Tackling gender-based violence, Kerala’s Kudumbashree programme works on the three principles of transformation, prevention and support - offering community-based centres and counselling for those in need.
When Malli was younger she had big dreams. Coming from a tribal village in Kerala, she wanted to continue her studies, find a good job and live a better future.
When she got married to a man from Udumalaipettai in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, her parents did not inquire about the groom or his background as many local girls married Tamils.
But after marriage she found out that her husband was severely addicted to alcohol. When she broached the subject with him, he started abusing her physically. And mentally. He spent all his earnings to satisfy his thirst for alcohol.
Malli was not allowed to leave the house, meet neighbours or go for work. She was thrown into isolation. Even her inlaws kept silent. She lost all hope.
And when she got pregnant, no one was there to look after her health. As per Tamil customs, Malli was sent to her parents’ house to deliver the baby. But no one from her husband’s family came to see the new baby boy. Not even her husband visited her and the child.
Everyday life became a struggle for her. Malli’s aged parents were not able to support her and they approached Snehitha, a gender help-desk under Kudumbashree, Kerala’s State Poverty Eradication Mission.
Through Snehitha and community counsellors, Malli, who is now 27-years-old, has socially and economically integrated into her community, with the support of the village panchayat and community-based organisations (CBOs).
In a patriarchal family system, child marriages are common. Girl children are considered liabilities, as most of the families take loans from private money-lenders and other sources to get their children married and get into enormous debt.
Those districts that share the border with neighbouring states have a phenomenon called “Mysore and Tamil marriages.” A boy from the other state marries a girl from Kerala and takes her to his state.
These marriages often have a hidden agenda of human trafficking.
In this scenario, the institutional structure developed by Kudumbashree has a significant role in preventing gender-based violence, child labour, child marriage and different forms of trafficking in the locality.
Kerala’s development shows many strong social indicators such as high literacy and life expectancy rate, access to health care and low infant mortality compared to the rest of the country.
But the indicators in women’s labour market and parliamentary participation paint a different picture.
Crime Records Bureau’s and other institutional data on the increase in violence against women and children show that inequality exists in the social-economic and political strata of Kerala.
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Many experiences and studies show that an increase in violence against women and girls leads to a decrease in their economic and political participation. It is a major obstacle to the achievement of equality, justice and development as violence impairs women’s ability to enjoy their rights and freedom.
But the question is, how to address these issues and take immediate action?
Women’s collectives as the neighbourhood support group and community-based mechanism are effective in dealing with problems that women such as Malli face. But it’s a slow process of transformation.
Kudumbashree, Kerala’s State Poverty Alleviation Mission – with a network of 43 lakh women – has created various models in its journey. These models have been adapted by other states and even other countries.
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Among these, working along with panchayat raj institutions (PRI-CBO convergence model), forming and supporting various microenterprises and a tribal development model started in Attapadi have received the most attention.
The gender development model developed by Kudumbashree is a community resource based mechanism. It works on the concepts of transformation, prevention and support.
The model is based on the three-tiered Kudumbashree community system. It is a continuous process of the Gender Self-Learning Programme with the leadership of gender resource persons.
The Snehitha Gender Resource Centres (GRCs) work at three levels – ward, panchayat and district.
We need a community-based women’s centre where we can walk into any time
The GRCs work hand in hand with the local panchayat and offer mutual support. GRCs encompass community counsellors working at the panchayat level and vigilant groups working at the ward level.
Snehitha, which was started in three districts in 2013, has expanded to 14 districts.
From 70 in 2014 the number of GRCs has increased to 800. In cluster level self-help group (SHG) federations, Gender Corners function as autonomous centres of GRC.
The panchayat, Local Self Government Department of Kerala and National Rural Livelihood Mission offer support and ensure the sustainability of this community-based women’s collective action.
Representatives from 25 states in India under National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) became a part of the learning exercise on this engendering innovative model built through Kudumbashree to combat and support survivors of gender-based violence.
“There are various government agencies. But no services reach the community. We need a community-based women’s centre where we can walk into any time,” Lekha, an SHG member, had said in 2012 while talking about gender-based violence.
This voice of need has led to Kerala’s community mechanism that addresses gender-based violence, which has also resulted in GRCs being replicated in many states.
The lead image shows an woman touching her head by hand and crying silently in the house (Photo courtesy See_more, Shutterstock)
Soya Thomas is a consultant for gender integration and curriculum development for Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and Girls in the Economy, National Rural Livelihood Mission and Industree Foundation. She has developed and implemented diverse grassroots programmes that have received national and international attention.
