Page 59 - Kerala calling OCTOBER 2020

momentum was important. distress with giving them counselling is its net worth? What is the
We have 3 lakh neighbourhood and short - stay facility. Being the percentage of repayment
clusters, 43 lakh members, over National Resource Organization, on the loans?
1000 CDS chairpersons, 20,000 Kudumbashree mentors go to other For us, women empowerment
ADS chairpersons and 3 lakh states to train the people there. includes economic empowerment.
Neighbourhood presidents. As part of evolving into an Our Neighbourhood’s savings in

Kudumbashree got the opportunity organization which can deal with bank amount to Rs.4,000 crore.
We have Rs.12,000 crore worth
to be part of the operations of Kochi future challenges, we are converging internal lending. Live bank linkage is
Metro, probably the only metro being with 30 Government departments. Rs.5,000 crore. Rs.2000 crore loan
run by women in the world. Our During the Covid pandemic, sanctioned during Covid time at 4
steps in waste management, efforts to the role played by per cent interest or for no interest has
rehabilitate destitute families, finding Kudumbashree has widely economically empowered the women
jobs in Buds Schools, Agri and been appreciated. Could to a certain extent. The repayment
Animal husbandry sectors were all you explain the activities on bank loans is 98 per cent.
challenging tasks. you have undertaken these
days? Adding to one’ s dignity
Now we are training women in is integral to the real
20 states. We went to Azerbaijan, When there was a scarcity for masks, empowerment. How do
70 lakhs cloth masks were arranged
Tajikistan & Uganda to train women. through 350 tailoring units. Out you plan to empower
Some African countries have sent educated women?
their people to get trained here. We of the 1300 community Kitchens While finding local jobs through
opened during the lockdown we
are the Nodal agency for 7 Central were managing 1100 of them. self –employment, many of the
-Government projects. We are also youngsters are for wage -jobs. For
into Geriatric care. Our members Under the Government’s 100 them, we plan 150 job-oriented
constitute the Haritha karma sena. days programme, Kudumbashree courses under Centre’s DDU –GKY.
Management of railway parking, is finding job for 15,000 people. In Already we have funds for skilling
KSRTC ticket booking - our foot association with the KSFE, we plan 30,000 or more people. Already 1
prints can be seen in several sectors. to bring laptops at Rs.15, 000 to each lakh members have enrolled for these
Kudumbashree is contributing to family. courses.
the hopes of thousands. It makes us Under the Chief Minister’s
happy. “Sahayahastham” scheme 25 lakh Political empowerment happened
among Kudumbashree members
Kudumbashree has women have availed the loan of Rs.8 these years is remarkable. 7000 of the
been part of the poverty ,000 each. Under the Rebuild Kerala 20,000 elected local body members
alleviation programmes for initiative also we could avail Rs.250 are from Kudumbasree. 330 Local
over two decades. How do crore for rehabilitation. During the body chairpersons out of 1000 are
you see this journey? flood we implemented Rs.1600 crore Kudumbasree members.
We have succeeded in attaining many loan scheme. “Muttathemulla” was
of our goals. Our network is our another scheme to bring money to Kudumbashree got
strength. Our connect with the Local the beneficiary’s door steps to help the opportunity to be part
bodies have been mutually beneficial. save women from private money of the operations
If a panchayath decides to become lender’s exploitation. Rs.300 crore of Kochi Metro, probably
fallow land free, their immediate was disbursed as loans. the only metro being
resolution is entrusting the task with run by women in the
the Kudumbashree. Kudumbashree’s own Plan fund entire world
has grown to the size of Rs.600
The 825 ‘Janakeeya hotels’ we crore. Since the outbreak of Covid,
started during lockdown are we started 300 Buds schools. 9000 Now we are training
providing meals at Rs. 20. Here mentally challenged children study women in 20 states.
5,000 people find work. As part of there. We went to Azerbaijan,
women empowerment initiatives Tajikistan & Uganda to
like ‘Snehitha’ centres are focusing Kudumbashree is also a train women
on the protection of women in neighbourhood bank. What
prd.kerala.gov.in/publication/keralacalling/OCTOBER 2020 59 KERALA CALLING