Veteran Journalist and Ramon Magsaysay Award laureate Shri. P. Sainath features article on Kudumbashree's Flood hit JLGs in People's Archive of Rural India. Under the heading 'Kerala’s women farmers rise above the flood', Sainath deals on how Kudumbashree women's determination outstripped the devastation caused by the unprecedented floods. According to him, savaged by the August floods, facing a looming drought, the women of Kudumbashree’s path breaking group farms are rebuilding, using solidarity as a strategy.

"Across the state, sangha krishi farmers who have lost almost everything – still pitched in with some contributions to help the larger Kudumbashree network raise Rs. 7 crores for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. September 11 brought another poignant moment. That day, in New Delhi, Kudumbashree was awarded the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) prize for ‘Outstanding Performance in Farm Livelihoods.’ The first time the NRLM has given out such an award. " Sainath points out.

Throughout the feature, he explains about the will power and courage that the Kudumbashree women had drawn from their solidarity. He also explains the working of the sanghkrishi units of Kudumbashree who cultivates on the leased land. He says that their success and efficiency means that unlike elsewhere in the country, banks run after them, not the other way around. P. Sainath undoubtedly says that Kudumbashree could well be the greatest gender justice and poverty reduction programme in the world.

Sainath had made notable mentions about Kudumbashree Mission and the Kudumbashree JLGs during his speech at Laadli Media Awards, the largest awards system in Indian journalism that are specifically given for promoting gender sensitivity in the media. During his speech, he also appealed to the journalists to go out and write about Kudumbashree Mission.

He had visited a few flood affected lands of Kudumbashree JLGs recenltly. People's Archive of Rural India (PARI) is a digital journalism platform in India founded by Shri P. Sainath himself who was the former rural affairs editor of 'The Hindu' daily.

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The meeting of the Co-operative Bank Presidents in Wayanad was held at District Bank Auditorium, Kalpetta, Wayanad on 20 September 2018 regarding the disbursement of the Resurgent Kerala Loan Scheme. The meeting was called to give awareness to the bank presidents on how to process the loan  applications. 20 out of the 27 co-operative bank presidents attended the programme.The representatives from District Bank ( Agriculture wing manager, loan section manager), NABARD and Lead Bank. A linkage mela including nationalised banks and co-operative banks was also organized at Panamaram on the same day itself.

The new interest free loan scheme ( Resurgent Kerala Loan Scheme) was introduced by Government of Kerala to give loans up to 1 lakh for those who lost their utensils and livelihood during flood. Kudumbashree was selected as the agency for implementing the loan scheme. 

Kudumbashree- Kerala State Poverty Eradication Mission bagged seven Awards including Skoch Award for Corporate Excellence and Skoch Order of Merit Awards. The Skoch Award for Corporate Excellence (Bronze) has been awarded to Kudumbashree Mission for Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY). The Skoch Order of Merit have been awarded for Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY), Kudumbashree School Capacity Building programme for 43 lakh Kudumbashree NHG members, Kudumbashree Facility Management Center, Homeshop, Kudumbashree Women Construction Groups and Amrutham Nutrimix for qualifying amongst the Top Corporate Excellence Projects in India. The Awards were distributed at a function held at Constitution Club of India, New Delhi on 19 September 2018.

DDU-GKY, 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, which is being implemented in Kerala state through Kudumbashree Mission. Kudumbashree School is the informal education programme which aims at the personality development and social, cultural, educational empowerment of women executed coordinating with the NHGs envisaging to improve the intellectual quality of common women.
Kudumbashree Facility Management Center provides facility management services to major public and private sector companies such as Kochi Metro Rail Limited,Vyttila Mobility Hub, Panampilly Nagar Walkway Maintenance etc and has become an epicenter for providing employment for women by providing thousands of women employed with its clients. The Home shop is a mode of community marketing, which promotes the sale of locally produced products of Kudumbashree micro enterprise units, by employing the women, thereby creating market for the products and source of income generation for the women. It is a model emerged out of the explorations for establishing marketing channels for Kudumbashree's products.

