Kudmbashree women from Angamaly completed the construction of Life Mission House at Manjapra Grama Panchayath, Ernakulam. It is within 53 days that the Kudumbashree women completed the construction of the 420 sq ft terraced house. Smt. Devaki, a widow from Manjapra Panchayath is the beneficiary of the house. The construction of the house was started on 6 June 2018 and was finished on 8 October 2018. It's amidst the unprecedented floods and the calamities that the women completed the construction of the house. Eksath Training Agency from Alappuzha is entrusted for extending the construction training at Ernakulam. The construction for Life Mission and the construction training for the women together are clubbed together to reduce the cost of construction. On the Job Training style is implemented here. It is the sheer hard work of 28 Kudumbashree women of 3 construction units which resulted in the completion of the house within 53 days. The construction of 12 Life Mission houses are also progressing in Ernakulam District in the same manner.

It was on anticipating the huge shortage of labour force in the near future because of various determined Government campaigns of mass housing,that training was extended to women in construction sector. So that groups of micro contractors could be formed, who can take up the construction of houses of poor and needy, in addition to taking up of bigger projects. As a part of LIFE mission more than 2.5 lakh houses are being constructed in the state in this financial year. This provides huge employment opportunity for women construction groups. Further, once the construction groups completes 3/4 houses, it is aimed to upgrade them to become micro contractors for taking up various works of local self governments. Training is given by taking up the construction of the beneficiaries of various government schemes like PMAY(U), LIFE etc. Accredited agenicies like State Nirmithi Kendra, District Nirmithi Kendra, Maithri, Habitat, Thrissur Labour Contracting Society, Pinarayi Industrial Cooperative Society, Kerala State Housing Board, Kerala State Construction Corporation, Costford, Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society, Kitco, Eksath etc are extending construction training to the identified groups in the respective districts under the leadership of the the District Mission Coordinators. Training on construction activities for Kudumbashree members aims to extend skill training for women in various trades in the construction industry for enhancing the skill of the women in construction related activities such that a sustainable income is generated.

Kudumbashree received 150 tonnes of organic manure from Tamil Nadu for Kudumbashree Joint Liability Groups (JLGs). The Organic Manure is contributed by Subhashri Bio Energies (P) Ltd. (SBEL), a division of the Subhashri group of companies, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu which had metamorphosed into a knowledge leader in organic regeneration and energy independence arena.The company contributed 150 tonnes of organic manure worth Rs 30 lakhs for the women farmers of Kudumbashree Mission. Shri. S. Dorai Raju,Managing Director, Subhashri Bio Energies (P) Ltd along with Shri. V. Clement Rajesh, Head, Operations and Shri. Peechi Muthu, Advisor handed over the organic manure packet to Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister, Government of Kerala in the presence of Shri. S.Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission and Shri. Dathan C.S, Programme Officer, Agriculture at Thiruvananthapuram on 27 September 2018.

The 35000 women farmers of the affected 7000 JLGs would be benefited out of this. The organic manure would be distributed among the JLGs in Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kozhikode districts. The farming in 29415 acres of land were fully lost during the unprecedented floods. 25056 Joint Liability Groups were badly affected and the loss of around Rs. 197.21 crore has been estimated.

The contribution of Kudumbashree Members to Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) crosses Rs 11 Crore. Kudumbashree Mission had already contributed an amount of Rs 7 Crore to Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. It is in addition to this that Rs 4 Crore is collected. The cheque of Rs. 7 crore was handed over to Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister, Government of Kerala, by Shri. A.C. Moideen, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala in the presence of Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission and Programme Officers of Kudumbashree Mission towards Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.

The major part of the amount was mobilized locally by pooling the weekly thrift collection of the NHG members based on the request of the Executive Director of Kudumbashree Mission. NHGs pooled those funds from various sources such as their contributions; amount kept aside for Onam celebrations etc was also added towards the cause. Apart from this, the Resource Persons, members of the Kudumbashree Accounts and Audit Service Society (KAASS) and Training Group Members had also made their individual contributions.

Even though majority of Kudumbashree members were badly affected by the flood, they have been in the forefront in the relief activity and cleaning exercises as well. Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) is the emergency assistance release mechanism granting immediate relief to families and individuals distressed by calamity, loss of life due to accidents and chronic diseases. The additional amount collected will be handed over soon.

The Bal Gothra Sabha Children from Attappady published Children's E-Magazine-'Kunjezhuth'. The Magazine is published by the Attappady Comprehensive Tribal Development and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group Development Project, National Rural Livelihoods Mission, Attappady. 'Kunjezhuth' is the first of its kind magazine being from among the tribal area. The Magazine includes poems, news, tribal poems, paintings of children, proverbs in their regional language etc. The news updates from Attappady is published in the form of 'Letter to the Friend'. The first issue of Kunjezhuth Children's E- Magazine was published during September 2018.The magazine will be published on monthly basis.

