As part of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, State Level Day Observance will be organized under the leadership of Kudumbashree at Kottayam on 9 August 2024. 'Sajjam- Surakshitharavam Surakshitharakkam' (Be Safe and Make Safe) Disaster Management Training Programme will be organized under the leadership of  the Scheduled Tribe Sustainable Development Project implemented in the tribal area by Kudumbashree.

State Level Training will be extended to Balasabha Resource Persons on 9 August 2024. Sajjam Training will be organized in 11 districts except Wayanad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts  at various local on centres 10-11 August 2024. About 30 to 50 children will become part of a training programme. The children from the hamlets will be selected for the training through Kudumbashree Animators. The training will be extended on two topics such as Disaster Impact Mitigation and Children's Rights and Responsibilities.

Implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes in indigenous areas requires an approach that takes into account the unique socio-economic, cultural and environmental characteristics of indigenous communities. Indigenous sectors often have unique needs and vulnerabilities, and traditional knowledge and practices play an important role in disaster mitigation management for indigenous sector activities. So the 'Sajjam' Programme in tribal areas will be implemented by including these activities.

Every year, major disasters that happen in different parts of the world affect the lives of millions of people. In addition to the threat to life and education crisis, after a long time children are exposed to various types of exploitation, abuse and neglect. Kudumbashree implements 'Sajjam' Building Resilience Training Programme to understand and deal with natural calamities.

Haritha Karma Sena members set a model by returning the diamond ornament found in the garbage and donating the reward received for returning the ornament to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). Ms. Jessy Varghese and Ms. Reena Biju, Haritha Karma Sena members got a small package from the garbage collected from Ward 15 of Kumbalangi Gram Panchayath. On opening it, they found a diamond ornament inside. They also found another package right next to it and that was also diamond - a diamond necklace and two diamond earrings. Both together worth more than Rs 4.5 lakhs. They didn't have to think for a second. They immediately called Ms. Lily Raphael, Ward Member. In the presence of the ward member, the owner was found and the diamond ornaments were returned.

It is not new to Kerala now that the Green Karma Sena members find many things worth lakhs and millions from the garbage heap and return them to their owners. Haritha Karma Sena, the guardians of the country's cleanliness through waste management, has become a name of trust. But Ms. Jessy and Ms. Reena went one step further. They immediately contributed the reward they received for their trustworthiness to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) for the survivors of the Wayanad Landslides. Shri. K. J Maxi, MLA and Shri. K. V Thomas, Former Union Minister, who came to congratulate both of them after hearing the news of the return of the diamond ornaments, handed over the award to them.

Alike the exemplary confidence and power shown during the crisis of unprecedented floods and covid-19, Kudumbashree women are offering helping hands to the victims of the Wayanad Landslides. From coordination of the Help Desks to Counselling Services, Kerala's women army is extending their compassion to those who are suffering due to the landslides. 10 CDS Office Bearers are given charge of the Help Desks are opened in GHSS, Meppadi, St. Joseph Higher Secondary School, Meppadi, St. Joseph's UP School, Meppadi, Kottanad GUP School, Nellimunda Temple Hall, GHSS, Thrikkaipatta and Kappamkolly Aroma Inn. They will be available at the Help Desk until the camp will be disbursed and will coordinate the activities of the Help Desk associating with Revenue/Health/Police Officials and will update the details of the inmates and the physical conditions to the control room opened at Meppadi Grama Panchayath. 

About 50 Haritha Karma Sena Members selected from different panchayats of the district are active in sanitation activities in the relief camps. Kudumbashree is also extending mental support to the survivors of the landslide who lost their dear ones in the landslide. As part of this, Community Counsellors who work under the leadership of Kudumbashree Snehitha Gender Help Desk are extending counselling services to women and children. More than 450 Resource Persons of FNHW (Food Nutrition Health Water and Sanitation) Project are working in various camps extending various services to the inmates of the camps. Around 30 members including Kudumbashree Executive Members, ADS Office Bearers and Kudumbashree members of Meppadi and Moopainad CDS are actively working here. 

