Kerala's Kochi Water Metro Service which was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to have 30 Kudumbashree members in housing and ticketing sections. After the inauguration, Kochi Water Metro Service started commercial operations on Wednesday. 


According to PTI, of the total 30 Kudumbashree members, 18 of its members joined the ticketing section of the Water Metro and 12 joined the housekeeping section.


Till now, 74 staff are currently employed in the newly inaugurated Water Metro Service. 


In a statement, Kudumbashree said, "Thirty of the staff appointed for housekeeping and ticketing are from the women self-help group, Kudumbashree... More women will be employed when the need arises. Women from neighbourhood groups of Kochi East, South, Mulavukad and Elamkunnapuzha regions have got placements."


Kudumbashree Initiative for Business Solutions (KIBS) is an initiative to provide jobs for women based on their educational qualifications. 


Kudumbashree, a key factor in empowering women in Kerala, said currently through KIBS, 262 women are employed at Vyttila mobility hub, the Industries department and the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA).


It also said that there are 555 women from Kudumbashree Mission at the 24 stations of Kochi Metro Rail performing various duties in housekeeping, ticketing, customer care services, help desk, gardening, kitchen and canteen among other services.


Launched as a poverty eradication mission by the state government in 1998 to wipe out poverty through community action, Kudumbashree has tried its hand in various fields, ranging from pickle-making to IT business to empowering women households in the state.



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India's first Metro Water service is designed to provide safe, pocket-friendly travel for people in and around Kochi. The Water Metro started sailing 8 electric-hybrid boats in two routes. 


Kochi Water Metro will have weekly, monthly and quarterly passes. Commuters can use Kochi One Card for travelling in Kochi Warer Metro.


(With PTI inputs)