Alappuzha: The Kudumbashree mission is now expanding into college campuses through ‘Auxiliary Groups’ aimed at empowering young women alongside their studies. These groups will support students in setting life goals, securing employment after graduation and potentially launching their own ventures.

The initiative, backed by the Higher Education Department, will initially be implemented in one college from each district. The auxiliary groups are scheduled to begin operations next month.

Membership will prioritise second-year students and those interested in new career opportunities. The groups will also guide students in accessing various support schemes. Since membership is retained even after graduation, similar to NCC or NSS, these groups can function as the future grassroots presence of Kudumbashree in the respective areas. However, each student can hold only one membership per department to avoid dual participation.

Each academic department in the selected colleges will have at least one group, consisting of 10 to 20 students. Among them, five members will hold leadership roles: Team Leader, Finance Coordinator, Resource Mobiliser, Social Development Lead and Livelihood Coordinator. Colleges may also form more than one group if needed. A campus-level ‘Auxiliary Consortium’ will be formed by bringing together all group leaders.

Colleges selected in the first phase:

  • Govt. Women’s College, Thiruvananthapuram
  • SN College, Kollam
  • Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta
  • SD College, Alappuzha
  • Govt. College, Kottayam
  • Govt. College, Kattappana
  • Maharaja's College, Ernakulam
  • Vimala College, Thrissur
  • Mercy College, Palakkad
  • PSMO College, Tirurangadi
  • Govt. Arts & Science College, Kozhikode
  • Govt. College, Mananthavady
  • Govt. Brennen College, Thalassery
  • St. Pius X College, Rajapuram