Personal Empowerment of Women in Ayalkkoottam in Alappuzha District

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of the Ayalkkoottam (Neighborhood Groups, the primary tier of the Kudumbashree Mission) on the personal empowerment of women in the Alappuzha District of Kerala. Kudumbashree, a globally recognized poverty eradication and women empowerment mission, organizes women into these community-based structures. Personal empowerment, a key dimension of overall women's empowerment, is assessed through indicators such as self-confidence, self-esteem, decision-making power, mobility, and awareness of rights. Available research data from Alappuzha and other districts in Kerala consistently indicates a positive and significant correlation between participation in Ayalkkoottam and an increase in these personal empowerment attributes, although the full extent of this empowerment, particularly in autonomous household decision-making, can still be moderate. Empirical findings show a marked improvement in self-reliance and the ability to negotiate household decisions related to children's welfare and health. The study concludes that the Ayalkkoottam provides a crucial social platform that acts as a catalyst for the personal and psychological transformation of its members, laying a vital foundation for deeper socio-economic change.