goat and capacitate the institutions to directly engage in marketing.

 

 

While arguably not part of the development of agricultural and nutriti onal security, unless social security is assured, all the efforts at empowering women can go to waste. Addressing the severe personal, domestic, adolescent and social problems plaguing the Adivasi communities in Attappady became imperative in the main process of the work. Trainings and interventions have been made with respect to adolescent suicides, child marriages, domestic violence, alcohol distilling and sale. These interventions were made with the support of Animators and Ooru samithies. Adolescent suicides were a major area of concern. Adolescent programmes were held with the support of Social justice Department. Several programmes and workshops were held for adolescents to explain their rights and then later one to one interactions were held with a number of children and young adults.

Gender training has been facilitated for Animators where the major discussions focused on social construction of gender, natural resources and gender, poverty and gender and agriculture and gender, women and division of labour. As a follow –up on the discussions about gender, several interventions were made in the areas of domestic violence and alcoholism, dropping out of children from schools, child sexual abuse, trafficking, child marriages, alcoholism, etc.

The major social action intervention has been the strike against alcoholism organized by the Thaikulasangha (Mother’s Traditional Organization), resource agency for gender. The strike is being conducted against the TASMAC Beverages and bar in Aniakatty selling spurious and toxic brew which has led to the death of several men. This agitation has succeeded in closing the outlet giving a moral boost to the Adivasi women. A Legal Aid Centre has also been established to provide legal aid to various women subjected to domestic violence.

Improvement of Health and Nutrition

Health issues naturally received the foremost importance as the Project was formulated mainly to address and find solutions to the infant mortality and women’s health problems . A computerized system called Jatak was developed to continuously monitor the weight and height of the children which was measured by JPHN and read out in the mobile by NRHM. But several children weight was not being recorded. There was great resistance for the tribal families to seek access to health care. Massive mobilization of children was undertaken from all hamlets to PHC’s and the nutritional rehabilitation centres. Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRC) had been established by NRHM with the technical support of UNICEF. Intera ctions were undertaken in each hamlet with mothers about the importance of weighing SAM(Severe Acute Malnutritioned) and MAM (Moderate Acute Malnutritioned) children and the need for special attention for such children. A special food which was mix of ragi, rice, black gram prepared by NRC was supplied to children. It was monitored by animators with a team of anganwadi workers and JPHNs. Pregnant women who had never visited hospitals were taken to hospitals for screening. A special drive was conducted and Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY – a government run health insurance scheme) cards were distributed to all families. The Project Management Unit (PMU) functionaries are trainers for the CSAM (Centre for Sustainable Agriculture Mechanization) programme and are responsible for training the Para Professionals. The production of Energy Dense Special Food will be produced by Sholayur Panchayat Samithi and the proposal has been submitted to Social Justice Department. The unit will not only cater to 34 SAM children in Attapady but cater to children outside the State if needed.

Mental illness is increasing alarmingly in Attapady, probably due to the stress and strains of coping with poverty and domestic violence, and suicidal tendencies are common among the young and middle aged alike. Several women have been taken to Thrissur medical college for treatment with the help of Animators who accompany them.

Camp for Young Adults Educational Interventions

Education was taken as a major area of intervention by the project. Thousand children were interviewed on their educational status and needs. It was found that most of the children studied in the hostels of residential schools both in Attappady and in far off places in other parts of the state. The number of dropout children was very high mainly due to all sorts discrimination and abuse and delay in receiving stipends and so on. The condition of hostels, both government run Model Residential Schools (MRS) and private residential schools was abysmal. They were overcrowded with no basic facilities like bathrooms, toilets, study rooms, etc.

This study was presented before the Agei(Mothers’) Education Committee and the women presented their opinions about the study. The Agei Committee comprises of women looking after education in the Executive Committees of the Oorusamithies. They were trained in the basic tenets of Right to Education and how the mothers committee can function like the school management committee to look into the infrastructure in the school, student teacher ratio, absenteeism of students, lack of toilets and purified drinking water, lack of teachers, lack of inclusiveness leading to dropping out of children, lack of quality in education.

Bridge School Stayin Camp for youngsters prior to the opening of the Bridge School Three bridge schools were opened to integrate dropout children into mainstream education.

