Kudumbashree, the state level nodal agency for many housing projects for the past 20 years and HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation), the premier institute in housing sector are partnering together in rebuilding Kerala. Kudumbashree is joining hands with HUDCO for building 36 houses towards the rehabilitation of the flood affected victims. As per the request of Kudumbashree Mission for providing assistance, HUDCO had granted CSR assistance worth Rs 20.02 crores for the construction of 36 houses in Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts. 12 houses each would be constructed in Venmani Grama Panchayath, Chenganoor Grama Panchayath of Alappuzha district and North Paravoor municipality of Ernakulam district. Therefore, Rs 67 lakhs each would be allotted for Venmani Grama Panchayath, Chenganoor Grama Panchayath and North Paravoor municipality for building the houses.

The beneficiaries would be selected by Kudumbashree Mission, in consultation with the District Administration and the District Administration would be selecting the beneficiaries in consultation with the Local Self  Government Institutions. Basic infrastructural facilities  such as electricity, water supply and access would be provided by the concerned Local Self Government Institutions. HUDCO will handover the financial assistance to Kudmbashree  Mission and Kudmbashree Mission will transfer the funds to implementing agencies. The monitoring will be done by the Local Self Government Institutions (LSGIs) and Kudumbashree Mission. The utilization certificates would be furnished by Kudumabashree  Mission after the utilization of each installment of CSR grants released by HUDCO. In Alappuzha, the construction works would be undertaken by Kudumbashree women construction groups and Nirmithi Kendra and in Ernakulam, the construction would be managed by Kudumbashree women construction groups themselves.

Kudumbashree is the State level nodal agency for the implementation of housing schemes implemented by the Union Ministry for the past 20 years viz., Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana, National Slum Development  Programme, Integrated Housing and Slum Development Scheme, Basic Services for the Urban Poor, Rajiv Awas Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

The construction of 20 PMAY houses undertaken by Kudumbashree Construction Groups is progressing at Kollam Corporation. As 50 days passes by since the initiation of the construction, foundation works of 16 houses had been completed. Brick works of 7 houses has been started and the work of 5 houses had reached upto the lintel beam. The  lintel and shade had been concreted for 2 houses and the brickwork above lintel had been completed for one house.

 Kudumbashree Construction Groups of Kollam take up the construction of PMAY houses at Kollam Corporation, by adding yet another feather to their cap. It is as part of rehabilitating the residents at the Alakkukuzhy slum in the cantonment division of Kollam that the houses are being constructed. The houses are being constructed at Mundakkal, Kollam. A total of 20 houses of 500 sqft area will be built in each 3 cents of land.The expenses of the construction would be met from the PMAY fund and the additional amount  from the fund of Kollam Corporation. The contract regarding the same had been signed between Kudumbashree and Kollam Corporation on 17 November 2018. As per the contract, Kollam Corporation handed over the land to Kudumbashree Construction groups on 15 December 2018. The foundation stone of the houses were laid by Adv. V. Rajendra Babu, Mayor, Kollam corporation on 31 December 2018.

Two Kudumbashree construction groups from Kollam Corporation will be in charge of the construction of the houses. In addition, constrcution team members from Sasthamkotta, Shooranad, Kottarakkara and those who got trained through NULM, DDUGKY etc would become part of the programme. It is planned to complete the construction works within 1 year time.

The state level inauguration of Kudumbashree Mission’s ambitious project ‘Destitute-free Kerala’ that aims to protect the destitute population of the state  was held at Kalpetta, Wayand on 21 Febrauary 2019. Shri. A.C Moideen, Minister for Local Self Governments, Government of Kerala inaugurated the project at Kalpetta in Wayanad. Kudumbashree Mission, in association with local bodies, plans to develop the current Ashraya scheme for the implementation of the project. 

The Destitute Free Kerala project will benefit 1.60 lakh people who don’t have anyone to take care for them. Out of this, 10,716 people belong to scheduled castes category. Already 773, out of the 1,034 local bodies in the state have submitted a detailed project report for implementing the project to Kudumbashree Mission.  The scrutinizing of the projects reports is taking place at Kudumbashree Mussion and will get  the clearance soon. The project aims at  the total rehabilitation of the destitute by finding them a source of living and developing their social and economic status. The beneficiaries of Destitute Free Kerala project will be provided food, treatment, clothes, welfare pensions, schooling, land and house. Kudumbashree Mission and local bodies will also provide training to the beneficiaries on several self-employment opportunities. The members of the destitute families are already being given skill training the centrally sponsored programmes  Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY) and National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM). Those who do not have homes of their own will be included in the LIFE Mission project and will be given houses. The Destitute Free Kerala project thereby aims at making the destitute self sustained. The initial activities of the Destitute Free Kerala was started during 19 October 2017. 

Kudumbashree Misson will soon sign MoU with the online shopping site 'Amazon'. The MoU would be signed between Shri.S. Harikishore IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission and the representatives of 'Amazon.in' in the presence of Shri. A.C Moideen, Minister for Local Self Governments, Government of Kerala at the function proposed to be held at Government Guest House, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram on 27 February 2019.

