Organised by Kudumbashree Mission Saras Mela 2018, the national food and cultural expo, offering the best of traditional, ethnic food and artistry was kickstarted at Municipal Ground, Chengannoor, Alappuzha on 14 August 2018.Shri. G. Sudhakaran, Minister for Public Works and Registration, Government of Kerala inaugurated the programme. Shri.Saji Cherian, MLA, Chengannur presided over the function. Shri. S.Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering.

The procession of 25,000 Kudumbashree women was planned prior to the inaugural function. It was later cancelled and the money for the procession would be contributed to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund,the emergency assistance release mechanism granting immediate relief to families and individuals distressed by calamity, loss of life due to accidents and chronic diseases. Micro entrepreneurs from 29 states and 7 Union territories across the country are taking part in the programme. Around 300 stalls are opened, out of which more than 100 stalls are of other states. The 80,000 sq ft big pavilion and food court is the main attraction of the Saras Fair.

The handicrafts that would showcase the heritage and culture of each states, art forms, jewelry, fabrics, utensils etc would be for sale at the Saras Mela. Apart from the sales stalls, several food stalls are opened for offering cuisines from different states across the country. Different ethnic cuisines from different states across the country would offer a new experience to the people. The programme strictly follow the green protocol and is opened from 10 AM to 10 PM. Daily cultural programmes like Kadhakali, Ottam Thullal, Mohiniyattom, Punjabi-Manipuri dances, magic show, seminars are also arranged in connection with Saras Fair. A Mega Thiruvathira was organised in connection with the Saras Fair by thousands of CDS, NHG women and women representatives from Local Self Government Institutions at the Christian College ground, Chengannur, Alappuzha on 13 August 2018.

Adding more colour to Kerala's festive days, Saras Mela 2018 is being an incredible opportunity to get acquainted with the cultural, artistic, traditional, and rich heritage values of different states across the country. Entry to Saras Fair is absolutely free. The mela would come to an end on 23 August 2018. Saras Fair would not only be a platform for the micro entrepreneurs to find market for their rural products, but also, this national festival would act as a platform which arrange the get together of the diverse yet secular culture of our country.

Kudumbashree Mission bid farewell to Dr. K.T Jaleel, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala. On behalf of Kudumbashree Misson, Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission handed over the memento as a token of gratitude to the Minister at the meeting held at Minister's chamber on 14 August 2018. Dr. K.T Jaleel will soon sworn in charge as Minister, Higher Education Department, Government of Kerala. Minister requested all the Kudumbashree officials to continue serving the people with sheer enthusiasm and compassion and offered his wholehearted support for all the future endeavors of Kudumbashree Mission.

Shri. K. P. Anil, Private Secretary to Minister, LSGD, Shri. Santhosh Kumar S, Assistant Private Secretary to Minister, LSGD, Shri. M. Raghavan, Assistant Private Secretary to Minister, LSGD, Smt. Ramlath. P, Director, Kudumbashree Mission, Smt.Shibi Abraham, Accounts Officer, Kudumbashree Mission, Shri. Binu Francis, Shri. Dathan C.S, Smt. Niranjana N.S, Shri. Nikesh Kiran (Programme Officers), Smt. Jayanthi Narendran, Public Relations Officer, Kudumbashree Mission and other officials from Kudumbashree Mission were also present at the meeting.

A group of 11 students from Keio University of Japan visited Kudumbashree to study about the poverty alleviation activities being implemented by Kudumbashree Mission in Kerala. The students visited a Neighbourhood Group at Karakulam Panchayath, interacted with them, attended class room sessions on Kudumbashree three tier system, micro finance activities, livelihoods etc. They also visited the Panchayath office, interacted the Local Self Government members and officials and also visited CDS offices and micro enterprise units.

The 11 member team from Keio University of Japan include George Araki, Eisuke Nasuno, Kenichiro Kimura, Shintaro Iwai, Shiori Tanaka, Shizuki Kanda, Shoko Shimane, Taiga Koen, Umeyama Kan, Yuki Aibe and Yuki Inoue. They belong to a study group which focuses on development studies, who are undergoing an undergraduate programme in Economics at Keio University. It is as part of their short field trip to learn about the developing countries that they visited Kudumbashree Mission. Their study would focus on how Kudumbashree Mission's micro finance activities help the poor people in abolishing poverty. Keio is a private university, known as the oldest institute of modern higher education in Japan located in Tokyo.

Giving boost to diagnostic facilities, Kudumbashree Mission launched a Medical Lab at Parappanangadi, Malappuram. Named as 'Alpha Medical Lab', the lab is set up with the help of the centrally designed programme National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM). It has started functioning during February 2018. The Alpha Medical Lab is launched under the leadership of Smt. Shilpi, Lab technician who has experience of 15 years in this sector. It is under the Self Employment Programme (SEP) Component of NULM that Alpha Medical lab is launched. Kudumbashree Mission is the nodal agency for implementing the centrally designed programme, National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) in Kerala.