Around 1000 people, including those who escaped from the landslide site and those in nearby areas facing the threat of landslides, are staying at Meppadi Higher Secondary School, Kaipattukunnu Higher Secondary School and Meppadi Juma Masjid. Also, about fifty families are living in the SKMJ School in Kalpetta. The aim is to provide the necessary assistance to them through the Kudumbashree system in the district. For this, various activities have been planned under the leadership of Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission. Kudumbashree District Programme Managers have also been tasked with intensifying and coordinating the activities implemented by Kudumbashree for those living in the camps.

The contact details of the CDS Office Bearers who are given charge of the Help Desks opened are given as follows:

1. GHSS, Meppadi

    Reshma-9947549727

    Sainaba-9605394283

2. St. Joseph Higher Secondary School, Meppadi

    Bindu Jayan -8086653422

    Vineetha Sasi- 9447081314

3. St. Joseph's UP School, Meppadi

    Rafeena-9947677513

4. Kottanad GUP School

    Omana-9605627288

5. Nellimunda Temple Hall

    Suneera-8086569833

6. GHSS, Thrikkaipatta

    Shobhana-9745367148

    Vijaya-9526912645

7.  Kappamkolly Aroma Inn

     Bindu-7156630323

Bediyata Season - 3 will be organized in the month of August as part of Wayanad Thirunelly Tribal Comprehensive Development Project implemented by Kudumbashree in Wayanad. The campaign poster of Season 3 was released by Shri. O.R. Kelu, Minister for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Welfare Department, Government of Kerala by giving it to Shri. P.V. Balakrishnan, President, Thirunelly Grama Panchayath during a function organized at Thirunelly Panchayat, Wayanad on 28 July 2024. 

Bediyata Season - 3 is organized under the leadership of Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission, Thirunelly Grama Panchayat and Thirunelly CDS. The Mud Festival of the youth will be organized at Cherukumbam Paddy Fields on 10 August 2024 whereas the Independence Day Celebrations and Mud Festival of the women children will be organized at Plamoola Paddy Fields on 15 August 2024. On 18 August 2024, the Mud Festival will be held at Kampalanatti Aanappara Paddy Fields. The Mud Football Match for Tribal Youth Club members will be organized at Appapara Paddy Fields on 25 August 2024. 

Shri. P.K. Balasubramanian, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission, Ms. P. Valsala Kumari, Vice President, Thirunelly Grama Panchayath, Ms. P. Saumini, CDS Chairperson, Ms. Regina V.K, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Shri. Sai Krishnan T.V, Co-ordinator, NRLM, Panchayat Standing Committee Chairmen, Panchayat Members and Kudumbashree Executive Members were present at the Poster Release function.

During this onam, the chips and sarkaravaratti (jaggery coated banana chips) produced by Kudumbashree entrepreneurs in various districts of Kerala will come to the market with the same taste, color, smell and quality under the Kudumbashree brand. Kudumbashree's agricultural, marketing and micro enterprise teams are working tirelessly for achieving this goal.

As the first phase of this, training for Community Resource Persons (CRP) and entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector selected from the districts in association with ICAR Krishi Vigyan Kendra was conducted at ICAR - CPCRI, Regional Station, Kayamkulam, Alappuzha by on 22 July 2024.

In the first phase, the enterprises producing more than 50 kg per day have been made part of the branding scheme. The training focused on making products of the same quality. Entrepreneurs and two CRPs each selected from Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kannur and Kozhikode districts were given training, making it a total of 28 people. The 28 people from the remaining seven districts was trained on 29 July 2024. Those who have received this training will go to the districts and provide training to other entrepreneurs in the district. The aim is to launch chips and jaggery under the Kudumbashree brand by mid-August.

Kudumbashree 'Shraddha' State Level Cancer Awareness Campaign launched. 'Shri. P. Prasad, Minister, Department of Agriculture,  Government of Kerala inaugurated the 'Shraddha' State Level Cancer Awareness Camp jointly organized by Kudumbashree, Medicon- Medical Students Collective of Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad at Coir Corporation Hall, Alappuzha on 26 July 2024. 

