Kudumbashree conducted Digital literacy Awareness Campaign among NHG members through Balasabha members across the state on 8 October 2023. It is as part of 'Back to School' Campaign, the organizational empowerment programme of Kudumbashree, Balasabha members conducted digital literacy awareness for NHG members who came to school. Balasabha members organized various awareness programmes across the state as part of the Digi Keralam project organized by the Government of Kerala, which aims to make Kerala the first fully digital literacy state in the country.

These include special awareness programmes focused on schools that conduct classes for NHG members as part of the 'Back to School' Campaign. As part of the 'Back to School' Campaign, lakhs of NHGs members came to around 2000 schools in the state. A massive campaign to empower Kudumbashree members is ongoing where 46 lakh NHG members come together for 21 holidays between 1 October 2023 and 10 December 2023. Lakhs of Kudumbashree members were part of the campaign on 1 & 2 October 2023 alone.  

The campaign of Balasabha members organized targeting them has created a great platform for awareness about digital literacy. Balasabha, the fraternity of children between the ages of 5 and 18, has 4,59,151 members in 31,612 Balasabha units in the state. All Balasabhas in the state participated in the programme. Apart from this, Balasabha members conducted home visits and pamphlet distribution at the ward level under the leadership of a Kudumbashree ADS (Area Development Society) member.

The Digi Keralam campaign aims to create a digitally inclusive society by providing basic digital literacy to all sections of the society. The project envisages to effectively extend the benefits of information technology to all, ensure their empowerment, make government services easily accessible to the deserving and participate in development projects. The Balasabha members' campaign is the first step in a wider range of activities to educate all Kudumbashree members to achieve digital literacy as part of the Digi Keralam project.

Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram District Mission's 'Ithal' Product Fair was a big hit among the techies. The 'Ithal Trade Fair', which provided a marketing opportunity for the products including notebooks, pens and file folders prepared by the beneficiaries and their parents of BUDS Institutions under the Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram District Mission, was well received by the techies. A total turnover of Rs. 8100 was generated through the fest organized at Tata Elxsi in Kinfra Park.

Products from 14 BUDS Institutions were brought for sale at the fair. The techies wholeheartedly support this cause by purchasing these products from the Ithal brand. The products prepared by the differently abled and parents of BUDS Institutions in the district were launched under the 'Ithal' brand from 2022 onwards.

Kudumbashree made the cricket fans happy with the food, despite the rain that became the villain in all the warm-up matches at the Greenfield Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram for the One Day World Cup Cricket Tournament hosted by India. During the cricket warm-up matches organized at the Greenfield Stadium, five Kudumbashree units prepared food for the spectators and earned an income of Rs.1,95,210. 

Under the leadership of Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram District Mission, Kudumbashree units namely Prathyasha, Sreeshailam, Samjees, Cafe Shree and Shruti prepared food for the spectators. Rs. 23,000 was recorded from the New Zealand- South Africa Match and Rs. 1,72,210 was recorded from the India-Netherland Match which was abandoned due to rain.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kudumbashree is creating yet another history by launching 'Thirike Schoolil' (Back to School) State Level Campaign, the largest training programme. As many as 46 lakh Kudumbashree women came back to school as 'students'. The campaign was started when Shri. M.B. Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala performed the State Level Inauguration of the Campaign at K.B. Menon Memorial Higher Secondary School, Thrithala, Palakkad on 1 October 2023. Even the heavy rains could not dampen the enthusiasm of Kudumbashree women. The campaign will bring 46 lakh Kudumbashree NHG members back to classrooms on holidays until 10 December 2023. The campaign is launched with the aim of strengthening the three-tier structure of Kudumbashree and for equipping the NHG women to take up novel ventures in tune with the changing times. On the first day itself, around 4 lakh NHG members took part in the Campaign across the state.

As part of the Campaign being conducted in collaboration with the General Education Department, the NHG members are coming to the schools under the respective CDSs during available holidays from 1 October-10 December 2023 to gain knowledge on various subjects. More than 2000 schools in the state have been sanctioned for the campaign. The campaign activities have been designed in a way reminiscent of the school days. Class time is from 9.30 AM to 4.30 PM. The Assembly is from 9.30 AM to 9.45 AM. Kudumbashree's Mudra Geetham (Anthem) will be sung during the Assembly. The Lesson topics include Organizational Strength Experience Lessons, Vibrancy of NHG is in Mathematics, Community-Life Security Our Happiness, Livelihood-Ideas Projects and Digital Age.

The classes are led by more than 15,000 Resource Persons all across the state. There will be a 10 member team of Resource Persons in each district which includes 2 Kudumbashree Training team members, 2 Auxiliary Group members, 2 Micro Enterprise Consultants, District Programme Manager in charge of Organizational Strengthening, Assistant District Mission Coordinator and 2 Gender team members. There are Resource Persons in Block level as well as in CDS level.