At present 63 children are studying in the bridge schools and residential facilities are provided for children to study. The teachers have completed TTC and belong to the tribal community and hence curriculum is transacted in the tribal language. The classes began in the camp mode to attract children towards learning and educational experts from various disciplines taught the children. At present they are being registered to appear for the Equivalency Exams conducted by the Literacy Mission of primary, upper primary, the 10 th and 11th standards.

Special coaching for 10th Standard Students

Special coaching was initiated for the 10th standard students of Pudhur, Agali and Sholayur schools to assist them in facing the exams. The classes were provided on Saturday and Sunday by CIGI, an educational institution which works with educational attainment for the most deprived children. Residential classes were held in study holidays andChristmas vacation for 10th standard students.

Block Resource Centre and Youth Resource Centre

Yet another social enrichment and empowering initiative started is among the Adivasi youth who are not only unemployed but also despondent. Several Resource Centres to handhold them to develop personally and find meaningful livelihoods and self confidence are being developed. Youngsters who have shown leadership qualities are employed to take up this challenging work. The Block Resource Centre comprising of a Child Resource Centre, Youth Resource Centre, Gender Resource Centre and Legal Aid Centre has started functioning. Students of the Bridge School have been trained in taking up socially relevant campaigns and getting involved in the agricultural and cultural rejuvenation work in Attappady. For example a play has been developed portraying the issue of child marriage and suicide and this is being performed in all hamlets, schools and hostels.

The play “NamathuJeddu” (Our Voice) being played in the Agali Residential School

Youth Clubs are being initiated in the hamlets. One surprising offshoot of this process is the formation of Kurumba Youth Resource Centre which has decided to focus on livelihood issues and development. Public Service Commission coaching is being held for 35 young men and women with the support of the Brilliance Centre in collaboration with the Forest Department.

Skill Development

In order to solve the acute problem of unemployment among the youth in At tappady Skill Development trainings were undertaken with support of Nettore Technical Training Foundation. The major trainings were on CNC Lathe, fitting and turner in Dharwar, Bangalore and Thalassery. 90 youngsters have undergone training but the youth are finding it difficult to take up placements in cosmopolitan cities like Bangalore.

Co-operation and Convergence with Other Departments

The success and social acceptance of the Comprehensive Tribal Development Project of the NRLMS can be gauged by the generous financial and other support it has received from many government departments. In fact the sincere and capable Community Cadres built up through trainings and first hand field experiences have already become indispensible in the overall development processes in operation in Attappady. Smart Surveys and Community Based Management of Severely and Acute Malnourished children are being implemented in convergence with the UNICEF, National Health Mission and ICDS. For agriculture, the funds to purchase seeds were provided by Tribal Department. Community Kitchen is being supported by Social justice Department, Social Security Mission and Integrated Tribal Development Project. Arts and crafts workshop was held with children with the support of Lalita Kala Acade mi. Adolescent programmes to build awareness to prevent suicide were conducted with the support of the Social Justice Department. The proposal submitted to Sanitation Mission to construct community toilets has been approved and the plan is being prepared for implementation. Similarly, the project for implementation of water scheme under Jalanidhi is also being undertaken.

MIS and Social Audit

MIS is being submitted by the Oorusamithi. As the Adivasi women in some of the Oorusamithis do not have the confidence to collate data and audit their accounts, an auditing team was developed to audit and present all data using the Management Information System for the past two years. At present the off-line data entry has been made in excel. Some of the Animators trained in the methodology of Social Audit are helping in this transparent process of ensuring accountability.

 

 

 

The Attappady Comprehensive Tribal Development Project will complete three years of functioning by June, 2016. Although there were many delays, hitches and teething troubles in the first year, this unique project has obviously taken root in Attappady mainly because its growth and functioning is organic, non-intrusive and exclusively centred on Adivasi women. Sustainable agriculture and emancipation of dispossessed and disempowered indigenous communities can succeed only with the full participation and collective action of the whole community. This is exactly what was ensured in the whole process of implementing this project. One of the most important non-negotiable principles adhered to at every step is taking the women of all the hamlets into confidence, respecting their opinion, perceptions and knowledge base and slowly gaining their trust and affection.

It is elementary logic that restoration of individual body health,the collective restoration of community culture,land husbandry focusing on agriculture andthe regeneration of the health of the land for sustainability of the community all have to be centred on women. For the tribal society in Attappady what is envisaged and initiated through this program is the recreation of a woman-centredorganic, ecologically suitable, socially just and economically sustainable regenerative lifestyle.