It was on anticipating the huge shortage of the labour force in the near future because of various determined Government campaigns of mass housing,that training was extended to women in construction sector which resulted in the formation of the construction groups in the state who can take up construction of houses, buildings and roads. Presently, Kudumbashree women construction units are constructing the LIFE Mission houses in various places across the state. Amrutham Nutrimix is a nutritional food supplement suitable for six months to three year old children as Take-Home-Ration (THR), prepared by the Kudumbashree micro enterprise units with the patronage and guidance of Kudumbashree. using wheat, soya chunks, bengal gram, groundnut and sugar as basic ingredients.

Skoch Order of Merit constituted by Skoch Group, a think tank dealing with the socio economic issues with a focus on inclusive growth since 1997. By bagging the Skoch Award for Corporate Excellence (Bronze) and six Skoch Order of Merit Awards for various programmes, Kudumbashree Mission has achieved National recognition.

On getting extra support from K Chittilappilly Foundation, the housing construction under PMAY Special Project at Maradu Municipality is progressing at fast pace. Kudumbashree Mission had converged with K Chittilappilly Foundation for the housing project at Maradu Municipality. A total of 446 beneficiaries have been sanctioned, out of which 325  were found eligible and agreement has been executed with 214. The construction of 172 has already been started and 66 has been completed.

As per the PMAY project at Maradu Municipality, a total of 1596 had been identified in various verticals. 702 beneficiaries had been identified in Affordable housing vertical. A total of 448 has been identified under Credit Linked Subsidy and 446 under  Beneficiary Lead Construction (New House).

As per the collaboration with  K Chittilappilly Foundation, 40 houses were selected at the first phase. Rs.50000 each would be given to beneficiary's accounts in two installments. The selection of the beneficiaries  was done by PMAY officials of Maradu Municipality and the officials from KCF visited the houses and shortlisted for the support.The houses which completed roof level were selected for support. Efforts have been taken to select beneficiaries from all wards and the most deserving beneficiaries were considered.

K Chittilappilly foundation (KCF) is an initiative by Shri. Kochouseph Chittilappilly with the prime objective of undertaking public charitable activities in India in a corporate level without any discrimination as to religion, caste, creed or gender.  A total of 100 houses are being supported by K Chittilappilly Foundation. Kudumbashree Mission is the nodal agency of Pradhan Manthri Awas Yojana (PMAY) Programme under Central- State Ministries working with the mission of achieving 'Housing for All'.

Three day training for Kudumbashree Animators of Attappady has been started. Shri. S.Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission inaugurated the training programme at Agriculture Co-operative Training Institute, Manvila, Thiruvananthapuram on 17 September 2018. To make the community kitchens more active, to ensure consistent income for  atleast  3 persons of every  hamlet,  to start construction units, to start the MGNREGS programme at the earliest which ensures wages in advance, to make the Kudumbashree Mission Programme being  implemented in Attappady more active, to  systematically review the programmes etc were the suggestions put forward by Executive Director during his inaugural speech. Classes on self confidence, self realisation, leadership were also extended  during the programme. Classes on organization, social development, micro finance etc were also extend during the programme.  The animators also visited Joint  Liability Groups ( JLG), goat village, IT units, buds institutions as well. The training would come to an end on 19 September 2018.

Kudumbashree Official's compassionate act became a model for many. Shri.Sulaiman Pathiyil, Mentor, Kudumbashree National Resource Organization, Wayanad along with  his wife Smt. N.N Aseena, Teacher, Kottakal Rajas Higher Secondary School, Malappuram contributed their one month salary to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. By adding more money to their one month salary, they made it Rs 1 lakh and handed over the same to Shri. T.P Ramakrishnan, Minister for Labour and Excise, Government of  Kerala at Collectorate, Wayanad.

It is after visiting the  camp at Panamaram that they decided to contribute both of their one month's salary to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). Wayanad District Mission felicitated Shri. Sulaiman for his kind act of compassion.

Renowned Journalist and Ramon Magsaysay Award laureate Shri. P. Sainath, visited Kudumbashree Mission on 13 September 2018. He also addressed the staff of Kudumbashree Mission and discussed about the calamities caused to the Kudumbashree Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) due to the unprecedented floods. He had also visited the flood affected agricultural fields of Kudumbashree JLGs.

Shri. P. Sainath said that the self confidence of the women of Kudumbashree JLGs are really appreciable. The growth of the Kudumbashree JLGs is based on regionalism. It is the biggest agricultural revolution that Kerala had witnessed after land reforms. On visiting the flood affected land it is understood that the lose caused to the JLGs is much more. But it is notable that the women managed to overcome the trauma caused due to the floods and the loss. They are confident that they could get back their livelihood through agriculture itself. They had attained thus self confidence and courage by getting united through Kudumbashree's activities. Sainath said.