The inaugural day of the 'Back to School' campaign was notable with the active participation of people's representatives along with collective and organized activities. District Level Inauguration programmes were organized in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur districts. Minister Shri. V. Sivankutty, Shri. K. N. Balagopal, Shri. Saji Cherian, Shri. V. N. Vasavan, Shri. P. Rajeev, Shri. Roshi Augustine and Shri K. Radhakrishnan participated in the District Level Inauguration Programmes respectively. Shri. Chittayam Gopa Kumar, Deputy Speaker, Legislative Assembly participated in the Inaugural function held at Pathanamthitta District. Ms. Baby Balakrishnan, President, Kasaragod District Panchayat and Ms. C.C. Divya, President, Kannur District Panchayat participated in the Inaugural functions held at Kasaragod and Kannur Districts respectively. Shri. V. Abdu Rahman inaugurated the campaign in Malappuram district, today. The campaign will start on 8 October 2023 in Kozhikode district. This is because there are restrictions in the case of Nipah. The NHG members have wholeheartedly received the campaign.

A Reception Committee was formed for the State-Level Inauguration of the neighborhood empowerment campaign 'Thirike Schoolil' (Back to School), which brings 46 lakh Kudumbashree women back to schools for knowledge acquisition. The Reception Committee Formation Meeting was held at Block Office Hall, Trithala on 19 September 2023. Ms. V. P. Rejeena, President, Thrithala Block Panchayat presided over the function. Shri. Ratheesh Pilikode, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree explained the programme.

Ms. K. Binumol was selected as the Chairperson of the 201-member Reception Committee and Ms. V.P. Rejeena, President, Thrithala Block Panchayath was selected as the Working Chairperson. Shri. K.K. Chandradas, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Palakkad District Mission was selected as the General Convener and Ms. Sabitha Madhu, District Programme Manager was selected as the Convener. 13 Sub-Committees have also been constituted.

Shri. K.K. Chandradas, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Palakkad District Mission welcomed the Reception Committee Formation Meeting. Shri. Jafar K. Kakkooth, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission, Shri. K.K. Prasad, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission, People's Representatives, Kudumbashree CDS- ADS members, political, cultural activists also participated in the programme. Shri. C.C. Nishad, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree delivered the vote of thanks.

The State-level inauguration of the 'My Job My Pride 2.0' Project implemented under the leadership of Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission in convergence with the Local Self Government Department will be held on 29 September 2023. Shri. M. B Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala will perform the State Level Inauguration of the project during the function proposed to be held at Sangamam Auditorium, Nagalassery, Palakkad. Orientation and Panel Discussion on Knowledge Careers will also be organized in conjunction with the function. The project is implemented at the field level by Kudumbashree.

The Organizing Committee Formation Meeting of the State Level Inauguration was held on 19 September 2023. Shri. V.V. Balachandran, President, Nagalassery Panchayath presided over the Organizing Committee Formation Meeting. Adv. V.P. Rejeena, President, Thrithala Block Panchayath inaugurated the meeting.

Gram Panchayath Presidents, People's Representatives, Kudumbashree CDS Chairpersons, Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission officials, Kudumbashree State Mission-District Mission officials, political and cultural activists etc participated in the function. Dr. Srikanth K, State Assistant Programme Manager, State Mission, Kudumbashree and Ms. Sumi. M. A, Regional Programme Manager, Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission presented the topic.

Adv. V.P. Rejeena, President, Block Panchayath was selected as the Chairperson of the Organizing Committee and Dr. P.S. Sreekala, Director of Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission was selected as the General Convener. Shri. P. R. Kunjunni, Vice President, Thrithala Block Panchayath, Shri. V.V. Balachandran, President, Nagalassery Panchayath, Ms. P.K. Jaya, President, Trithala Panchayath, Ms. T. Suhara, President, Tirumittacode Panchayath, Shri. P. Balan, President, Pattithara Panchayath, Shri. Sharfuddin, President, Kapoor Panchayath, Ms. A.V. Sandhya, President, Chalissery Panchayath, Shri. K Muhammed, President, Aanakkara Panchayat ere selected as the Vice Chairpersons. The District Mission Coordinators of Palakkad, Malappuram and Thrissur districts were selected as the Conveners. The Chairpersons of Nagalassery, Tirumittacode, Pattithara, Kapoor, Chalissery and Aanakkara Kudumbashree CDSs are the Joint Conveners.

The 201-member Organizing Committee formed includes Kudumbashree officials, people's representatives from Trithala block limits, Kudumbashree members, Community Ambassadors, representatives of various political parties and cultural activists of the area.

'Namath Theevanaga' Flagged Off at Thiruvananthapuram. Shri. Geromic George IAS, District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram flagged off the 'Millet Sandesha Yatra' organized by Kudumbashree through 14 districts from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod at Ayyankali Hall ,Thiruvananthapuram on 18 September 2023. This journey has been arranged in connection with the International Year of Millets as part of the Attappady Tribal Comprehensive Development Project implemented by Kudumbashree.

Ms. Rajamma, Paraprofessional conducted seminar on the topic, 'Millet Diversity and Health Life in Attappady' and Dr. Santhi. S on 'Millet Cultivation for Health Protection'. Marketing of millet products and seeds was also organized in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Collector also released the book 'Namath Theevanaga' prepared as part of Attappady Tribal Special Project.

