Kerala Empowerment through Entrepreneurship

I was thinking about a positive story to write as my first blog entry here. Fortunately, I thought of a couple, that gave me very bullish hope about the future of our state. Gok is implementing (successfully I should add) two very innovative initiatives to tackle the root causes behind our state’s stagnation. The best thing is that these programs are creating and nourishing thousands of entrepreneurs across the breadth and width of the state.

First of these programs that I want to highlight is the famous Kudumbashree program that has turned into a real up-lifter for the rural women in the state. Through this program, Gok is trying to combine one of its greatest strength, in implementing grassroots social programs with the ultimate recipe for development for any place- entrepreneurship.

I know in my village back home, lots of BPL women have changed the way they earned income and managed their finances, with the help of Kudumbashree. Now, more than 1.6 lakhs of Neighborhood Help Groups (NHG) have been operating in the state, involved in various enterprising activities. According to Kudumbashree financials, about RS: 1360 Cr worth of loans are outstanding to these units and about RS: 591 Cr of thrifts are being managed by them. They are involved in anything from contract farming, garbage disposal, food processing, live stock care to direct marketing, computer repairs etc. So far, most of the operations of NHGs are relatively small in scale in terms of individual capital expenditure but just the huge number of economic activities Kudumbashree is involved in will make it highly effective.

Foundation of any modern economy is built up on its so called ‘mom and pop’ enterprises, in Kerala Kudumbashree’s “mom and mom” micro-enterprises are taking up this role and silently revolutionizing kerala’s economy, along with empowering women socially, financially and politically. I am sure that as time goes on, these units will become more complex , entrepreneuring , innovative, independent and will contribute to the economy in even greater way.

The second initiative that I want to highlight here is the creation of Entrepreneurship Development Clubs across the colleges in the state. This is another brilliant program aimed at rejuvenating the culture of entrepreneurship in Kerala. I don’t know too much about the overall performance of EDC clubs in every college campus but from what I can tell, the faculty, the government and especially students are doing a great job for the success of this initiative. Our campuses badly need more productive clubs like this and our state need more programs promoting local entrepreneurship.

In the future, as a result of the programs like these, someone/group in Kerala are much more likely to take up the risk of starting their own business and thus will provide employment for otherwise unemployed. I am very optimistic that, one day, positive energy from local entrepreneurship will transform our state for better both socially and economically and that day is getting closer and closer!