Which organization is recognized as one of the largest women's networks in the world and has grown into a remarkable movement for the economic and social empowerment of women in Kerala, India?

Solution

As per the information given below, the correct answer is option B. The Kudumbashree is arguably the largest women’s network in the world. It was started as a poverty eradication programme in 1997. But later years saw the network growing into a magnificent movement with different programmes for economic and social empowerment of women in Kerala. The network has 45.85 lakh members at present. Kudumbashree was formed in the context of decentralisation and devolution of powers to the panchayat raj institutions. In 1997, the next year of the implementation of People’s Plan Campaign, a special task force, consisting of S M Vijayanand, the then secretary in charge of the state urban poverty alleviation (UPA) project cell, T M Thomas Isaac, the then member of the State Planning Board, and Dr Prakash Bakshi of NABARD, recommended the setting up of a State Poverty Eradication Mission (SPEM). The purpose of the proposed mission was to eradicate absolute poverty from the state over a period of ten years.