Dates and places where 'Millet Sandesha Yatra' will arrive in other districts:

19.09.23 - Kollam (Collectorate)
20.09.23 - Pathanamthitta (Town Hall)
21.09.23 - Alappuzha (Civil Station)
23.09.23 - Kottayam (District Panchayat Office Premises)
24.09.23 & 25.09.23 - Idukki (Collectorate)
26.09.23 - Ernakulam (Civil Station)
28.09.23 - Thrissur (Collectorate)

'Millet Sandesha Yatra' will be conducted later in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts.

Training for Experts was conducted as part of the 'Thirike Schoolil' (Back to School) Campaign organized aiming at the empowerment of 46 lakh NHG members at Forest Department Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur on 15-16 September 2023. Classes were given to 130 experts to extend the training in the districts. Shri. Davis Master, President, District Panchayath inaugurated the training programme by waving the flag. Shri. Jafar Malik IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree addressed the members online. 15 State Core Team members gave leadership to the training.

As a part of the campaign conducted in collaboration with the Education Department, the NHG members are coming to the schools under the respective CDSs during available holidays from 1 October-10 December 2023 to gain knowledge on various subjects. More than 2000 schools in the state have been sanctioned for this.

The campaign activities have been designed in a way reminiscent of the school days. Class time is from 9.30 AM to 4.30 PM. The Assembly is from 9.30 AM to 9.45 AM. Kudumbashree's Mudra Geetham will be sung during the Assembly. Then the inauguration will be done by waving the flag with the Kudumbashree logo and after that the classes will start. The Lesson topics include Organizational Strength Experience Lessons, Vibrancy of NHG is in Mathematics, Community-Life Security Our Happiness, Livelihood-Ideas Projects and Digital Age. Shri. Ratheesh Pilikode, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree State Mission, Dr. V. P. P Mustafa, Dr. M. K Rajasekharan, Shri. Nishad C. C, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree, Shri. Anish Kumar M.S, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree, Shri. Vipin V.C, State Assistant Programme Manager, Kudumbashree, Shri. Santhakumar, Training Team Member, Shri. Nirmal C.C, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission and Ms. Reji Thomas, District Programme Manager, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission gave leadership to the training.

Samagra - Special Employment Scheme organized by Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission for Person With Disabilities was launched. Dr. R. Bindu, Minister of Higher Education and Social Justice, Government of Kerala officially inaugurated the scheme during the function held at Govt. Women's Polytechnic College, Kaimanam, Thiruvananthapuram on 15 September 2023.

Samagra is the project implemented by the Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission in collaboration with the Department of Social Justice with the aim of ensuring the participation of the disabled community in the field of knowledge work. The objective of the project is to provide employment through skill training by examining the upliftment of the disabled community and the consideration of employment opportunities.

The services provided by the mission include skill training, career counselling, personality development training, English score test and robotic interview. Job seekers who register on the Digital Workforce Management System (DWMS) website and complete training provided by the Mission are assured employment through special job fairs.

Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission seeks to find those who are interested in academic careers and have an educational qualification of Plus Two or above and provide them with employment opportunities suitable to their aptitude, interest and qualifications. Kudumbashree Mission implements the project at the field level. Employment is ensured for those job seekers who complete the training extended by the mission after registering in Digital Workforce Management System (DWMS).

Knowledge Economy Mission Director Dr. P.S. Sreekala, K - Disc Member Secretary Dr. P.V. Unnikrishnan, Chairperson Disability Welfare Corporation Adv. Jaya Dali MV, KKEM State Program Manager Dr. C. Madhusoodhanan, Principal, Government Women's Polytechnic, Beena. S also participated. A special job fair organized for differently-abled candidates in conjunction with the inauguration saw 98 candidates participate in interviews and 65 shortlisted candidates.

Dr. P.S. Sreekala, Director, Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission, Dr. P.V. Unnikrishnan, Member Secretary. K-DISC, Adv. Jayadaly M.V, Chairperson, The Kerala State Handicapped Persons’ Welfare Corporation, Dr. C Madhusoodhanan, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree Knowledge Economy Mission and Ms. Beena S, Principal, Govt. Women's Polytechnic College took part in the programme. 98 candidates attended the interviews and 65 candidates were short listed in the Special Job Mela organized for Persons With Disabilities in connection with the inaugural function.

Under the leadership of Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission, a cooking competition was organized for the differently abled including the beneficiaries of BUDS Institutions at Raiban Auditorium, Alappuzha on 12 September 2023. This is the first time that such a competition is being organized for the differently abled in the state. 13 differently-abled persons and their family members participated in the cooking competition organized in four rounds namely 'Karumure' (various snacks), Chill Time (cool drinks), 'Iratti Madhuram' (Payasam) and 'Health Mukhyam Bigile' (Various Salads).

Ms. Haritha V Kumar, District Collector, Alappuzha inaugurated the competition and also distributed the prizes to the winners. Shri. A.M. Arif, MP, Ms. K.G. Rajeshwari, President, District Panchayath visited the cooking competition in person and tasted various dishes. The officials of Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission gave leadership to the cooking competition.