It is really appreciative that Kudumbashree is trying to practically address a really serious issue. It's saddening that Kerala is slowly becoming the 'Cancer Capital of India' and Kudumbashree is making efforts to find a solution for this issue. The Minister said. We should lead a lifestyle that would take health seriously into consideration. The quality of the food we intake has a key role in this. We should  realise that agriculture and health are connected. Changing the food and lifestyle can help control cancer. He added. The Minister also pointed out the importance of sanitation in controlling cancer. The Minister said that health should be our foremost priority. The Minister also offered the support of the Department of Agriculture for this programme. The Minister also released the logo of the campaign.

In the first phase, the campaign will be implemented in Ambalapuzha and Aryad blocks of Alappuzha district. The aim of this campaign is to provide women with the necessary awareness about breast cancer and cervical cancer and to provide them with the necessary support for cancer diagnosis and specialist treatment.

The 'Shraddha' State Level Campaign is being organized as part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission FNHW (Food Nutrition Health Water and Sanitation) project activities implemented in the state through Kudumbashree. In the first phase, all the NHG members in all the wards of the selected blocks will be made part of the awareness camp. Cancer awareness class will be given to them under the leadership of Medicon Resource Person, Gender Point Person of NHG and selected NHG member. Along with this, preliminary screening will also be conducted. Once these two are completed in all the wards, medical camps will also be organized at the block level in collaboration with Medicon. Those diagnosed with the disease through primary screening and medical camps will be provided support for follow-up treatment in collaboration with local health institutions. Necessary psychosocial support and counseling will be provided through Kudumbashree Snehitha Gender Help Desk and Gender Resource Centre. The diagnosed members will be provided with further treatment instructions and referral letters with the help of the Medicon team.

District, CDS, ADS and FNHW Resource Persons will visit the houses of infected members once a month. Also, in association with Family Health Centres, their health condition will be assessed by Asha workers and necessary support will be provided. Women will also be made aware of menstrual hygiene, physical mental health and lifestyle disease prevention to improve family health.

Shri. M.G Suresh, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission welcomed the gathering and Ms. Sunitha P, District Programme Manager, Gender & FNHW delivered the vote of thanks. Shri. Reego Raju, Municipal Councillor, Sea View Ward presided over the function. Dr. B Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree explained the project and distributed the certificates of Dheeram Karate Training. Ms.Sofi Augustine, Chairperson, Alappuzha North CDS, Shri. Muhammed Yousuf, Medicon State Secretary, Ms. M.S Ancy Mothis, Member, Medicon State Committee were also present at the function.

Shri. M. B Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Excise Department & Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala performed the State Level Inauguration of Kudumbashree's 'Nirapolima' Project & 'Onakani' Project at Anamukham Ward, Perumkadavila Panchayath, Thiruvananthapuram on 23 July 2024. The Minister inaugurated the projects by planting brinjal and chrysanthemum plants in the fields of Anjana JLG, Anamukham ward, Perumkadavila. The Minister said that the objective of these two projects is to deliver good quality vegetables and flowers to the natives during onam season and thereby provide livelihood to women.These projects will help Kudumbashree women to make maximum out of onam markets. The Minister also wished that may this onam be colourful with the flowers of Kudumbashree's 'Nirapolima' Project and prosperous with the vegetables of Kudumbashree's 'Onakani' Project.

Kudumbashree is already active in agriculture. There are 3,92,682 members in 84,327 JLGs active in agriculture and 17,635 hectares of land is made cultivable, under Kudumbashree. Bank loans are ensured for those cultivated in a minimum of 25 cents and above. If the loan is repaid on time, Interest Subsidy and Incentive is given. In Organic Farming more than 10% is given as incentive. Rs 4,42,54,417 was given as incentive and Rs 4,40,31,587 was given as Interest Subsidy during 2023-24. The Minister added.