Kudumbashree Mission  had already started displaying the products of Kudumbashree's micro enterprises in Amazon.in and had received its very first order from Himachal Pradesh. The products produced by Kudumbashree women's micro enterprises units are widely accepted among the community because of its ethnicity and purity. As the demand for Kudumbashree products started increasing day by day, Kudumbashree Mission had started finding new marketing platforms for fulfilling real customer's requirements through permanent markets, nano markets, kiosks etc. Kudumbashree Mission had also launched an online portal called www.kudumbashreebazaar.com for marketing the products.
 
In the initial stage of selling Kudumbashree products through 'amazon.in', Kudumbashree Mission is planning to display 100 products from various micro enterprises across the state in trial basis. Kudumbashree Mission have also  started an exclusive office in Thiruvananthapuram for handling amazon order and customer care services.  Convergence with 'amazon.in' is made possible through a project called 'Amazon Saheli' which was developed for promoting India’s rural women micro entrepreneurs. Handicrafts, beauty products, handloom, toiletries, soaps, cleaning substances, ayurvedic products etc are the main categories of products displayed.

What is now echoing in the sky is the clinking of the bangles and laughter. Fifty one Kudumbashree Resource Persons from Alappuzha district were on aboard, realizing their long-cherished dream of a flight journey. They got that much-awaited opportunity after four long years. The handbook published as part of Gender Self Learning Program (GSLP) of Kudumbashree Mission gave wings to their dream to fly. 

GSLP is a well-devised project under Kudumbasree Mission. They cater for an overall women empowerment and focus on thematic areas like ‘Women and Workplace’, ‘Women and Health’, ‘Women and Mobility’ and ‘Women and Entertainment’. The third Module was based on the theme ‘Women and Freedom of Mobility’. The handbook published on the fourth module on ‘Women’s Status, Equality, Justice’ further ignited their wish into a vehement desire. The chapters such as “Who am I?”, “What do I have?”, “My Needs” etc., inspired them greatly.

The Kudumbashree workers boarded the Air Asia flight to Bangalore at 1.30 PM on 6 February 2019 and thus fulfilled their dream journey by air. After a two-day stay in Bangalore, they will caught the return flight. They made use of their own income from working as 'Resource Persons' to meet their own expenses. Krishna Teja, the sub-collector of Alappuzha, flagged-off their travel to airport. This journey can be seen as a fine example of Kudumbashree Mission's fruitful endeavors in women empowerment and it adds another feather to their cap. The accomplishment of these people is an inspiration to each and every woman to come out of the four walls of kitchen and reach out to the world outside; to grab the opportunities to fulfill their dreams and pursue their passions.

Gender Self Learning Programme could be regarded as the first social educational process that would have direct implications on rights and entitlements of women in grass roots. Unlike conventional women empowerment programmes that adhere to awareness classes, gender self learning programme aims at facilitating neighborhood groups on discussions that reflect on discrimination, violence and inequality. Each woman represented in the network is regarded as a participant, information provider and knowledge creator.

Kudumbashree area development societies (ADSs) bagged a national award from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for increasing their income through sanitation and waste management activities under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM). Maruthadi ADS in Kollam Corporation and Kanakkanchery ADS in Perithalmanna, Malappuram district, are the ADSs which bagged the award. Shri.S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission and the representatives from municipality and officials received the award at the programme held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 15 February 2019.  

Ninety Kudumbashree women are the  part of sanitation and waste management activities under the Maruthadi ADS. They are  producing compost out of the organic waste. They had also been supporting the  implementation of green protocol in events held in the area by completely avoiding the use of plastic. The women were earning Rs.6,000 a month through this.The women dealing the sanitation and waste management activities in Kanakkanchery  ADS makes Rs 5,000 a month. 

The selection committee comprising of Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission, Smt. R. Girija, Director, Urban Affairs, Shri. Binu Francis, Former Urban Programme Officer selected  the 16 applications received from the urban local bodies and sent it to the Union Ministry. On receiving the applications, officials of the Quality Council of India visited the 16 ADSs and submitted detailed reports to the Ministry. The first prize is Rs.2 lakhs,  Rs.1.5 lakhs, and Rs.1 lakh are the second and third prizes respectively. Kudumbashree is the nodal agency for implementing NULM in the state.

Kudumbashree Gender Resource Centre has been opened at Ettumanoor of Kottayam district of Kerala to ensure welfare, personality development, and self defense of the women.The gender resource center was inaugurated by Smt. J. Mercykutty Amma, Minister for Fisheries, Harbour Engineering and Cashew Industry. Government of Kerala. The aim of the Gender Resource Centre is to make avail the different facilities of women empowerment in one platform.

