KUDUMBASHREE AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN KERALA – AN OVERVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Self-help groups led to an increase in social recognition of self, status of family in the society, size of social circle and involvement in intra family and entrepreneurial decision making (Sharma, 2008).Government should put more efforts to further popularize this concept by strengthening SHGs in such a way that suits their women citizens’ requirements (Basha, 2014). The paper will reflect in understanding the various areas of Kudumbashree towards women empowerment in a hierarchical manner and highlighting the areas which needs immediate attention at every level. The major issue under investigation is to assess the contribution of Kudumbashree for women empowerment. The researchers have done a Literature Review which is considered as a base for deriving the Variables for developing ISM Model. The latent constructs are grounded in theory. Interpretive Structural Modeling is an approach which drives the researchers to study various aspects and correlation between Kerala SHG and Women Empowerment. It is vital for the researchers to gain significant insights into relationship between Kerala SHG and Women Empowerment. The empowerment of women is the best strategy for poverty eradication; process of empowerment becomes the signal light to their children, their families and the society at large (Nidheesh, 2009).