As per the news report in August 2019, Kerala’s all-women self-help group (SHG), called Kudumbashree, is now a part of disaster response initiative. The Kudumbashree SHG was started in 1998 by the CPI(M)-led government in Kerala. It played a significant role in the relief operations following the devastating floods in the state in 2018. The group empowered over 42 lakh households through its various entrepreneurial initiatives.
Kudumbashree has initiated a unique exercise called Janakiya Pankalithavum and Punarnirmanavum (JPP), meaning people’s participation and rebuilding. Kudumbashree model of JPP on social accountability is guided by an advisory council. It involves the collection of feedback and views of the flood-affected people in the state. The first round of the survey, in this regard, was undertaken in November–December 2018. The second round of the survey is being conducted by using a mobile app. The initiative is supported by United Nations Institutional Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), local self-governments, and government departments. The survey covers eight most marginalised groups of people in the flood-affected villages. These groups include migrant workers, fishing community, SC/ST people with disability, women who head family, elderly people, daily wage earners, and farmers.
Under the exercise, members of the SHG meet flood-affected people and seek their views on various aspects of relief measures—assistance under government schemes, the status of complaints registered on the scheme, and priority needs of the people. Feedback related to rehabilitation is also sought. It pertains to such questions as to whether children have recovered from the trauma of floods, whether people have been consulted on government schemes, and whether their means of life and source of livelihood have resorted to pre-floods time. Apart from this, the drive would also analyse the disaster preparedness of people and government agencies and knowledge of people on mitigation measures.
The feedback and perceptions collected through thin exercise would help departments and agencies to design, monitor, and implement programmes for flood-affected people and take measures to prevent and reduce disasters. The group will share the outcome of the survey with Rebuild Kerala Initiative (RKI), State Planning Board, state government departments, district administration and local governments.