From the Homestead to Centerstage : A Journey of Empowerment

Abstract

The Kerala Model of Development is widely acclaimed for its contribution in generating favourable social indices at par with Scandinavia. The central issue of the development in almost all the underdeveloped and developing countries is the empowerment of women constituents. In Kerala, the story of empowerment of women, is not just economic, but psychologically, and this has happened largely through the Kudumbashree and LSGs. Under Article 243(D) of the Constitution of India, there is a mandate to provide 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions, this constitutional amendment is regarded as a path-breaking move to empower women at the grassroots level. The present study portrays the impact of government interventions for ensuring the participation of women in decision-making as well as in the power structure in Panchayaths. The researcher(s) used cross-sectional research design for this particular study which adopts purposive sampling. The data was collected through in-depth interview and focus group discussion is used for triangulation. The finding of the study shows that how the women are empowered though various government interventions such as Kudumbashree, Thozhil-urappu Padhathi (MGNREGA), ASHAs (frontrunners for the NRHM), Panchayati Raj and house wives.

Impact of Village Governance Quality on the Satisfaction of Farmers’ Life Experiences

“…A more inclusive village can provide farmers with the right to participate in public activities, such as village construction and village cadre election; furthermore, it will enable farmers to share village resources and achievements in the process of participating in village governance, reduce farmers' relative deprivation through freedom of choice and movement, and then, improve their satisfaction with village life experiences. The empowerment of grassroots governments is an institutional guarantee to improve the quality of village governance and farmers' satisfaction with their living experiences [9]. Notably, in the vast rural areas, the development history and personality characteristics of each village are different, sinking the power of autonomy to the village, thereby giving play to the main position of farmers to participate in village governance, which is conducive to the development of grassroots democratic consultative politics and can also enhance the senses of belonging, acquisition, and happiness of farmers.…”

Behind Closed Doors: The Hidden Realities of Indian Children Living With Alcohol-Dependent Parents

“…Early identification of the effects of Paternal Alcohol Use Disorder (PAUD) is crucial for developing culturally sensitive interventions that address the diverse and complex needs of children globally. In regions like Kerala, India, where alcohol is viewed with contrasting attitudes, as sacred in certain rituals, socially accepted yet officially discouraged, the need for robust evidence to guide interventions is particularly urgent, underscoring the widespread nature of PAUD across varied cultural contexts [ 9 ]. This study aims to delve deeply into the lived experiences of children in Kerala growing up with fathers suffering from AUD.…”

Disability Empowerment in Kerala: A Status Analysis and Vision for the Future

“…There were 120,457 children with disabilities (CwD) and 414,788 PwD belonging to the age group of 30-59 years (Census of India, 2011). Kerala has been recognized internationally for a specific approach to development, known as the "Kerala model", and has even been equated with the Scandinavian countries in certain respects (Babu & Jose, 2020). The Human Development Index Report (Human Development Indicators and Indices, 2018) rates Kerala at 0.785, against the all-India average of 0.647.…”