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.

In the model of Paravoor urban service team, 4 U, new urban service team was started in Kochi Corporation. Shri. A.B.Sabu, Welfare Standing Committee Chairperson, Kochi Corporation inaugurated the urban service team on 30 July 2018. The teams are set up with the help of the centrally designed programme National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM). A total of 20 persons are identified for the group. The group includes Plumber, Electricians, Painters, drivers, masons, beauticians etc. Public may avail the service through a phone call and the service providers will provide it at their door step.To avail the service the customer may call in the no. 9995608203. By launching urban service team, Kochi Corporation has managed to make their mark.

Suraksha 2018, the State Level Animal Birth Control Awareness Campaign to propagate the ABC programme to the grassroot level was concluded. Adv. K.Raju, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Forest, Dairy Development and Zoos,Government of Kerala inaugurated the valedictory function held at Main Hall, Kanakakkunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram on 31 July 2018. A Workshop on the topic 'The Social Relevance of Animal Birth Control Programme' was also organised along-with.The awards for the Photograhy- Logo designing competition was given away at the function.

It is decided to execute the animal birth control activities of 2 lakh dogs in the next 2 years. If rabies is caused through the bite of the stray dogs it would become a more serious issue. Even though the stray dogs attack human beings, the killing of street dogs is banned as per various acts and judgements. It was then the Animal Husbandry Department came up to find a solution for the same. As the programme was not functioning properly, Kudumbashree was entrusted for implementing the Animal Birth Control programme in the state. As Kudumbashree Mission took up the programme, the programme became a success. If more Kudumbashree women would enter into this sector, the issue of stray dogs could be controlled to a greater extent. It is notable that within 11 months after the launch of the programme, Kudumbashree women caught 15,623 dogs and made a income of Rs 3.23 crore.Minister said.

It is through Kudumbashree that the various programmes of the Government of Kerala are brought to the lower strata of the society. As Kudumbashree complete the assigned tasks efficiently within no time, Government of Kerala entrusts the Mission with more assignments. It is because of Kudumbashree's efficiency that Kudumbashree was entrusted with the Animal Birth Control Programme. The Animal Husbandry Department will extend all the support to Kudumbashree for the same. He added.

The Awards for Shri.Sumesh Kodiyath and Shri. Sudharmadas, who came first and second in the Photography competition was given away at the function.The award for Shri. Anantha Krishnan who came first in the logo designing competition, the awards for the children who were the winners in the painting competition, the awards for the best performing districts were also given away at the programme. Minister also distributed the uniforms and Identity cards for the ABC unit members.

Dr. R venugopal, Assistant Director, Animal husbandry, Dr. Kishore Kumar, Veterinary Surgeon, Animal Husbandry and Dr. Anand Shankar, Former Veterinary Surgeon, World Veterinary Society attended the workshop conducted in connection with the programme. The unit members who successfully executed the ABC programme shared their success stories before the public. Dr. Nikesh Kiran, Programme Officer, ABC programme, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering. Shri. V.K Prasanth, Mayor, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation presided over the function. Dr N.N Sasi, Director, Animal Husbandry Department, District Mission Coordinators, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinators and Block Co-ordinators also attended the programme. Dr. L. Ravikumar extended vote of thanks.

A Kudumbashree woman from Kerala received a golden opportunity to converse with the Prime Minister of India. It was Smt. Shiji from Kozhikode district of Kerala who received the golden opportunity to interact with Shri. Narendra Modi, Honorable Prime Minister, Government of India. The meeting with the Prime Minister was held at Jupiter Auditorium, Lucknow on 28 July 2018. She shared her experiences with the Prime Minister in her mother tongue, Malayalam language.Smt. Shiji was the only person who received the invitation for participating in the programme which was organised for the Prime Minister to have a talk with the beneficiaries whose house construction was completed under the first phase of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

Shiji told the Prime Minister that building a house was her dream and now she is happy and content that it has become a reality through Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). As Shiji told the Prime Minister that she doesn't know Hindi language, he asked her to continue the same in her mother tongue. 35 PMAY beneficiaries from different states across the country also attended the programme and interacted with the Prime Minister.

A group of five transgenders from Kozhikode District is all set to enter into group farming after this Monsoon season. A Joint Liability Group named 'Punarjani' had been formed under Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission. The transgenders will bring their cultivated crops to the market very soon. It is envisaged to ensure the supply of pure organic vegetables to the public thereby helping the sidelined communities like transgenders earn their livelihood through group farming.They launched the programme by sowing the seeds in a grow bag at Kudumbashree District Mission Kozhikode. The group will do their farming at the 25 cents of land of Mahilamandiram, located at Vellimadukunnu, Kozhikode. Sisily George, Kareena, Aleena, Prayaga and Thasni are the five members of the group. Prayaga is the Secretary and Sisily is the President of the Group.

The loans for buying the seeds and fertilizers would be made availed by Kudumbashree. The Punarjani group members had already received training from Krishi Vigyan Kendra for mushroom cultivation and coconut tree climbing. Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission has framed the programme in connection with the Kudumbashree- Mahila Kisan Sashakthikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) programme. Through Mahila Kisan Sashakthikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) programme of the Government of India aims to improve the status of women in agriculture and bridge the gender gap that still exists in the Indian agrarian world to bring about systemic change in the sector. Kudumbashree Mission had been implementing various programmes for bringing the sidelined communities like transgenders to the forefront of the society and it is for the first time that a Joint Liability Group is formed for helping them enter into group farming.

