In a significant policy shift, Kudumbashree, Kerala's extensive women's empowerment and poverty eradication mission, has decided to extend employment opportunities to the male relatives of its members. [1][2][3]This new directive will initially be implemented for jobs involving the collection of plastic bottles at Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BEVCO) outlets across the state.
This move is part of the broader "Vijnana Keralam" (Knowledge Kerala) People's Campaign, which has already successfully created 45,000 jobs in the private sector. [1]The program is now expanding its scope to include temporary recruitment in the public sector.
While Kudumbashree remains a 48 lakh-strong women-centric organization, the inclusion of male relatives is aimed at maximizing employment opportunities for the families of its members. [1]The organization has clarified that this priority for male relatives will be applicable only in situations where women are unavailable or face practical challenges.
For the bottle collection counters at BEVCO, employees will be hired on a daily wage of ₹1,130, with the work organized into two shifts. It is anticipated that male relatives of Kudumbashree members will be considered for the night shift. [1]A minimum monthly salary of ₹10,000 has been established for these positions.
Originally restricted to women, the scope of Kudumbashree's employment initiatives was widened to include their family members following a government intervention. [1][2]This latest development is a continuation of the effort to leverage the vast Kudumbashree network to benefit the entire family unit.