The Karakulam CDSCommunity Development Societies (CDS) was established in 2001 under the women's empowerment programme, KudumbashreeKudumbashree , in Kerala. The well-laid institutional arrangements of Kudumbashree facilitated the convergence of KCDSKarakulam Community Development Society (KCDS) with the local governanceGovernancelocal governance system. The federation has been able to advance financial empowermentEmpowerment with considerable social impact. The KCDSKarakulam Community Development Society (KCDS) mobilised 6557 households into its fold, including 2007 BPL households. It has supported the formation of Joint Liability GroupsJoint liability group (JLG) (JLGs) for agricultural and animal husbandry activities and various individual micro-enterprises. The success of its NutrimixNutrimix unit, operated by a group of SHG women, which supplies products to AnganwadiAnganwadi centres under the Integrated Child Development SchemeIntegrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) is noteworthy. Other efforts include supporting BUDS rehabilitation centre for the specially abled, organizing BalsabhasBalsabha, and waste managementManagement at the village level, which are exemplary of decentralized planning to address community needs through convergence.