The Minister said that Kudumbashree is the name of the great movement that changed the fate of women's society in Kerala. Kudumbashree brought about 50 lakh women from kitchens to the mainstream of the society. Before Kudumbashree was launched, we could not have imagined this much of a women audience in any programmes. Kudumbashree made possible the financial, social and political empowerment of women. It increased the status of women in the family and society.  He added.

As part of the 'Nirapolima' Project, the Kudumbashree farmers' groups will start flower cultivation. At present 3350 farmer groups (Joint Liability Groups-JLGs) are active in floriculture in 1250 acres. This project will be implemented targeting the Onam market only. Nirapolima' aims to cultivate at least one thousand acres of Chrysanthemum, Jasmine,  Marigold and Globe Amaranth (Vadamulla), which are in high demand in the Onam market. Kudumbashree is giving a Revolving Fund of Rs 10,000 for flower cultivation in 1 acre of land. 

Whereas, 'Onakani 2024', the Intensive Agriculture Project will produce non-toxic vegetables. This scheme is conceived with the objective of providing vegetables to the consumers throughout the year. As part of this, 6000 acres of land will be cultivated this year with peas, bitter gourd, lady's finger, snake gourd, banana, spinach, yam, tomato, brinjal, moringa, mango and chilli. The agricultural produce will be delivered directly to the public market by the farmers, eliminating the middlemen to provide better income to the farmers. At present, under Kudumbashree, 11298 farmer groups are cultivating various types of vegetables. 

It is estimated that a total of 25,000 women farmers across the state will be able to provide a better livelihood out of which 20,000 will be provided through the intensive agriculture scheme and 5,000 through flower cultivation. Both the schemes are to provide more employment opportunities to women farmers under Kudumbashree. 

Kudumbashree will provide support including technical assistance to farmers to increase production. Maximum marketing channels will be set. Kudumbashree intends to attract more farmers to this region and expand flower farming to more areas in the coming years as they get better returns. Achieving self-sufficiency in vegetable production for domestic consumption is also an important objective. Kudumbashree's support will be made available to ensure better production and marketability of products. Apart from special occasions like Onam, Christmas, Vishu and Ramzan, all the marketing fairs organized under the auspices of Kudumbashree will also provide an opportunity to deliver and market agricultural products.

Shri. C.K Hareendran MLA  presided over the function. Adv. D. Suresh Kumar, President, District Panchayat delivered the keynote address. Dr. Shanavas S,  Programme Officer Kudumbashree explained the project. Shri. S Surendran, President, Perumkadavila Gram Panchayat welcomed the gathering and Shri. Ramesh G, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram Mission delivered the vote of thanks. Shri. V.S Binu, Member, Thiruvananthapuram District Panchayat, Ms. S. Bindu, Vice President, Perumkadavila Grama Panchayat, Shri. Kanakkod Balaraj, Chairman, Infrastructure Standing Committee, Perumkadavila Grama Panchayath, Ms Geetha Nazeer, member, kudumbashree Governing Body, Member Thiruvananthapuram District Panchayat, Adv. Smitha Sundaresan, Member Kudumbashree Governing Body, President, Varkala Block Panchayat, Ms. Manjusha Jayan,  Chairperson, Welfare standing Committee,  Perumkadavila Grama Panchayath, Shri. K Rejikumar, Chairman, Health Education Standing Committee, Perumkadavila Grama Panchayat, Ms. R Snehalatha, Ward Member, Perumkadavila Grama Panchayat, Ms.Dhanya P Nair, Ward Member, Perumkadavila Grama Panchayat, Shri. Kakkanam Madhu, Ward Member, Perumkadavila Grama Panchayat, Shri. Jayachandran  K S, Ward Member, Perumkadavila Grama Panchayat, Ms Vimala M, Ward Member, Perumkadavila Grama Panchayat, Ms. Sachithra V A, Ward Member, Perumkadavila Grama Panchayat, Shri. S S Sreerag, Ward Member, Perumkadavila Grama Panchayat, Shri. A . Harin Bose, President, Perumkadavila Grama Panchayat, Ms. Mary Latha, Agriculture Officer, Perumkadavila Grama Panchayat, Shri. Robert T, Member Secretary, Perumkadavila Kudumbashree CDS, Ms. Sachithra C S, Chairperson, Perumkadavila Kudumbashree CDS and State-District Mission officials also became part of the programme.

