Kerala's all-women movement to foray into e-commerce

After its success saga in a series of fields ranging from pickle making to IT business, Kerala's 42 lakh member-strong all-women network 'Kudumbashree' is foraying into e-commerce platform with an array of ethnic products.
Authorities are planning to launch a digital platform to sell online variety of homemade articles from lip-smacking jam, pickle, squash, flour, curry and masala powders and coconut oil to cosmetic products, handicrafts and garments.
Launched in 1998 as a poverty eradication mission by the state government to wipe out poverty through community action, Kudumbashree has now emerged as one of the major movements to economically empower women especially from marginalised sections.

Titled 'HYPERLINK"https://bsmedia.business-standard.comkudumbashreebazar.com" kudumbashreebazar.com', the e-portal would enable people order their favourite products from anywhere in the state, official sources said.
Over 15,000 small-scale entrepreneurial ventures are run by Kudumbashree volunteers across the state.
As many as 200 high-quality products would be selected from among them to be sold through the e-portal in the initial phase, S Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree said.

Besides the quality, the standard of packing and labelling of products would also be considered.
More products would be included in the platform later according to the response of the customers, he said.
The portal would comprise all the details of the products including its name, the address and phone number of the respective Kudumbashree unit which made it.

The respective Kudumbashree unit would send the product via regional post offices, the official said adding that an agreement had been signed with the postal department in this regard.
The state-run Startup Mission is offering technical support for the e-commerce portal.
The new venture is expected to give a boost to the Kudumbashree products, known for its high quality and budget-price, and ensure a steady income for the household women, sources added.