Kudumbashree Mission received the NRLM Award for the Outstanding Performance in Farm Livelihoods

Kudumbashree Mission received the NRLM Award for the Outstanding Performance in Farm Livelihoods from Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Mines, Government of India at the function held at New Delhi on 11 September 2018. Shri.S.Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission along with Shri. Dathan C.S, Programme Officer, Agriculture received the award on behalf of Kudumbashree Mission.

It is for the first time that Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), announced Awards for farm livelihoods under Mahila Kisan Sashakthikaran Pariyojana (MKSP). Kudumbashree Mission had been actively involved in promoting organic farming, scientific farming techniques based on new technologies, inclusion of women farmers, farming activities focusing on fallow lands, promotion of value addition units and identifying markets, extending support for tribal JLGs etc. The Award is conferred for Kudumbashree Mission for its notable efforts for retrieving the natural Eco system and the activities based on conserving the soil and water bodies.

National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) is a poverty alleviation project implemented by Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. This scheme is focused on promoting self-employment and organization of rural poor. Mahila Kisan Sashakthikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) a sub component of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) which aims at increasing the visibility of women in agriculture, reducing drudgery and providing a livelihood opportunity by adopting sustainable and eco friendly agriculture. Kudumbashree Mission, the programme implementing agency (PIA) for Kerala, has undertaken the project through the institution of Joint Liability Group (JLG) of women farmers. The project target was kept at promoting 30,000 JLG, with 1,50,000 women farmers undertaking cultivation in 24,000 Ha. MKSP project focuses on capacity building of the farming community through the identification of best practices among the community.

Kudumbashree is the nodal agency of MKSP in Kerala. The National Awards to the State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) are intended to provide public recognition to the outstanding performance and incorporate a sense of pride among the poor community members.