Self Employment Programme Component of NULM focus on financial assistance to individuals/groups of urban poor for setting up gainful self-employment ventures/ micro-enterprises, suited to their skills, training, aptitude and local conditions. The medical lab carries out all tests including hormone culture tests, diabetes check up, cholesterol tests, thyroid tests, all other blood tests and other blood tests and other health packages. The total cost of the project cost Rs 10 lakhs. The lab posses all modern facilities. This is the story of a woman who turned her strengths into livelihood with the help of Kudumbashree Mission.

Kudumbashree Mission received recognition from Reliance General Insurance. The Certificate of Appreciation was conferred on Kudumbashree Mission for the valuable contribution towards the association with Reliance General Insurance in achieving the highest ever enrollment in the state of Kerala for the Financial year 2018-19. Kudumbashree has been appreciated for the valuable contribution in Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna- Comprehensive Health Insuarance Scheme- Senior Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (RSBY-CHIS-SCHIS). Kudumbashree Mission has mobilised 41 lakhs poor families under this health insurance scheme of Government of Kerala. Shri. T. P. Ramakrishnan, Minister for Labour and Excise, Government of Kerala gave away the award to Smt Jiji. R.S, State Programme Manager, Micro Finance, Kudumbashree Mission, at the programme held at Taj Vivanta,Thiruvananthapuram on 9 August 2018.

The objective of RSBY/CHIS is to protect below poverty line (BPL) households from major health shocks that involve hospitalization. Specifically, BPL families are entitled to more than 700 in-patient procedures with a cost of up to 30,000 rupees per annum for a nominal registration fee of 30 rupees. The Scheme is jointly implemented by departments of Labour & Rehabilitation, Health & Family Welfare, Rural Development, and Local Self Government.The Labour Department is the Nodal department for the implementation of CHIS. A separate agency Comprehensive Health Insurance Agency of Kerala (CHIAK) is created for implementation of the scheme. Reliance General Insurance is the insurance Agency for the financial year 2017-18 and 2018-19.

Kudumbashree played the intermediary role by conducting IEC campaigns, to organize awareness programmes, to invite people to enrollment stations and to initiate the needy beneficiaries to seek treatment benefits from the empanelled hospitals. As far as Kudumbashree is concerned, reaching out to individual beneficiaries and orienting them about the benefits of the schemes and making them to visit the enrollment station for registration/renewal was much of an easier task as they are either NHG members or their kith and kin. Crowd management at the enrollment station was another responsibility which was also performed well by Kudumbashree members. In order to do the door to door campaign, 2 Neighborhood Group Members at the Area Development Society were selected and they were given with slip containing the details of beneficiaries. Kudumbashree members went from door to door and educated the citizen about the eligibility criteria and the benefits of the insurance scheme. A total of 44,000 women are working in this role. The members who are selected to perform the task get from Rs.5 to Rs.6 per enrollment as a token of appreciation. Kudumbashree had mobilized 35 lakhs of families during the financial year 2017-18 and the cheque of Rs.1.86 crore regarding the same was also received at the function.

Comprehensive Health Insurance Agency of Kerala, shortly called CHIAK, is the Nodal Agency constituted mainly for the implementation of the RSBY-CHIS health insurance schemes in Kerala .The two health insurance schemes for the poor are being implemented in Kerala are namely, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) and Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme(CHIS). RSBY is implemented with the assistance of Government of India for the benefit of families coming under Below Poverty Line (BPL) and CHIS is implemented by State Government for benefiting families not coming under the purview of RSBY.

Grama Kiranam Programme, the exclusive programme of Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission received State Government's Approval. The Engineering Department of the Government College of Engineering, Kannur had already certified the quality of the Grama Kiranam LED bulbs made by Kudumbashree members. It is on its basis that the Grama Kiranam Programme received Government approval. So from now, even the Government institutions may buy the Grama Kiranam bulbs devoid of any quotation formalities. Until then, the Grama Kiranam LED bulbs were being sold in trade fairs and other programmes.

The theory and practical training for making LED bulbs and repairing the street lights were given to around 51 people at Cheruvathoor and Uppala during February- March 2018. They were also given training in business management, communication leadership, accounting etc. The bulbs and the street lights have 1 year warranty. An order of 300 LED bulbs had been received from Valiyaparamba Panchayath as part of the association of the Local Self Government Institutions with the Grama Kiranam units of Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission, and the same had been delivered on time. The teams are also trained in making LED, tube, emergency, panel light etc. The Grama Kiranam unit members were felicitated by the Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission.

The Gurukulam 2017 programme, organised by Kudumbashree Mission associating with Idukki District Administration and Scheduled Tribes Development Department with an aim of enabling the Scheduled Tribes candidates at Marayoor received National Recognition. The Programme received the Award-'Skoch Order of Merit in the Pilot Level' constituted by Skoch Group, a think tank dealing with the socio economic issues with a focus on inclusive growth since 1997.

Gurukulam 2017 was a residential training programme for Scheduled Tribes candidates organised by Kudumbashree Mission associating with Idukki District Administration and Scheduled Tribes Development Department. The training programme was conducted during May- June 2017 at Marayoor, Idukki. It was for the first time in India, that a two month residential programme was organised for a particular category. A total of 150 candidates attended the Gurukulam 2017 Residential training programme out of which 18 candidates qualified for Lower Division Clerk (LDC) Test and 17 candidates qualified in the Last Grade Service (LGS) Test. It was Eduzone Academy that trained the candidates of Gurukulam 2017 training programme. A total of 165 candidates have registered for Gurukulam 2018 training programme.