The Magazine aims at ensuring the participation of children in tribal areas in the social development activities. Kunjezhuth Magazine also focuses on the personality development of the children based on equality, secularism, gender equality etc and thereby equip the children become part of democracy. It also aims at making the children self confident and extend value education to them. The Editorial Board of the E-Magazine includes the Chief Operating Officer, Coordinator (Social Development), Young Professional (Child Resource Centre), Social Worker(Child Resource Centre), Panchayath Samiti, Bridge Course Teachers, Animators, Bridge School Teachers, Office Bearers of Bala Gothra Panchayath and Resource Persons team of Child Resource Centre.

Kudumbshree received Government approval to run Kudumbashree Canteens in Local Self Government Institutions without any tender procedures.The permission is given for running canteens in yearly contract. The 1074 canteens working under Kudumbashree Mission would be benefited out of this Government Order. As per the order, the micro entrepreneurs could start their enterprises regionally in Local Self Government Institutions which would in turn help them earn better income.

Kudumbashree catering units provide breakfast, lunch, tea, coffee, snacks and other ethnic food items in affordable rates. The catering orders in connection with the programmes that would be organised in the Local Self Government Institutions could be directly given to the Kudumbashree units. Presently Kudumbashree canteen units are working at District Collectorates and Government Guest Houses of every districts. Besides that, Kudumbashree catering units actively taking part in Saras Fairs, trade fairs organised by other states, International trade fairs and the trade fairs organised by other institutions. Tasty food and better customer service are the peculiarities of Kudumbashree catering units which attract more people towards the same. When the canteen units would be operational in Local Self Government Institutions, more than 6000 women would get direct employment.

The Advance Payment system of the Wages under MGNREGS for the tribal workers was inagurated in Agali Panchayath of Attappady Block. The programme was started at the Cheramankandy Hamlet of the Agali Panchayath of Attappady. The construction of the Check Dam was started yesterday.The advance wages for the construction work would be distributed to the tribal workers in weekly basis. A total of 14 tribal families of Attappady are included in the construction work of the check dam there. The Advance payment system is first piloted in Agali Panchayath. The system would also be implemented in the tribal areas of Wayanad as well.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, MGNREGA), is an Indian labour law and social security measure that aims to guarantee the 'right to work'. It aims to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

Kudumbashree Mission took up Subicsha Coconut Producer Company. From now, Subicsha Coconut Producer Company would be working under the leadership of Kudumbashree Mission. Shri. T.P Ramakrishnan, Minister for Labour and Excise, Government of Kerala inaugurated the Annual General Body Meeting of Subicsha Coconut Producer Company at Subicsha Head Office, Chalikkara, Perambra, Kozhikode on 24 September 2018. Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission made the official declaration of taking up the Subicsha Coconut Producer Company. Shri. T.P Ramakrishnan, Minister launched the ISO 9001-2015, ISO 22000-2005 certificates of the company and also the rebranded Subicsha Coconut Oil which would be exported to foreign countries soon.

Subicsha, the innovative Coconut based value added products venture, was developed jointly by Perambra Block Panchayath and Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, with an aim to provide employment opportunities to the members of 522 Self Help Groups/ Kudumbasree Members in Perambra Block Panchayath. The project envisaged the development of micro enterprises that could be effectively managed by the women self help groups / Kudumbasree members from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families active in the project area. All the micro enterprises were limited to the dependence on coconut, the most abundant resource available in the area. To create micro economic enterprises, to eradicate poverty, to generate employment opportunities for BPL families, to empower women self help groups by intensive training and financial assistance for starting self employment ventures were the main objectives of the project. The detailed project report submitted to the Govt, of India was duly approved with a special status under Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) scheme. The project was officially inaugurated on 31 October 2003. Subicsha was registered as a Producer Company under the companies Act 1956 on 12 April 2005, and Govt. of Kerala approved the company vide its order No. Go(MS) No. 258/06/LSGD TVM dated 13-11-06.

Presently, around 50 innovative coconut based products are developed and marketed by the Subicsha Coconut Producer Company. Virgin coconut oil, Tender Coconut Jam, Coconut Pickle, Natural Vinegar, Chutney Powder, Mango Pickle, Lemon Pickle, Turmeric Sandal Soap, Hair Care, Skin Care Oil, Baby Oil, Coconut Oil, Tender Coconut Squash, Dates Pickle, Traditional Virgin Coconut Oil, Hand Wash, Bathroom Cleaner, Floor Cleaner, Toilet Cleaner, Chilly Powder, Corriander Powder etc are the featured products of Subicsha Coconut Producer Company. Subicsha Coconut Producer Company has around 7000 members. Rs 4,93,08,302 was company's last year's turnover.

The 'All Women Disaster Response Team' by the Kudumbashree District Mission of Kozhikode has been launched. Shri.Thottathil Raveendran, Mayor, Kozhikode Corporation inaugurated the All Women Disaster Response Team on 1 October 2018.

Named as 'Pink Alert', it is the first ever women only disaster response team in India. 'Pink Alert' which is formed as part of the Disaster and Relief Cell of Kudumbashree has 100 members in its first batch. The 100 member team of volunteers has come up under the Kozhikode Corporation Kudumbashree CDS. It is as per the directions of the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF), the specialized force constituted for the purpose of specialist response to a threatening disaster situation or disaster under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 that the 'Pink Alert' All Women Disaster Response Team is formed. 'Pink Alert' would follow the guidelines of National Disaster Response Force.

