The Kudumbashree Story

Women Empowerment

Kudumbashree and Local Self Governments

Convergence with Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) has been one of the central themes within the Kudumbashree idea. Convergence means seamless working together of the Kudumbashree and the PRIs; it includes institutional and programmatic convergence as well as sharing of resources. Convergence is concerned with a multi-tier Panchayat Raj system in rural areas, urban local government institutions in urban areas, the three tier Kudumbashree community organisation, the State mission and its district level offices, and the government and its institutions and agencies.

Kerala has a three tier PRI system with Gram Panchayats, Block Panchayats, and District Panchayats; urban areas have separate single tier local government institutions. The Kudumbashree community organisation works in a local government through its three tier system – Neighbourhood Groups (NHGs) as primary level organisations, Area Development Societies (ADSs) at the ward level, and Community Development Societies (CDSs) at the local government level.