Building Confidence: Success Story of Kudumbashree Constructions

Kudumbashree Members are now busy rewriting history by undertaking works in construction sector, and proving that gender differences doesn’t make any sense at all when it comes about confidence and will power. Till then construction sector was considered only as men only sector. Although about half of India’s construction laborers are women, their participation was limited only to the lowest-paid roles of porters and helpers. Kudumbashree members had indeed made a revolution in the construction sectors now. Many Kudumbashree members are active in this sector. Kudumbashree Constructions is one such initiative by a group of Kudumbashree members from Ernakulam District of Kerala.

Kudumbashree Constructions

Kudumbashree Constructions was started during January 2014 by a group of 5 women from different Community Development Socities (CDS) under the Ernakulam District Mission. Smt. Beena Paul, Smt. Sini Sathosh, Smt. Mariyakutty Vargheese, Smt. Chandrika Kesavan and Smt. Lisi are the members of the Kudumbashree Construction group.

The first project that Kudumbashree Constructions take up was that at the Edakattuvayal village in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. The project of building 87 houses for the tribals particularly for the ulladan community was delayed or partially stopped for some reason then. During August 2014, Kudumbashree Constructions restarted the construction at 6 acres of hilly land there. As of now, they had completed the construction of 28 houses. Each house constructed have a hall, a bedroom, kitchen and a work area. They themselves the dug wells and also developed the inner roads and arranged the agriculture- play areas as well. Rs 3.50 lakhs was allocated for every 350 sqft house. Kudumbashree constructions also prepares the plans and estimates and are also extending other technical services.

They also built the houses of Asraya (a project introduced by Government of Kerala in 2003 through the State Poverty Eradication Mission-Kudumbashree, catering to the unreachable poorest of poor, called Asraya and later in 2017 the Asraya project which had seen many phases was restructured into a more comprehensive one-time program called Agathirahithakeralam -Destitute Free Kerala) beneficiaries at Mookkannoor Gramapanchayath, Angamaly of Ernakulam district. Rs 2.50 lakh was the amount allocated for building a single house. They also completed the renovation of the canteen of Forest Industries Travancore (FIT) located at Aluva and also the painting works of KSTE Techno lodge located at Piravom.

Apart from these, Kudumbashree Constructions had also undertaken a private work of a 2000 sqft house at Ernakulam. They had also taken up the painting works of the painting works of the premium parking at Ernakulam South and Aluva Railway Stations and had also completed the construction of concrete hand rails. Kudumbashree Constructions’ annual turnover has crossed Rs1.47 crores.

Awards and accolades

Kudumbashree Constructions had received several recognitions for their efforts. Kudumbashree Constructions had bagged the Award constituted by Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) for the successful completion of Tribal Rehabilitation Housing Scheme at Edakkattuvayal Grama panchayath of Ernakulam District. Kudumbashree Constructions, Ernakulam had also received the Future Kerala Awards 2018, for Micro Level Social Entrepreneurship Initiatives.

Making a Difference

Kudumbashree Mission is now extending training to 204 such construction units all across Kerala and the construction of a total of 111 houses are undergoing now. Accredited agencies like State Nirmithi Kendra, District Nirmithi Kendra, Maithri, Habitat, Thrissur Labour Contracting Society, Pinarayi Industrial Cooperative Society, Kerala State Housing Board, Kerala State Construction Corporation, Costford, Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society, Kitco, Eksath etc are extending construction training to the identified groups in the respective districts under the leadership of Kudumbashree’s District Mission Coordinators.

Apart from the construction training, training is also extended on brick making and Ferro slab making. Training on construction activities for Kudumbashree members aims to extend skill training for women in various trades in the construction industry for enhancing the skill of the women in construction related activities such that a sustainable income is generated.

Kudumbashree Constructions had proved that with confidence and belief on themselves anything is possible for women. Unleashing the inherent strengths, Kudumbashree members are rewriting history!