Kudumbashree opens AC waiting Hall at Tirur Railway Station. The AC waiting hall opened by Kudumbashree at railway station is being a boon for many people especially women and the elderly. The air conditioned waiting hall opened at Tirur Railway Station works 24 hours a day and provide a comfortable halt to the travelers. Feeding console is also arranged for lactating mothers is one of the attractive feature of Kudumbashree Waiting Hall. An amount of Rs 25 per hour is charged for availing the services of Kudumbashree's AC waiting hall. Special play area for children would also be set up along with. Recliner sofa is made available for senior citizen. The AC waiting hall has also set up a clean, hygienic bathroom and special area for mobile charging as well.

The staff of the rest room were given special training at Kudumbashree Facility Management Centre which had recently bagged the Excellence Award 2018 constituted by Kerala Management Association (KMA)for the Innovative HR initiatives. Kudumbashree rest rooms are opened at Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Thrissur railway stations. The clean and safe rest rooms opened by Kudumbashree is a boon to the women passengers who travels alone.

Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission is all set to launch 'Shree Taxi' associating with the National Health Mission, Malappuram. It is a convergence programme of Kudumbashree Mission and the National Health Mission. As per the programme, the 'Shree Taxi' would take the pregnant women to the hospital and also take the mothers and newborn babies after delivery from the Tirur Government Hospital to their homes. Smt. Rahmath, mother of a mentally challenged kid, who was struggling to make her livelihood would be the driver of the Shree Taxi. She had already secured her Driving Licence and Badge for the same. According to the National Health Mission this is the first of its kind project in India. The District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission and the District Programme Manager, National Health Mission, Malappuram had already signed the MoU regarding the same.

The service is framed as per the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) Scheme which was launched by Government of India during June 2011 to motivate those pregnant women who still choose to deliver at their homes to opt for institutional deliveries. The Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) Scheme has the provisions to provide several entitlements to the mothers and the newborns which include Free Transport from Home to Health Institutions, Free Transport between facilities in case of referral and Free drop Back from Institutions to home. It is also planned to extend the programme to the other government hospitals in the district as well. By the convergence, the Kudumbashree women and the pregnant women would be benefited.The ' Shree Taxi' service would be officially inaugurated on 11 August 2018.

Kerala became the first state in the country to ensure the proper inclusion of street vendors in the society, by issuing Identity cards to them. For rehabilitating the street vendors in a proper and effective way, it was decided to extend skill training to selected 1000 street food vendors. The training programme was conducted as part of the Recognition of Prior Learning(RPL). It has been designed to provide RPL training to 1000 street vendors this year.During the first phase, 200 street vendors from 10 Urban local Bodies were trained. The first phase training had almost been completed.

The training of the first batch was conducted at Kottayam District from 20-23 June 2018. The RPL Trainings at Alappuzha, Thodupuzha, Moovattupuzha, Thrikkakara, Kodungalloor, Wadakkanchery, Chalakkudy and Malappuram Urban Local Bodies had already been completed. The training at Koyilandy Urban Local Body would be conducted from 25-28 July 2018.

Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), the pioneer institute for tourism and hospitality in Kerala had been extending 12 hour training to street vendors in Urban Local Bodies of the state under National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) Scheme. The trainers of the KITTS were extending training sessions in all urban Local Bodies. During the training programme the participants were exposed to the aspects such as food safety & hygiene, procurement of quality raw material, food contamination (physical, chemical and microbial), high risk foods, cross contamination, importance of safe food, quality of water/ice to be used, cleaning sanitation of utensils, effective waste/garbage disposal, table manners and etiquette, customer relation practices and basics of food safety laws. Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) would issue certificate to the participants who had successfully completed the training programme. A hand book is also issued for quick reference along with participation certificate.

A large number of street food outlets are functioning across 93 urban pockets in the state. Local flavors are being served at such roadside outlets at cheapest prices. Food borne illnesses of microbial origin are major health problem associated with such street foods and its major causes are lack of proper knowledge in safe food handling, lack of clean environment, sanitation and hygiene, mode of food display, food service, hand washing, sources of raw materials, and use of potable water. If adequate measures are followed it can be prevented. It is highly imperative to give basic exposure to street food vendors about food safety & hygiene, effective waste disposal, table manners & etiquette, customer relation practices and laws, rules & regulations for food safety. It was on the realization of the prevailing situation that the training was planned.

Prevent outbreaks of food/water-borne diseases from street food vending units, reduce the chances of spoilage of food, ensure quality of street food and health of the customers, effective waste management system for food vending units, understand basic table etiquette, customer handling techniques and enhance business potential of street food vending units, create basic understanding about the food safety laws, rules and regulations among street food vendors, brand the street food vendors in Kerala under a single brand- Kudumbashree etc are the benefits of the training programme. In the next phase trainings would be extended to more street food vendors. It is envisaged to create a clean and hygenic food culture through these trainings.