Kudumbashree entering caregiving business

Kochi: Kudumbashree Mission, the exclusive poverty alleviation and women empowerment programme of Kerala, is planning to raise an army of women to tap the fast-growing demand for caregiving services for the aging and ailing elderly people in the State.

Disclosing this at the recently concluded ``Migration Conclave’’ a three-day function on diaspora from Kerala, held at Thiruvalla, in Pathanamthitta district which accounts for the largest slice of the NRI population in the State, Jafar Malik, executive director, Kudumbashree Mission, said that it can mobilize women to meet the demand for caregiving.

``We are going to develop an army of caregivers in all districts. The pilot scheme will be launched in Pathanamthitta district, which has a high proportion of elderly people in its population, Malik said.

According to him, caregiving as a profession has great potential in Kerala, and a successful business model could be created around it. Kudumbashree will give training and financial assistance to women who want to become caregivers, he said.

``We already have a successful model in non-biodegradable waste management in all local bodies in the State, where women work as part of the Haritha Karma Sena (Green Army). Like members of the Hairtha Karma Sena, the caregivers will enjoy high social status and good income,’’ he added.

The Migration Conclave was organized by the AKG Centre for Research, Thiruvananthapuram in association with the VS Chandrasekharan Pillai Centre for Research and Studies, Pathanamthitta.