Kudumbashree, the community network set up to work alongside Kerala's local self governments
Background
The Local Self Government Department lists Kudumbashree among its Allied Institutions, and its page records that Kudumbashree was launched in 1998 as a community network that would work in tandem with local self governments for poverty eradication and woman empowerment.
The department traces the idea to the early nineties, when a community led Poverty Identification Format was developed as part of the Alappuzha Urban Basic Services for the Poor Programme.
By that time, the page says, the NABARD promoted Self Help Groups and linkage banking program had established itself as a viable microfinance model.
In 1994, the Community Based Nutrition project of Malappuram tried to assimilate these experiences and develop a woman based community structure for service delivery of government programs.
The page credits the 73rd and the 74th amendments to the Constitution with strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutes and Urban Local Bodies.
Shortly afterwards, it says, the People's Plan Campaign for decentralized Governance created strong local self governments, the panchayats and municipalities, in the State, and Kudumbashree was launched to work with them.
In plain words
Allied Institution Allied Institution of the Local Self Government Department — A body listed by the department as attached to it rather than forming part of its directorates.
Poverty Identification Format community led Poverty Identification Format — A format for identifying poor families that was drawn up with the community rather than by officials alone.