Kerala Kudumbashree Mission

Kerala Local Self Government / State Poverty Eradication Mission

Award-winning women's self-help group network in Kerala — world's largest women's empowerment program with 5 million members.

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Overview & About

Award-winning women's self-help group network in Kerala — world's largest women's empowerment program with 5 million members.

Kudumbashree is India's — and arguably the world's — most successful women's self-help group (SHG) network, covering 5.4 million women in 300,000+ SHGs across Kerala. It provides microcredit, enterprise support, health, education, and social security through a three-tier system: Neighbourhood Groups → Area Development Societies → Community Development Societies.

Kudumbashree has won numerous national and international awards for poverty reduction and women empowerment.

⚡ Key Facts

State Kerala

Members 5.4 million women

SHGs 3,00,000+

Since 1998

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Benefits

Microcredit: internal savings + bank-linked loans up to ₹5,00,000
Enterprise support: collective farming, micro-enterprises, catering units
Social security: health, insurance, education for members' children
Government contracts preference for Kudumbashree enterprises
Skill training through 50+ vocational programs
Agali collective farming on government and private land

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Eligibility Criteria

Any woman aged 18+ from a BPL or vulnerable family in Kerala
Must join or form a Neighbourhood Group (10–20 women)
Regular savings contribution (minimum ₹50/month)

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Required Documents

Aadhaar card, Ration card, Bank account, Photo, Neighbourhood Group membership form

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How to Apply

Contact local Ward Member or Kudumbashree CDS office

Join existing Neighbourhood Group or form a new one

Begin regular monthly savings

After 6 months, eligible for internal loans

After 1 year, eligible for bank-linked loans and enterprise support

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is unique about Kudumbashree? ▾

Kudumbashree's 3-tier structure (NHG→ADS→CDS) and its scale (54 lakh women) make it India's most successful women's empowerment network, often cited internationally as a model.

Can non-BPL women join Kudumbashree? ▾

While the scheme targets vulnerable families, women from all economic backgrounds can join SHGs. Priority for benefits goes to BPL members.

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