Kerala makes outstanding performance in NULM project implementation. Kerala has again been recognized at the national level for its excellent implementation of the centrally sponsored programme Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihood Mission (DAY-NULM) in the state. Through Kudumbashree Kerala became the first state to get recognition in SPARK Ranking 7 times in a row. Kerala has been ranked first in the 2023-24 'SPARK' (Systematic Progressive Analytical Real Time Ranking) ranking for states implementing the scheme. With this, Kerala became the only state to win the SPARK Award seven times consecutively. Kudumbashree is the nodal agency for implementing the NULM project in Kerala. Kudumbashree Accounting and Auditing Service Society (KAASS) has got the second position in the Best Development Partner category.

Shri. Manohar Lal Khattar, Union Minister of Housing, Urban Affairs and Energy presented the Spark Award to Dr. Sharmila Mary Joseph IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Local Self-Government, Government of Kerala, Ms. Beena E, Ms. Meghna S, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree during the function held at India Habitat Centre, Delhi on 18 July 2024.

The Best Development Partner Category Award was received from the Minister by Ms. Soniya James, Ms. Shiji Mather, KAASS Team Representatives and Ms. Beena, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree. Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan bagged the Second and Third positions in the SPARK Ranking.

Kudumbashree has started implementing the NULM project in Kerala in collaboration with the Municipal Corporations since 2015 to improve the lives of the urban poor. Kerala had secured the Second Position in SPARK Ranking in the year 2022-23. Kerala has secured First Position in 2020-21 Financial Year, Second Position in 2021-22 and 2018-19 Financial Years and Third Position in 2019-20 and 2017-18 Financial Years.

SPARK Ranking is given on the basis of common criteria laid down by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for timely completion of the scheme objectives as per the NULM Scheme.

Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission came up with a special scheme to find self-employment for the hearing-speech-impaired and turn them into entrepreneurs. Prior to the implementation of the project, a first phase meeting of those who needed the help of Kudumbashree to engage in self-employment or livelihood activities was organized at the Malappuram Collectorate Conference Hall on 6 July 2024. 

Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission will implement this project in collaboration with the District Administration and various organizations of hearing and speech impaired. The aim is to provide enterprises, job training and financial assistance through various projects implemented by Kudumbashree.

About seventy people attended the meeting. The collection of their information has also started. In the second phase Kudumbashree will collect name and information of more people who are interested to be a part of the project through CDSs.

Shri. V.R Vinod Kumar IAS, District Collector, Malappuram inaugurated the meeting. Shri. K.S. Haskar, District Programme Manager, Kudumbashree explained the project. Ms. Sheeba Mumtaz, District Social Justice Officer, Shri. Muhammad Kattupara, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission, Shri. Abhijith Marar, Ms. Sameer, Officials of Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission,  Shri. K.C. Abdul Latif, Mujeeb Rahman, Officials of various organizations, Ms. Faseela, Interpreter and others participated in the inaugural function.

Kudumbashree organized a two-day training for State Level Auxiliary Resource Persons as part of 'Meet the New' Auxiliary Group Reorganization Campaign to expand and reorganize Auxiliary Groups. The aim of the campaign is to bring the activities of the Auxiliary Group to more people in the months of July and August.

Around 1000 Resource Persons participated in the training conducted in 4 batches at KILA's headquarters in Thrissur. District Programme Managers and Block Co-ordinators also participated in the training. The training classes were on Duties of Auxiliary Resource Persons, Responsibilities, Campaign Methodology, Importance of Auxiliary Group, New Livelihood Possibilities, Operational Possibilities of Auxiliary Group and Communication Skills. Also the Auxiliary Group members who are working well shared their experiences.