Empowering Women through Local Governance: An Exploration of Impact of Kudumbashree on Women Representation

Authors

  • Anjana Nandan PhD Scholar, Dept. of Rural Development, The Gandhigram Rural Institute- Deemed to be University, Gandhigram- 624 302, Tamil Nadu. https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2314-1961
  • Dr. P Anandharajakumar Professor & Head, Department of Rural Development, The Gandhigram Rural Institute-Deemed to be University, Gandhigram- 624 302, Tamil Nadu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2025.v10.n3.015

Keywords:

Local Governance, Kudumbashree, Gender equality, women leadership

Abstract

This study explores the impact of Kudumbashree, an innovative programme aimed at poverty alleviation and the empowerment of women in Kerala, especially on the representation of women in local governance. Kudumbashree has played a pivotal role in enabling women to navigate and overcome traditional gender limitations by fostering participation in self-help groups, micro-enterprises, and governance systems by prioritizing collective action, community involvement, and leadership development. The programme has developed the confidence among women, allowing them to advocate for their rights and shape policy outcomes firmly. This study highlights the critical role of supportive governmental persistent advocacy in securing the sustainability of political empowerment of women in Kerala. The Kudumbashree programme represent an effective strategy for integrating economic development with political empowerment highlighting the transformative capacity of grassroots movements in fostering inclusive governance.

Author Biographies

Anjana Nandan, PhD Scholar, Dept. of Rural Development, The Gandhigram Rural Institute- Deemed to be University, Gandhigram- 624 302, Tamil Nadu.

Anjana Nandan earned her B.Sc. from Kannur University, Kannur, and pursued her postgraduate studies in Social Work at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady. She completed her M.Phil. in Rural Development at The Gandhigram Rural Institute – Deemed to be University, Dindigul, where she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Rural Development. Her research focuses on Women Empowerment, Kudumbashree, Tribal Communities, and Social Inclusion.

Dr. P Anandharajakumar, Professor & Head, Department of Rural Development, The Gandhigram Rural Institute-Deemed to be University, Gandhigram- 624 302, Tamil Nadu

Dr. P. Anandharajakumar, Professor and Head (i/c) of the Department of Rural Development, is a seasoned academic with 27 years of experience in teaching and research. He holds M.A. degrees in Rural Development and Sociology, an M.Phil., and a Ph.D. His expertise lies in Rural Development and Micro-Level Planning. He is actively engaged in academic leadership, and he served in key administrative roles, including Controller of Examinations (i/c), Public Information Officer, and Liaison Officer (Legal Cell). With his vast contributions to rural development, Dr. Anandharajakumar continues to shape research and policy in this field.

References

Amutha, R., & Hemalatha, A. V. (2018). Women Groups and Changing Socio-economic Status A Study of Kudumbashree in Kasaragod District, Kerala State. International Journal of Management Studies, V(3(6)), 10. https://doi.org/10.18843/ijms/v5i3(6)/02

Anand, J. S. (2002). Self-Help Groups in Empowering Women: Case study of selected SHGs and NHGs, Centre for Development Studies & Kerala Research Programme on Local Level Development. http://www.krpcds.org/

Devika, J., & Thampi, B. V. (2007). Between ‘Empowerment’ and ‘Liberation.’ Indian Journal of Gender Studies,14(1),33–60. https://doi.org/10.1177/097152150601400103

Economic Review 2022. (2023). Kerala State Planning Board.

Jensen, K. F. (2003). The challenge of gender mainstreaming for a contemporary non-governmental organisation: The International Planned Parenthood Federation. (Doctoral thesis, City, University of London). https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/30636/

Khan, M.S., & Nisha, K.M. (2014). Kudumbashree as a Catalyst for Economic Empowerment of Rural Women through Self Help Groups in Kerala, IOSR Journal of Business and Management, 16(9), 33-41. (https:// www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Kudumbashree-asa-Catalyst-for- Entrepreneurship-%26-

Kumar, A. (2010). Kudumbashree: The Life Line of Kerala Micro-Finance. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1646222

Kumar, A., & C. J., J. (2016). Kudumbashree:Promoting the Self-Help Group Model of Empowerment Through Women Entrepreneurship in Kerala-A Study. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 9(6), 20. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2016/v9i6/94959

Minimol, & Makesh. (2012). Empowering Rural Women in Kerala: A study on the role of self-help Groups (SHGs). International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 4(9), 270–280.

O.S, S., & C Karuppiah. (2022). Role of Kudumbashree in women Empowerment in Kerala. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 6, 367–372.

Panackal, N., Singh, A., & Hamsa, S. (2017). Kudumbashree and Women Empowerment in Kerala – An Overview and theoretical framework. Indian Journal of Commerce & Management Studies, 8(1),16–21. https://doi.org/10.18843/ijcms/v8i1/02

Santhosh,S.(2023). Kerala’s Celebrated Kudumbashree Scheme for Poverty Reduction: A Critical Look Through a Feminist Lens. Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance, 28, 132–138. https://doi.org/10.5130/cjlg.vi28.8683

https://kudumbashree.org/pages/171

Downloads

Published

17-03-2025

How to Cite

Nandan, A., & Anandharajakumar, P. (2025). Empowering Women through Local Governance: An Exploration of Impact of Kudumbashree on Women Representation. RESEARCH REVIEW International Journal of Multidisciplinary, 10(3), 125–132. https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2025.v10.n3.015

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 3 (2025): RESEARCH REVIEW International Journal of Multidisciplinary

Section

Articles

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).