The strengths of the project are:- Catalystic and powerful women leadership which has been built up through the Animators, CRPs and Oorusamithy members capable of accessing/demanding their rights and entitlements. The awareness that has been created that tackling the root cause of the ill health of the mothers and the new born babies for all time can only happen along with treating the ill health of the land, reviving their own indigenous multi-cropping system and their rich food habits and diet consisting of diverse millets, cereals, pulses, vegetables, wild edible plants, fish and small animal meat. The enthusiasm that has been created in at least most of the hamlets about nursing the land as a collective community activity. Collectives of women and youth to rebuild community identity in Attappady by getting back to the land and rejuvenating the wise and sustainable old ways of living, farming, maintaining justice and harmony. Assisting the educated unemployed and the so-called school and college dropoutto find meaningful livelihoods and cultural roots and individual and collective roles in the restoration process initiated.

Challenges and Way Ahead

Dealing with Inequity and Exploitation, getting back lost land (which is often a lost cause), social evils like alcoholism, domestic violence, dowry, aspiration for high lifestyle and consumerism, all of which have eroded the egalitarian structure and gender balance of Adivasi communities. Tackling these internal issues will be time -consuming and herculean. Evolving roles as Change Makers, Barefoot Health Workers, Educators, Trainers, Land Restorers, Farmers, Seed Savers, Counselors, Mentors and Social Activists, along with all the traditional roles as wives, mothers, daughters etc must be the most inspiring and deeply enriching experience women involved in this program undergo now. Recreating a Sense of Community in the minds of the Adivasis to encourage them to be part of this process must be the biggest challenge the facilitators face. Co-operation and empowerment have proved to be possible in the most unlikely social settings, and farming and addressing basic survival issues are being done by a committed network of women’s collectives. But sustaining the enthusiasm and hope can happen only by social cohesion and solidarity, the sharing of stresses and setbacks, new ideas and intellectual stimuli and more than anything by a sense of identity, pride and self -confidence. In short a shared soul-force.

The rapid assessment report presented above outlines only some of the attempts and initiates for transformation and restoration in a deforested, degraded, neglected and to an extent polluted land. Time is short, and the challenges are enormous. But by all means, this project gives the Adivasis for the very first time opportunities for emancipating themselves from despondency and disempowerment. There is already promising evidence that it can work, and many are perceivingthe promise in the land and in the community. The state of Attappady and its communities are definitely at stake. Sustainable agriculture and food systems can right many wrongs, but salvation will not come from these sources alone. Ultimately, if there is to be systemic change centred on both individual transformations in thought and collective changes in action, then it is also a question of politics and power, policies and mainstream development models. Without such a change, advances seen to date will stay small scale, parochial and even temporary. Hence, this process started in Attappady will have to take a new direction towards multi-purpose and sustainable land use and agriculture, tied closely to cultures and communities, and should become increasingly mainstream. If we can get it right, we can hope to have mutually supportive, productive and inter-connected systems for ecological, social, health, food and economic security.

These are times of transition for the whole world. The old orders are dissolving. The world is hungry for a vision, a new Planetary Mythology. It is definitely slowly but surely emerging from women carrying the energy of the dynamic transformative Feminine all over the world. When we restore and reclaim the truly feminine, and honour women, we heal the fragmented and unbalanced world. When we heal the wounds we humans have inflicted on Earth, we are healing human psyche and health also. The world needs the passion, wisdom and sparks of insights that one can find in the women of Attappady, which will transform our future for the better.

 

 

Monthly Report - Attappady
Monthly Report - July -2017
Monthly Report - June -2017
Monthly Report - April -2017
Monthly Report - March -2017
Monthly Report - February -2017
Monthly Report - January -2017
Monthly Report - December -2016
Monthly Report - November -2016
Monthly Report - October -2016
Monthly Report - September -2016
Monthly Report - August -2016
Monthly Report - July -2016
Monthly Report - June -2016

Attappady Community Kitchen Preliminary Stage - Details (Implemented by Kudumbashree)

Agali
Sholayur
Puthur

Related Downloads / Pages

Attappady - Annapradayini Fund Details
Annapradayini- Community Kitchen Year-wise Report
Kudumbashree Labour Bank