Women and children are always the most affected and most helpless during any calamity or disaster. It is on this realization that the All Women Disaster Response Team was launched. The team consists of women from various neighborhood groups of the age group of 25 to 45 who are selected on the basis of their health and willingness to volunteer for service. Smt. T. Shitha is the Chief coordinator and Smt. M. Sahaja, Smt. Shemimol and Smt. K. Smitha will be the coordinators of the programme. Pink and White colored overcoat with Maroon cap and brown canvas shoes is the uniform for the 'Pink Alert' All Women Disaster Response Team.

Even though 'Pink Alert' would work in the Kozhikode corporation premises, if needed, they would extend their services to inside and outside the district as well. Baby Memorial Hospital Trauma Care- Kozhikode (TRACK), an independent, non-profit organisation set up by a group of voluntary organizations like Rotary Club, Lions Club, IMA etc, officers of the motor vehicle department, Police Officers and people who are socially committed and interested in social service with an aim to render life saving assistance to accident victims will extend training for the 'Pink Alert' members. A two-day residential camp for the volunteers will be held soon under the aegis of Trauma Care to prepare them for the job ahead. Pink Alert is an afterthought of “Mazhayardram”, the flood relief programme of the CDS and the part of Kudumbashree's Disaster Management and Relief Cell. Pink Alert is an effort to ensure better presence of women in disaster management and distress relief besides rehabilitation.

Kudumbashree Women are actively selling the Navakerala Lottery which was launched by the Directorate of Kerala Lotteries, Government of Kerala in an an aim to collect additional fund towards the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) for flood rehabilitation activities and for Rebuilding Kerala. Lottery tickets worth Rs 7.29 crore had been sold out so far. The lucky draw for the same is scheduled on 3 October 2018.

The Directorate of Kerala Lotteries aims to sell 90 lakh lottery tickets. First Prize of Rs 1 lakh will be given to 90 persons each and the second prize of Rs 5000 will be given to 100800 people. As part of the lottery selling, 1030 CDS out of 1064 CDS had took up the casual agency. Through this 14,989 Kudumbashree women are selling Navakerala Lottery tickets. They have sold 2,91,760 tickets so far. In connection with this, Rangashree, the community theater group of Kudumbashree Mission had been performing street plays for the publicity of the sale of Navakerala lotteries throughout the state. Kudumbashree Accounts and Audit Service Society (KAASS), Micro Enterprises Consultant (MEC) and other training groups had also took up the casual agency for selling Navakerala Lottery tickets and are active in selling the same. Rs 250 is the cost per ticket. While buying one book, they has to give only Rs 1943. By selling one book of 10 tickets, a Kudumbashree member may receive Rs 557 as commission. Also the CDS would get 10 % of the prize money of the winning tickets as agency prize and the rest of the amount would be given to the agent.

The Government of Kerala launched the Navakerala lottery in a bid to collect additional funds towards the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF),the emergency assistance release mechanism granting immediate relief to families and individuals distressed by calamity, loss of life due to accidents and chronic diseases. The Government hopes to collect close to Rs 100 crore through the lotteries to be used for reconstructing the flood-battered state. The state government is printed 96 lakh tickets in nine series as part of the lottery.The target of this special lottery is to raise Rs 100 crore, which will be the net profit for the state government after meeting all expenses of this special lottery, if all the 96 lakh tickets are sold. Government of Kerala entrusted Kudumbashree Mission as an agency to sell tickets to increase sales.

Kudumbashree's representative presents paper on 'Engaging Civil Society Organizations in Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals' organised by Asian Development Bank at Japan. It is Ms.Caroline.C. Neriamparampil, Social Development Specialist at PMAY Technical Cell Kochi who presented paper on 'Engaging Civil Society Organisations in Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals' conducted by the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank Institute held in Tokyo, Japan from 26-28 September 2018.

To share knowledge about the contribution of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), discuss with CSOs, governments, ADB, and other development actors, on the importance of working with CSOs in advancing the SDGs, recommend ways to effectively engage CSOs in helping achieve the SDGs were the objectives of the programme.

According to Caroline, linking the financial inclusion and micro finance, especially Kudumbashree Mission was of great interest to Asian Development Bank and many participants. A good fruitful discussion was followed by Caroline's presentation. During the time she also shared the involvement of Kudumbashree Community Based Organisation members in rehabilitation activities during the unprecedented floods in Kerala.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution whose vision is an Asia and Pacific region free of poverty. Asian Development Bank (ADB) is committed to reducing poverty through inclusive growth, environmentally sustainable growth and regional integration. Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) works with policymakers to identify strategies to reduce poverty and promote growth. It does so by conducting research with a focus on medium- to long-term development issues of strategic importance that affects the region and through capacity building and training activities that contribute to ADB’s overarching objective of poverty reduction.