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• Balasabha - structured neighbourhood network of children. The prime objective of consti- AGRICULTURE AND ALLIED SECTORS
tuting Balasabhas is to prevent inter-generational transmission of poverty through capability
enhancement of children. Small Learning Groups for experimental and systematic learning,
opportunities for understanding democratic process, participation in conserving environment,
enabling children to unfold the intricacies of collectivisation are the basic focal points of Bala-
sabha.

• Balapanchayats have been formed in gramapanchayats with the support of UNICEF initially.
Kudumbashree initiatives of Balasabha and Balapanchayaths enable to impart voice, face and
power to children hailing from poor and vulnerable socio economic backgrounds. The idea
behind the Bala Panchayath is the creation of a children’s forum where children issues and
concerns can be bought to the notice of local development planners- i.e. the LSGs. One such
interface has been that of local environmental audits conducted by the children of Kudum-
bashree. The details are given in Appendix 2.92.

• Gender Self Learning
It aims to create awareness about the rights, status and justice of women by themselves
through the discussions of their experience, identify their role in the local development process
and equip women to recognize about their rights, inequalities and violence against them. Ma-
jor gender self learning programme initiatives are given below.

1. Formation of Gender Resource Team (District – CDS-ADS Levels)
2. Formation of Support Team (District – CDS-ADS Levels)
3. Third Module Formation and Dissemination
4. Gender Corner
5. Snehitha Gender Help Desk
6. Sreesakthi – The Web Portal
7. Crime Mapping
8. Anti Human Trafficking (AHT)

• Samagra Projects - an initiative independently developed by Kudumbashree being imple-
mented in the State in collaboration with the three tier local self governments and other agen-
cies. It is an attempt to address the entire production – supply value chain holistically, by
scaling up productive activity both qualitatively and quantitatively and seeking viable supply
opportunities. Some of the Samagra Projects of 2014-15 are given below.

1. Kannur Goat Farmers Producer Company
2. Nedumkandam Ksheerasagaram Producer Company
3. Kasargode Saphalam Cashew Project-Collective
4. Ornament Fish Producers Collective in Vaikom Block of Kottayam

Section 9
Food Security

2.188 The World Food Summit of 1996 indicated that food security exists when all people at all
times have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life. Public
Distribution System (PDS) assures food security to people, particularly to Kerala, a State which has a
very high deficit in production of food grains; Kerala produces only 15 per cent of actual requirement.
Necessarily, PDS has a critical and functional role in Kerala.

2.189 Public Distribution System was launched in Kerala in 1962 with the implementation of the
Kerala Rationing Order. Timely lifting of commodities allocated from the Central pool and ensuring
distribution of the same through more than 14000 ration shops and ensuring that it occurs in time and

Economic Review 2014