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.

Kudumbashree's AC waiting lounge opened at Kozhikode railway station become a boon to many. It was with the aim of providing better passenger amenities for the public that Kudumbashree Mission has entered into the service sector of Railways. Kudumbashree has taken over the rest room at Kozhikode Railway station on 10 May 2018. 

Facilities like modern toilets, television sets, sanitary napkin vending machine and automatic ticket printing machine are already available at the lounge. Besides the existing facilities, additional features like feeding corner reading point, children’s play space and additional seating will also be arranged.Four women staff will be available in the lounge round the clock for providing the services. 

Tirur is the next station to come under the collaboration. The project has been implemented on a cost-sharing basis between Railways and the Kudumbashree Mission. Currently, Kudumbashree has presence in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town and Kollam railway stations. The pay-and-park facilities and vegetarian refreshment rooms at various stations in southern Kerala during Sabarimala season had evoked good response from everyone.

The Mobile Operation Theatre for Animal Birth Control initiated by Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram District Mission was launched by Dr K.T Jaleel, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala on 9 May 2018 at Central Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram. The Mobile Operation Theatre unit is launched for executing the Animal Birth Control activities in the district in a more convenient and easier way.

It is the 'Winners ABC Mobile unit', affiliated to the District Mission of Thiruvananthapuram that is launched as a path breaking step in the sector of Animal Birth Control.The mobile unit mobilize all the amenities that an Animal Birth Control Operation theatre would have. The group comprises of two women and three men. The unit would travel to the panchayaths which need the service of the mobile operation unit for executing the animal birth control activities and would ensure the service of the veterinary doctor empanelled by the District Mission Coordinator. The unit had received Rs 3 lakhs fund from District Panchayath. Rs 3.50 was received as innovation fund and Rs 50,000 as start up fund. It is the responsibility of the unit to arrange the finance for the vehicle. The maintenance, insurance and service of the vehicle would also be met by the group from their profits. The attender of the vehicle himself would act as the driver of the vehicle. The other ABC units may also hire the mobile unit if needed, which would in turn be a source of revenue for the mobile unit. The District Mission Coordinator himself would schedule the work orders of the mobile ABC unit, prioritising as per the funds availed from various panchayaths. The Winner ABC mobile unit comprises of Smt. Rajani T.G, Smt. Jeevashree.M. Shri Satheesh Kumar M.G., Shri Jithesh K.G, and Shri. Mukesh M.S.

A total of 12 veterinary hospitals in the district have the amenities for executing the birth control activities. But it is not possible to complete the birth control activities arise in the district using those facilities only. By the launch of the mobile Animal Birth Control unit, this issue could be easily resolved. By taking the mobile unit to the veterinary hospitals, the service of both hospital and the unit might be utilized. Thereby, the service of the veterinary hospitals, which don't have the amenities for executing the animal birth control activities could be made use of. This would help in using the service of the 75 % of veterinary hospitals in the district. Shri. V.K Madhu, District Panchayath President, Thiruvananthapuram, Dr. K.R Shaiju, District Mission Coordinator, Thiruvananthapuram District Mission and Ms. Anjana M.S, Assistant District Mission Coordinator, Thiruvananthapuram District Mission was also present at the function.

This is the story of a woman who turned her leisure time activity into livelihood with the help of Kudumbashree Mission. Through the Self Employment Programme Component of National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), Remya founded out her strengths and found livelihood. Kudumbashree Mission is the nodal agency for implementing the centrally designed programme, National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) in Kerala.

