Asraya: Does it Create a Destitute Free Kerala

Abstract

Kerala is entering into a distinct phase of development where it can claim
itself to be a place free of destitution which would leave other developed
countries behind. Decentralised planning and poverty eradication
programmes by the State of Kerala implemented through the
Kudumbashree Mission reached the grassroots level, playing a significant
role in the reduction of poverty. In 2003, an innovative project named
Asraya was designed to find out the destitute population of the State and
in 2017 it was redesigned to achieve the target of a Destitute Free Kerala.
The paper tries to make an in-depth evaluation of the Asraya project
implemented in the Anchuthengu Grama Panchayath, which is the smallest
panchayath in the State of Kerala, focusing on the beneficiary awareness
of the services available to Asraya families, the services rendered to them
so farand the manner in which the basic survival, infrastructural,
developmental and psychological needs of the Asraya families are met.
The study throws light on the impact of this initiative and provides
recommendations for its better and efficient implementation