Safari Driving School of Malappuram cannot be considered a mere driving school. It bears the saga of a woman who dare to make a difference through her life. Smt.Rejina from Malappuram and her team are engaged in providing training to women who wanted to learn driving or to get driving as a means of livelihood. The concept of Women drivers or driving teachers was not at all acceptable in a district like Malappuram. It was during such a period that Smt. Rejina came forward boldly to start her driving school. The women were usually reluctant to get into the field due to the existing social conditions. Smt. Rejina came into the sector boldly availing linkage loan from Kudumbashree Mission. Her efforts soon became successful with the highlight that its a woman who had been teaching driving to other women. This made her driving school ‘Safari driving school’ even more famous.

Smt. Rejina teaches women to ride two-wheeler and four-wheeler and helps them in getting the license and thereby she helped women to acquire driving skill at affordable cost. She conceived the idea from the awareness session of City Mission Management Unit of NULM to utilize the linkage loan for income generation activity alongside personal consumption. She is proud that she has been able to provide training to 128 women so far and is earning Rs. 40,000 per month and is having the confidence to repay the amount within three years. She is also able to avail interest subsidy. Smt. Rejina is one of the best examples of women entrepreneurship as she chose a sector where many women were afraid to attempt.

'Calling Bell' programme of Kasaragod District Mission is being a unique model of compassion. The programme was launched for the well being of the elderly people and women who are staying alone. The programme had identified more than 3000 beneficiaries so far and had started extending extra care for them in the NHG level itself. As the programme was widely appreciated, the programme is being extended to other districts as well. The innovative programme was suggested by the District Mission Coordinator of Kasaragod. The Calling Bell programme was launched by the Kasaragod District Mission, as the atrocities against lonely women and elderly people increased. The programme is being implemented through the Snehitha Gender Help Desk under the District Mission. For testing the programme, the pilot study of the programme wasconducted in Kuttikkol Panchayath of Kasaragod District.

The Calling Bell Programme is really being a boon for women who are staying alone and also for elderly people. The members from the NHGs visit the homes where elderly people are there and women are staying alone. The NHG members would try to communicate with such women and elderly people. By maintaining a good relationship with them, the NHG members would extend the needed support for the women. Based on their issues the assistance would be provided. If counseling is to be extended that would be given and if they are lacking legal assistance, that would also be provided to them. For ensuring the security of women, the service of police departments would also be ensured. The NHG office bearers would visit their homes daily and the community counselors and Snehitha Gender Help Desk would ensure the counseling for them. Through NHG, ADS and CDS visits to their homes, the security of them would be made ensured and would make sure that they are getting the needed support. The programme gels the relationship between the NHGs and the society. The Calling Bell Programme is showcasing the compassionate face of Kudumbashree Mission.

As part of Inclusion of the real needy, Kudumbashree Mission has initiated an exclusive batch of DDU-GKY skill training 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. It is planned to extend skill training for 150 beneficiaries during 2018-19.They are provided skill training in Book Binding, Front Office Associate and Housekeeping Attendant jobs. The first batch of the book binding course (4 months duration) was commenced on 10 May 2018. The training is being extended to 30 beneficiaries out of which 15 persons would be those who are facing mental disabilities. Kerala Rehabilitation Institute for the Physically Affected (KRIPA) is the training centre for extending skill training for them.

The book binding, front office associate courses would be carried out as 2 batches. 60 beneficiaries each would be extended training in these courses. Front office associate course is of 5 month duration and book binding, house keeping attendant course are of 4 months duration. 30 persons would be given training for house keeping attendant course. Educational qualification till eighth standard is the minimum qualification for book binding course whereas twelfth standard education is the minimum qualification for front office associate course. Training is also extended in communicative english, computer and soft skills as well.Those who successfully complete book binding courses would be given National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) certificates and job would be ensured for them in printing press and other such institutions and Sector Skills Councils (SSC) Certificate would be given to those who complete the front office assistant course.

Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, a non profit organisation engaged in empowering persons with disabilities and distress in socio-economic-cultural fronts through its various initiatives on Education, Livelihood, Environment, Health & Nutrition, Sports, Culture and Rehabilitation, which is headquartered in Bangalore has signed MoU with Kudumbashree for extending skill training to 400 beneficiaries. They would give training in BPO (voice) and BPO (Non Voice). Residential training would be extended at their centre located at Ernakulam. Beneficiaries from all the districts across the district may apply for the same.The courses would be started by last week of July.