Through this programme, Kudumbashree  Mission aims at  making women safe from all  atrocities. Kudumbashree Mission also plans to facilitate this programme more effectively by formulating a gender coordination committee including lawyers, doctors and police circle inspectors. The Gender Resource Centre functions at the Kudumbashree building near the Ettumanoor municipality office. There are a lots of programs available like fitness classes, counseling for girls and mothers and library. 
The yoga classes are made available to women free of cost. Fitness classes and library are functioning in the first floor of Kudumbashree Mission office. Twenty five lakh was the total expense of this program.

The Gender Resource Centre has now became  a role model and Ettumanoor Muncipality became women and child friendly by the launch of Gender Resource Centre.

For motivating the aspiring photographers and to propagate the activities of Kudumbashree Mission through photographs, Kudumbashree Mission launched Season 2 of ‘Kudumbashree or Nerchithram’ Photography Competition. Kudumbashree Mission which envisions at eradicating poverty through women in Kerala had successfully completed 19 revolutionary years.

The contestants should submit photographs that would reflect the 18 priority projects of Kudumbashree Mission.The entries should reach Kudumbashree Mission office on or before 5 PM, 15 March 2019. The jury comprising of renowned photographers and officials of Kudumbashree Mission will select the winner. The Award for the Best Photographer will be Rs 20,000. The second prize and third prize will be Rs 10,000 and Rs 5000 respectively. Rs 1000 each will be issued for 10 entries as consolation prizes.

Entries may be send to the mail id kudumbashreeprcontest@gmail.com or may be sent in CD Format to the address, The Executive Director, Kudumbashree State Mission Office, Trida Building, Medical college P.O, Thiruvananthapuram-695011. The name, address, mail id and contact number should be mentioned alongwith. A short note on the photograph should be attached along with. More details of the notiification is available at Kudumbashree website- www.kudumbashree.org

The first season of ‘Kudumbashree or Nerchithram’ was conducted during November- December 2017 and was a grant success. More than 500 photographs were received and it is on following the success of the competition, that the season 2 of the competition is being launched.

Kudumbashree handlooms right from the looms of Kudumbashree women of Kuthambulli and Karimbuzha (weaver villages of Thrissur and Palakkad districts ) were staged at the 'Runaway Show' (Fashion show) at the World Bank Conclave held at New Delhi. The show was curated by eminent floor managers and 7 designers known wide across Delhi has crafted wardrobes for the show. Kudumbashree handlooms were the show stopper of the 'Runaway Show'.The show staged the milky white cotton non woven, golden fibres infused non stitched clothes of Kudumbashree as the inaugural exhibit.

7 renowned female models carried the gracefully designed handcrafted unique crafts of Kudumbashree women across the ramps in all charm and glam which won all hearts of the renowned audience including country heads of UN houses, ambassadors, secretaries of the ministries etc.  

World bank South Asia Regional conclave is organised on “Building Community Resilience - the role of the state and women self help groups organised by world bank, supported Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and National Rural Livelihoods Mission.  Kudumbashree Mission is participating as an associate partner. Participants from the south east Asia region countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan etc are participating in the conclave.  The show was distinguished in its form that the apparel used were designed and hand crafted by women of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan etc.

Kudumbashree Mission is also participating in the producer market place- “product exhibition” at the world bank front lawns conducted in conjunction with the event. Kudumbashree is exhibiting honey, cashew, handlooms, spices, chocolates, biennale branded pickles toiletries etc  from different units across Kerala which were severely affected by the recent floods. Products from 5 countries and leading NGOs are also on the display.
 
Mr. Sajith Sukumaran, Chief Operating Officer, Kudumbashree National Resource Organisation has spoken as a panelist in the session titled “Emerging strategies, opportunities and private sector partnership models in non farm sector for at risk communities”, where he has pitched on the differences of private partners employing and private partners collaborating on proper defined business terms that cater women entrepreneurial capacities and also the Kudumbashree experiences in facing and moving across recent floods, how the community worked in rescue, relief, rehabilitation and now in rebuilding.

Kudumbashree Mission started displaying the products of Kudumbashree's micro enterprises in Amazon.in and had also its first order has been received. The first order for Kudumbashree's products was received from Himachal Pradesh. Kudumbashree products are produced by Kudumbashree women's micro enterprises units, which are widely accepted by the community because of its ethnicity and purity. As the demand for Kudumbashree products are increasing day by day, Kudumbashree Mission had also started finding new marketing platforms for fulfilling real customer's requirements. through permanent markets, nano markets, kiosks etc. Kudumbashree Mission had also launched an online portal called www.kudumbashreebazaar.com for marketing the products.
 
In the initial stage of selling Kudumbashree products through Amazon.in, Kudumbashree Mission is planning to display 100 products as trail basis. Kudumbashree Mission have also  started an exclusive office in Thiruvananthapuram for handling amazon order and customer care services.  Convergence with amazon.in made possible through a project called 'Amazon Saheli' which was developed for promoting India’s rural women micro entrepreneurs. Handicrafts, beauty products, handloom, toiletries, soaps, cleaning substances, ayurvedic products etc are the main categories of products displayed.