For Smt. Remya, a 36 year old woman residing at Guruvayur Municipality, photography was just a leisure time activity. Remya is a graduate who was forced to discontinue her education after marriage and was merely engaged in raising her children. She spend her leisure time without using her skills and education in any form for the last 10 years. She was so worried about it and she wanted do something which utilizes her skills and knowledge. Her husband being a photographer by profession, Remya used her leisure time to learn photography from her husband. But without a new camera she was not even able to earn income as her own. She bought a new camera under NULM Self Employment Programme (SEP) Component. Now she is earning income as a freelance photographer. Apart from that, she also continued her education by attending Accounting course at Employment through Skill Training and Placment (ESTP) component of NULM. Now her eyes are sparkling with rays of hope of getting a job after this course. This lady was so excited about continuing her education and earning income, that too from her leisure time activity.

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 Employment through Skill Training & Placement(EST&P) programme provide skill training of the urban poor to enable them setting up self-employment ventures and for salaried jobs in the private sector. The EST&P Program intends to fill the gap between the demand and availability of local skills by providing skill training programs as required by the market. These two components changed her life positively by bridging the gap between her education and career. Here women empowerment joints hands with financial empowerment.

A 23 member foreign delegation visited Kerala to study about the poverty alleviation activities being implemented by Kudumbashree Mission in Kerala. The delegation would attend the training programme on 'The Entrepreneurial Development of women in rural areas' under Feed The Future India Triangular Training (FTF ITT) - International Training Programmeo organised by Kudumbashree Mission in association with National Institute of Agriculture Extension Management, Hyderabad (MANAGE) at Samudra, Kovalam from 9-23 May 2018.

The delegation include senior officials of agriculture, irrigation, animal husbandry, job, fisheries and gender development departments of Liberia, Uganda, Mongolia, Malawi and Kenya. The delegation would make field visits to selected NHGs, ADSs, CDSs, Nutrimix unit, Cafe Kudumbashree, amenity centres, rice collective at Eraviperoor, BUDS at Pallickal and plastic shredding unit at Eraviperoor. Through the field visits, the delegation would be able to study about the role played by NHGs in strengthening the three tier system of Kudumbashree Mission. The delegation would also interact with the successful Kudumbashree women who had made noteworthy achievements in their respective sectors. The officials from State- District Missions would also accompany the delegation.

Kudumbashree had extended training for a 28 member team different african countries during last year as part of the training organised by National Institute of Agriculture Extension Management, Hyderabad. Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) was entrusted for giving training to this team. On getting motivated by the training received at Kerala, Kudumbashree was invited to Uganda and a team from Kudumbashree Mission had visited Uganda and gave training for their officials.

Smt. P. Ramlath, Director, Kudumbashree Mission inaugurated the training programme. Shri.Ajith Chacko, Chief Operating Officer, NRLM welcomed the gathering. Dr. Uma, Director, MANAGE, Smt. Amruda.G.S, Programme Officer, Shri. Nikesh Kiran, Programme Officer, Dr. Ravikumar, Animal Birth Control Project Expert, Shri. Rahul Krishna, Thematic Anchor, Kudumbashree NRO, Shri. Arun P. Rajan, State Assistant Programme Manager and Smt. Chinnu Joseph, Project Executive also attended the programme. The training programme will come to an end on 23 May 2018.

Kudumbashree District Mission of Kozhikode made a path breaking gesture by launching Children's Band set-'21 Pilots' by joining together the Balasabha students in the district.The band formed of children from the Balasabhas under Kozhikode Corporation Kudumbasree CDS was launched by Shri. Thottathil Raveendran, Mayor, Kozhikode Corporation launched the band by handing over the baton to Ms. M.P Ardra, band captain, 21 Pilots Band at the programme held at Kozhikode beach on 7 May 2018. The team consists of 21 children of the age group under 18, mostly from financially backward families.

The '21 Pilots' band set are being trained by Shri. K.M. Kuriakose, a known band trainer in the district. After the inaugural function, the band made their debut performance at Kozhikode Beach. The band owns 5 trumpets, 2 bugles, 4 drums, 4 side drums, 3 cymbals, 2 euphonium and 1 major stick. The band would also perform at the programme which would be held in connection with the Second anniversary celebrations of Government of Kerala and 20th Anniversary celebrations of Kudumbashree Mission which would be held at Kozhikode during 17-19 May 2018.