Kudumbashree Mission had bagged the national award for the successful implementation of DDU-GKY programme in Kerala for the second time in a row. Kudumbashree is the nodal agency for implementing DDU-GKY Programme in Kerala. Through the programme, skill training had been extended to 34568 candidates out of which 20564 received job placements so far.

The 15 day training on 'The Entrepreneurial Development of women in rural areas' under Feed The Future India Triangular Training (FTF ITT) - International Training Programme organised by Kudumbashree Mission in association with National Institute of Agriculture Extension Management, Hyderabad (MANAGE) at Samudra, Kovalam for the 23 member foreign delegation was concluded on 23 May 2018. Dr. K.T jaleel, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the valedictory function.

Only by gathering empowerment through education, women would be able to play lead role in eradicating poverty from the society. For attaining that women should be aware of the new agriculture techniques prevailing in the society. Good quality seeds, fertilizers, equipment and financial support are needed for the same.This is why Kudumbashree Mission give more importance to the economical and technical activities which give support to around 3 lakh NHG women in the state. Minister said. While framing the programmes for the sidelined and the minority people in the society, the challenges we are facing should be kept in mind. While replicating the development models, it should be noted that every region has its own peculiarity and should act according to. He added. Minister wished good luck for the efforts of the delegation to eradicate poverty and he said that the experience they acquired from Kudumbashree Mission would be of help for them. Minister also distributed the certificates for the delegates. If the delegation from other countries get inspired from Kudumbashree Mission's activities and replicate them in their own countries, that would be the greatest recognition we would ever receive, said Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission.

The representatives from Malawi, Uganda and Mongolia said that Kudumbashree Mission is the best example of how poverty eradication activities can be practically implemented. They added that the training programme was of great help for them whereas representatives from Liberia suggested to include politicians and administrative experts from their countries while conducting such training programmes. The foreign delegation said that the economic and social empowerment that the women from Kerala attained is appreciable and they added that they would replicate the Kudumbashree model of poverty alleviation in their respective countries as well and had expressed the interest to work with the Government of Kerala for the same.

Smt. Shakira Parveen, Project Executive, Manage, gave away the token of appreciation for the delegation. Shri. Bipin Jose, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering. Shri. Pramod K.V., Programme Officer, Shri. Ajith Chacko, Chief Operating Officer, NRLM, Dr. Praveen .C.S., Chief Operating Officer- DDUGKY, Dr. Rahul Krishnan, Thematic Anchor, Shri. Shibu. N.P., State Programme Manager, Shri. Sabu Balachandran, State Assistant Programme Manager and Shri. Jiby Mathew Philip, State Assistant Programme Manager also attended the programme. Shri. Arun P. Rajan, State Assistant Programme Manager extended vote of thanks.The foreign delegation include senior officials of agriculture, irrigation, animal husbandry, job, fisheries and gender development departments of Liberia, Uganda, Mongolia, Malawi and Kenya.

The Kudumbashree women are entering into new horizons as the Collegiate Education Department, Government of Kerala had entrusted Kudumbashree Mission for the house keeping, cooking and sanitation jobs in the Arts & Science colleges and hostels in Kerala.

It is during when the strength of non teaching staff at the Arts and Science colleges and hostels in the state was found inadequate, the Collegiate Education Department decided to entrust the Kudumbashree Women for the same. Government of Kerala  has isssued order advising the Principals of the Colleges to sign MoU with the concerned District Mission Coordinators for assigning the house keeping, cooking ane sanitation works at the Colleges and hostels. Kudumbashree women units from the respective districts would be identified for the same.

The lack of non staff teaching in the colleges and hostels were creating inconvenience for the students and it was a solution to this issue, that the Government issued the order.

Kudumbashree women from Pallipad, Karthikapally and Cheruthana Panchayaths of Alappuzha district are busy creating history by constructing the house of Life Mission in Pallipad Panchayath.  The construction is progressing in a fast pace. A beneficiary from Pallipad CDS earlier and a group of 32 women were given training with the help of Eksath training centre.

Kudumbashree Mission clubbed the construction for Life Mission and the construction training for the women together to reduce the cost of construction. The building blocks are availed from MGNREGA as free of cost. An amount of Rs 4 lakh is estimated cost of the house which would be released to the beneficiary in 4 stages. As the training and the construction of the house is clubbed, the labour cost for the same could be reduced. This is the first construction work took up by the Kudumbashree Women. 4 masons gave leadership for the construction training. Motivational training was also extended to them. Training was also given in brick making and ferroslabs making as well.

It is planned to build the Life Mission houses in each block in the same model. The construction of the house at Pallipad would be completed by next month. It is also planned to extend the same model to another panchayaths as well.  Thamarakkulam Panchayath is the next identified Panchayath in which the construction model would be replicated.

