Kudumbashree - Success Story of Gramalakshmi CDS

There function a mutton processing unit in Kaippamangalam Panchayath of Thrissur district of Kerala. They are not slaughtering and selling the meat in the conventional ways we used to see in the olden days. They are making use of modern technologies instead of the older ones. They are using technologies like coolers and their slaughter house is nothing but a high quality slaughter house. The slaughterhouse functions under Gramalakhsmi Neighborhood Group under Kaippamangalam CDS. The neighborhood group has 18 members. Smt. Omana Gopi, Smt. Nadheera Rudheen, Smt. Usha Premadas, Smt. Fathima Abdu and Smt. Haseena Shamsudheen are the entrepreneurs who run the slaughterhouse together.

Many people were astonished to hear the story of a group of women running a slaughter house and mutton processing unit. Gramalakhsmi Neighborhood Group was launched during 1999. Several activities are undergoing under the leadership of Gramalakhsmi Neighborhood Group.  They bought land of their own, built a building in their land and gave it on rent to someone. Later they diversified their enterprise by renovating the building into a big hall which can occupy 100 people. Along with that they used to do farming as well. It was during then, they came to know about the ‘Aadugramam’ project of Kudumbashree. They joined the project and started goat rearing. Later with the assistance of Animal Husbandry Department, Government of Kerala, and Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission they launched the mutton slaughter unit. This is the first slaughterhouse unit launched and functioning under the leadership of Kudumbashree.

The slaughterhouse unit was started after getting training from Veterinary College, Thrissur. The goats are slaughtered two days a week at the slaughterhouse. The goats reared by the NHG members are examined by the veterinary doctor and it is only after their examination, that the goats are slaughtered. On getting more orders, goats are bought from outside as well. They sell the meat in well packed packages. They take orders through phones as well. They are also getting regular orders for functions like marriages. They are getting an annual income of Rs 10,000 each a month through their enterprise including the slaughterhouse.

The members of Gramalakshmi Neighborhood Group were courage enough to search new options in enterprises and make a try. It is purely the self confidence in oneself that made these women start and success in such an enterprise. When Kudumbashree Mission supported them wholeheartedly, they succeeded in their enterprise and is moving forward.