Change of government may impact Kudumbashree: 2,624 contract workers likely to be affected

KASARGOD/KOCHI: There is a possibility that all contract employees in the Kudumbashree, who are reportedly supporting the Left Front and have been working for the past 10 years, may be removed from service. The move comes after the Executive Director of Kudumbashree stopped the hurried extension of contracts for 2,624 employees working in state and district missions.

It has been directed that appointments should be made only after June 1, following the formation of the new government. It has also been instructed that any appointments already made should be cancelled.

Usually, contracts that end on March 31 every year are renewed in April. This year, due to the election code of conduct, the contracts were extended until May 31. After the code ended on May 6, district missions were instructed to proceed with renewals, but the new order has now halted the process. Left parties allege that the decision was taken based on instructions from the personal assistant of a Muslim League leader.

Many of those affected have been working for 10 to 15 years, including employees appointed during the UDF government in 2011.

There are concerns that Kudumbashree itself may face a crisis, as contract staff handle key responsibilities such as organisational strengthening and microfinance activities under various central and state government schemes.

Schemes may be affected

• Officials say that the decision may affect programmes like the National Urban Livelihoods Mission, the SVP scheme for rural entrepreneurship development, and other development initiatives.
• Activities such as microfinance operations, subsidy distribution, financial assistance to eligible beneficiaries, coordination of agricultural and micro-enterprise projects, and social welfare programmes may slow down. Special tribal projects, including those in Attappadi and other tribal areas, are also expected to be affected.

Employees likely to be removed District Programme Managers: 154 Block Coordinators: 608 CDS Accountants: 1070 Community Counsellors: 535 City Mission Managers: 45 Social Development Specialists: 45 District Accountants: 28 SVEP District Accountants: 43