Fathimath Zowra, who worked for three years as a community mentor to strengthen the Kudumbashree network in the Manjeswaram area, on the campaign trail in the Udyawar North ward.
Dusk fell some hours ago, but it was just another long day for Fathimath Zowra on the campaign trail. She met voters, made house visits, worked on her nomination, and finished the day with a convention in the Udyawar North ward of the Manjeswaram grama panchayat in Kasaragod where she is contesting as an Independent candidate.
The 27-year-old rank newcomer did not have any plans to contest the polls but changed her mind after being repeatedly urged by people at the grassroots level. “Fed up with problems that never got resolved, they wanted me to fight the elections. But I did not want to contest under any party symbol. After my years with the Kudumbashree, I have the confidence that I can get things done.”
It is this people connect that Ms. Zowra, who worked for three years as a community mentor to strengthen the Kudumbashree network in the area, is banking on to see her across the finishing tape.
As in the case of Ms. Zowra, Kudumbashree was the stepping stone for Jisna Francis’ entry into politics too. Ms. Francis, who is contesting on the Left Democratic Front (LDF) ticket from the Manakkalpadi division of the Vellangallur block panchayat in Thrissur, joined a Kudumbashree auxiliary group in 2022 and has been active in various capacities. In the process, she not only assumed leadership roles, but also forged deep ties with the community. “People said they could see a huge change in me in even a short period.”
“I was successful on the stage that is the Kudumbashree. If elected, I will be on a bigger stage and am confident I will be able to help the people,” she says.
Many women, she acknowledges, find it difficult to come forward. “I too was hesitant and wondered what my family or others would think. But the successes of those who came before inspired us.”
As years go by, this intersection of involvement in the Kudumbashree network and political ambitions has become the go-to for political parties of all hues in order to pick candidates for the local body elections.
Sindhu Sasi, who is the LDF’s candidate from Kattayikonam to the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, has been a councillor during 2015-20 and also served as Kudumbashree community development society chairperson. Between the two, managing Kudumbashree operations is slightly more challenging, she feels, since a large number of government programmes tend to be implemented with Kudumbashree involvement and ensuring good participation and response to these, particularly in coastal wards, is not easy.
“I do not need any introduction. I may not have been a councillor for five years but have been very much involved with the ward and its people.”
Fifty-year-old Usha Sachidanandan is the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate in Chemmanthitta in the Moothedam panchayat of Malappuram. In 2010, she was elected vice-president of Moothedam and only then did she become active in Kudumbashree. She was also the Karapuram CDS chairperson for two years from 2021.
Ms. Sachidanandan says Kudumbashree makes it possible to have maximum possible interaction with people, especially with women and the marginalised. “Once elected, we can do whatever is necessary to address the difficulties faced by these sections.”
The acceptance faced by Kudumbashree women is immense, she points out. “There is this firm belief that if something has to reach people at the grassroots, then it should be done through Kudumbashree.”
As an electoral candidate, Ms. Sachidanandan also has clear ideas about the future direction of Kudumbashree, particularly how to energise its auxiliary groups. Improving lives of the marginalised is another priority for her.
In 2020, more than 16,800 Kudumbashree women contested the local body elections. Kudumbashree officials say over 20,000 women are likely to be in the fray this time.
Published – November 25, 2025 09:29 am IST