Smt. Anita Rajan, Welfare standing committee chairperson of the corporation handed over the badges to the band members. Smt. Meera Darshak,Deputy Mayor, Kozhikode Corporation, Smt T.V. Lalithaprabha, K.V. Baburaj, M.C. Anil Kumar Standing Committee Chairpersons, Smt P.C. Kavitha, Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission Coordinator and other dignitaries also attended the function. '21 Pilots' is the first band set formed under Balasabha of Kudumbashree fold in the State.

Kudumbashree Mission received the national award for being the second best state nodal agency for implementing DDU-GKY programme during 2017-18. Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj and Shri. Raghubar Das, Chief Minister, Jharkhand gave away the award to Dr Praveen, Chief Operating Officer and Shri. Shibu. N.P, State Programme Manager at the programme held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Ranchi, Jharkhand on 5 May 2018. This is for the second time that Kudumbashree is bagging the award. Last year also Kudumbashree had received the award for being the third best state nodal agency implementing the programme in the state. 9196 out of the 10663 trained youth had secured job placements during 2017-18.

The Award committee has employed two stage process for ranking the states based on their performances during 2017-2018. Score for achieving training target for the last financial year, score for achieving placement target for the last financial year, score for assessed against trained, score for certified against assessed, score for fund installments, score for training centre capacity utilization, score for inspections done, score for utilization of funds, score for engagement of Technical Support Agency, HR score, usage of MIS, score for timely commencement (PAC to MoU), score for timely commencement ( MoU to fund release),score for sanction ( EC approved against sanctioned), State's contribution to National Performance ( Training), State's contribution to National Performance ( Placement), Initiatives or Best Practices etc were the parameters considers for screening the applications etc were considered in the first stage. In the second stage, the presentation on the implementation of the DDU-GKY programme in their respective states was done by the state nodal agencies. It was based on the scores attained by the states in two stages the awards were decided. As of now, Kudumbashree SRLM has 52 PIAs and 83 projects in hand. Kudumbashree had devised various field level and policy level innovations for the successful implementation of the programme in the state.

DDUGKY, the skill training and placement programme under the Ministry of Rural Development ( MoRD) occupies a unique position amongst the other skill training programmes due to its focus to the poor rural youth and its emphasis on sustainable employment through the prominence and incentives given to post placement tracking, retention and career progression. Kudumbashree SRLM is planning to give skill training to 30,000 rural youth during 2018-2019.

Kudumbashree's Art Festival 'Arangu' was kickstarted at Edappal. Dr. K.T Jaleel, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the festival at Edappal on 4 May 2018. The Art festival is organised by Kudumbashree Mission in association with Local Self Government Department. More than 2000 Kudumbashree women took part in the procession organised prior to the inaugural function. Traditional Art forms like Theyyam, Thira, Karinkali, Oppana, Kaikottikali, etc were presented at the procession.

The three day Art Festival will take place at the 5 venues named Nila, Pamba, Mayyazhi, Kabani and Chaliyar. 1500 women from 14 districts across the state will take part in 26 items. The competitions are arranged in in sections- junior and senior. Those within the age limit 15-35 would be considered as junior and those above 35 years would be considered as Senior.

Group song, Shinkari Melam, Recitation,Mappilappaat, Light Music, Fancy Dress, Pencil Drawing, Water colour, story writing, poem writing, violin,monoact etc are the competitions in which the women are competing with each other.

The Art Festival is being an opportunity for the women to present their artistic talents before the society. Shri. E.TMuhamed Basheer, Shri. V. Abdurahman MLA, Smt. Pushpaja, Member, Kudumbashree Governing Body and other dignitaries also attended the function. Smt. C.K Hemalatha, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission welcomed the gathering and Shri. K.M Vinod, Assistant District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission extended vote of Thanks.