The Photo exhibition 'Kudumbashree @ 20' being set up at the Emerald Mall, Kozhikode charts the evolution of Kudumbashree Mission. Rare photographs, miniatures, sculptures, installations, timeline, video display and releases are on display at to mark the 20th anniversary of Kudumbashree Mission. Shri.T.P. Ramakrishnan, Minister for Labour and Excise, Government of Kerala inaugurated the exhibition on 17 May 2018. Only jute and wood is used at the installations and exhibits at the exhibition, which makes the exhibition an eco friendly one.

Organised by Kudumbashree State Mission in association with Kudumbashree National Resource Organization, the exhibition is becoming a new experience for the visitors.The exhibition features interesting photos and milestones of Kudumbashree Mission. A miniature of the Neighborhood Groups are also arranged at the Exhibition premises.

The Community Development Societies which were identified as the best CDSs in the state were felicitated by Dr. K.T Jaleel, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala during the 20th anniversary celebrations being held at Swapnanagari, Kozhikode on 17 May 2018. Pampadumpara CDS of Idukki became the first CDS in the state. Mararikulam North CDS of Alappuzha came second and Nadathara CDS of Thrissur became the third best CDS in the state. The CDS Chairpersons of the respective CDSs received the award on behalf of the CDSs.

8 other CDSs viz. Kavalangad CDS of Ernakulam for the convergence activities, Nedumkamdam CDS of Idukki for the activities in attaining food security, Chavakkad CDS of Thrissur for the importance given for improving the agriculture, Malayattoor CDS of Ernakulam for the activities in connection with Haritha Keralam, Kanjikuzhy CDS of Alappuzha for properly implementing the Haritha Keralam and Food security, Malayalappuzha CDS of Pathanamthitta for the successful implementation of pollution control activities, Alathur CDS of Palakkad for agriculture and Haritha Keralam, Kinaloor- Karinthalam of Palakkad for Agriculture, forestation were given special mention by the Jury. Smt. Mini Sukumar, Shri. Jayajeevan. N and Shri. Jayakumar. A were the Jury who selected the CDSs for the Award.

Envisioning to provide special care for the lonely old age people, Kudumbashree Mission has ventured into 'Harsham' Geriatric Care services. The programme was officially launched by Dr. K.T Jaleel, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala by distributing ID cards to the selected care givers during the 20th anniversary celebrations being held at Swapnanagari, Kozhikode on 17 May 2018.

The Harsham programme will be implemented with financial assistance from the Kerala Academy for Skill Excellence, plans to provide jobs for around 1,000 women under Kudumbashree Mission this year. The project 'Harsham-Happiness Redefined', would ensure needed care for the old aged people. The aim of the programme is to form groups of around 100 volunteers in each district to help aged people who live alone or under adverse circumstances with least support, including those who are bedridden. To begin with, the 90 selected women from Kannur and Kozhikode will get trained in geriatric care. It is planned to get them job as bystanders in hospitals and care givers at houses.

The training programme will be extended to other districts in the near future. The working of the programme would be in the model of Micro enterprises. Those aged below 55 years, with good physical capabilities and an aptitude for serving the society are considered for the programme. The respective District Mission Co-ordinators would select the Geriatric Care executives in the districts.Training for them will be provided to the selected Geriatric care executives in two 30-member batches.The beneficiaries may avail the services of the Harsham Programme through call centres or online round the clock. The volunteers will collect the details of the people who have requested for services or care will later impart the services. The help of CDS-ADS members would be made used to gather information about the callers. The skill training for the geriatric care executives was inaugurated at Kozhikode on 30 April 2018.

The performance of the Rangasree members of Kudumbashree Mission is adding more colour to the second anniversary celebration of Government of Kerala. Organised by the Information and Public Relations Department of Government of Kerala, the registered Rangasree units under Kudumbashree Mission will perform in different spots of 14 districts across the state. The debut performance in the series was performed at the Thiruvananthapuram District Collectorate premises on 15 May 2018.

The Rangasree team presented a small yet wonderful street play portraying the best practices and welfare activities implemented by Government of Kerala during the 2 years of governance. A Mobile exhibition unit portraying the activities of the Government of Kerala was also set up which would accompany the Rangasree teams. The mobile exhibition unit was inaugurated by Dr K.Vasuki, District Collector,Thiruvananthapuram at the District Collectorate premises. The street play presented by the Rangasree team was much appreciated by the public. The District Collector appreciated the Rangasree team for their magnificent performance. The Rangasree teams of the other districts would perform the street plays in their respective districts.