A two member group under National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) has recently started cut vegetable unit in Kochi Corporation. The unit markets the product labelled as 'Fresh Vegetables'. Cut vegetables for Avial, Sambar, Thoran etc are cleaned, cut and hygienically packed and are being sold. Peeled garlic and small onion are also sold in this manner. The unit also used to sell jack fruit and jack fruit seeds during its season.The cut vegetable unit was inaugurated by Smt. Soumini Jain, Mayor Kochi Municipal Corporation on 9 July 2018. Smt. Jensy Saji and Smt. Omana Johny are the women behind the ' Fresh Vegetables' cut vegetable unit.

The unit is selling their product in LULU Mall Hypermarket and Centre Sqaure Mall at Ernakulam. Half kilogram of cut vegetables cost Rs 50. More than 100 boxes are sold on Saturdays and Sundays and more than 80 boxes are being sold during other working days. The unit also sells cut fruits and grated coconut at Centre Square Mall, Ernakulam. The unit uses garlic peelers, driers, wash tubs and cutting tables for cutting the vegetables. The unit is also intending to start a shop for the purpose.

The Persons With Disabilities (PWD) batch of DDU-GKY pass out from Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Kochi. Dr. K.T Jaleel, Minister, Local Self Government Department gave away the certificates to the candidates who successfully passed out after the completion of the course on 31 July 2018. It was as part of Inclusion of all in DDU-GKY skill training programme that Kudumbashree Mission initiated an exclusive batch giving special focus for the Persons With Disabilities and other weaker sections, with the support of Project Implementing Agency, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Kochi. A total of 28 candidates had passed out out of which 8 have already received job placements. The skill training was conducted at Kripa Centre, Chunangamveli, Aluva.

As larger number of PWDs were of Locomotor Disability, who experienced the inability to execute distinctive activities associated with moving, both personally and objects, from place to place, needed special attention as they were denied the opportunities in jobs. These candidates also need special attention as they don’t have any bread winner or support for the survival of family other than them. It is in the light of this realisation that Kudumbashree initiated a special batch for PWDs and other weaker sections, with a sanctioned strength of 150 PWDs was commenced to provide skill training.

The passed out candidates include Shri. Albin Jose, Shri. Amal Joshy, Smt.Anitha Luka, Shri. Bibin. P.Jose, Shri. Gokul V.J, Shri. Irshad T.M, Ms. Greena Joy, Smt. Jancy Joy, Shri. John P.T, Shri. Jose C.J, Ms. Jyolsna. K.V, Shri. Mahin K.A, Smt. Meera Seghar, Shri. Mohammaed Thalhath, Shri. Najeeb, Smt. Misla Najeeb, Ms. Muneeba P.S, Shri. Noushad, Shri. Rahul Babu, Shri. Riswan. V.A, Smt. Salmath Muhammed, Shri. Samal V.A, Smt. Sini Prasad, Smt. Suhara Beevi, Ms. Sulaikha P.A, Shri. Swalih C.M, Shri. Tomy Vargheese and Ms. Vijitha C.C. They were provided skill training in Book Binder, Front Office Associate and Housekeeping Attendant jobs. Their curriculum included domain, computer skills, english skills, soft skills, internal assessments, counselling, sector skill assessment etc. They were also given a stipend of Rs 125 a day along with the free uniform, bag, book and other learning materials.

After that the mobilization for the programme the first batch for the Orthopedically Handicapped & mild Mentally Challenged was started. The second batch of Front Office Assistant batch had already been started and the second batch of book binding would be started soon.

Kudumbashree Mission's Arogyasena reaches out to the flood prone areas of Kuttanad. It is for preventing the spread of epidemics that Kudumbashree's Arogyasena made the timely intervention at Kuttanad. Training regarding the same had already been given to 50 Kudumbashree members associating with National Health Mission in the first phase and under their leadership training has been extended to 300 more in different phases and are sent for the rehabilitation activities at the relief camp.The Arogyasena has been visiting the various rehabilitation camps and houses and has been giving health awareness classes.

The disaster management volunteering team formed under Kudumbashree Mission includes block coordinators, micro enterprise consultants, gender resource persons, community counselors, Eksath training team, Area Development Societies (ADS) and Community Development Societies (CDS) members in the urban areas. The food, clothes, medicines, drinking water, first aid boxes etc collected by the team had been distributed among the flood prone areas. The disaster management volunteering team is extending the rehabilitation services under the leadership of Smt. Suja Eapen, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission, Shri. V.J Vargheese, Shri. K.B Ajayakumar, Shri. P.Sunil and Shri N. Venupola (Assistant District Mission Coordinators-Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission). Various CDSs in Alappuzha had actively contributed food, clothes, drinking water etc for the people at the flood prone areas. Through Arogyasena Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission has set a unique model of compassion.