He also added that its urgently needed to extend assistance in finding livelihood in agriculture sector. It is needed to frame new agricultural programmes for them based on modern scientific technologies. The production techniques of the corporate in agricultural sector are ruining the fertility of the soil and the products cultivated so are injurious to health. A time should come where we can consume food grains and agricultural products that are produced within 100 mile area from our homes.

Shri. Dathan. C.S. welcomed the gathering. Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission. extended Vote of Thanks. Smt.Vishakha George, Banglore Correspondent, people Archive of India, Shri. S. Sabir Hussain, District Mission Coordinator, Pathanamthitta, Smt. Suja Eapen, District Mission Coordinator, Alappuzha also attended the programme.

The second phase training for replicating the Kudumbashree Model of poverty alleviation in Azerbaijan has been started. The two week training is being extended under the leadership of Kudumbashree NRO which was recognized by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, to provide support to other States in their poverty eradication efforts. Government of Azerbaijan had shown interest on Kudumbashree's organisational structure as well as in Micro Enterprises ad vulnerability studies and had approached Kudumbashree Mission during October 2017. As per the request, a group of officials from Kudumbashree had visited Azerbaijan and extended first phase training.It is on continuation with that the second phase training is being initiated.

The training for forming womens groups in Neighborhood group model in connection with the Azerbaijan Rural Investment Project (AZRIP) was extended during the first phase. Training was given for the AZIRP officials for conducting activities related to micro savings and for keeping the cash accounts. Along with the AZIRP officials, Kudumbashree officials has visited different centres in Azerbaijan and had given training classes. Based on the first phase training women groups had already been started in Azerbaijan. In the second phase, training will be extended for giving loans on the micro savings section and for starting micro enterprises i the livelihood development section. For this, two representatives from TREE Society (Training Resources for Enabling Enterprises Society) that offers business management training for rural micro-enterprises and producer companies to improve their profitability and viability, which extends training to Micro Enterprises Consultants is giving leadership for the training programme started at Azebaijan from 7 September 2018.

It was in 2012, that Kudumbashree Mission was recognized as a National Resource Organisation (NRO) by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) to provide support to other States in their poverty eradication efforts. Kudumbashree NRO provides technical support to partner- SRLMs in collaborating the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI ) and Community Based Organisations (CBO) activities and micro enterprise development activities for the livelihoods. Presently, Kudumbashree NRO works in 18 states.

Training for Kudumbashree Members to become lottery ticket sellers was inaugurated at Lottery Agents and Sellers Welfare Board, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram on 12 September 2018. Shri. S. Harikishore IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission inaugurated the training programme. He also purchased a ticket of Navakerala Lottery from a Kudumbashree member. While inaugurating the training for Kudumbashree members to become Lottery Ticket sellers, the Executive Director informed them that he will purchase one ticket from the first person who will come to his office. It was Smt. Rahyanath from Alappuzha who sold the ticket to the Executive Director. She had traveled all the way from Alappuzha to Thiruvananthapuram, as she wanted to be the Kudumbashree member who sell off the ticket to the Executive Director.

When the Executive Director tried to motivate her by saying about the income she may get by selling maximum number of tickets, she replied that her focus is not on her income. For her, by selling Navakerala lottery, the Kudumbashree fraternity will be able to help the government to get more funds to reconstruct Kerala. Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission had shared this experience in his official facebook page. According to him, millions of people with this attitude are surely the strength of Kerala. He also believes that by involving in this activity of selling lotteries, Kudumbashree Mission will be able to contribute further to the rebuilding process of Kerala.

The Government of Kerala launched the Navakerala lottery in a bid to collect additional funds towards the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). The Government hopes to collect close to Rs 100 crore through the lotteries to be used for reconstructing the flood-battered state. The state government is printing 96 lakh tickets in nine series as part of the lottery. “The target of this special lottery is to raise Rs 100 crore, which will be the net profit for the state government after meeting all expenses of this special lottery, if all the 96 lakh tickets are sold. Government of Kerala entrusted Kudumbashree Mission as an agency to sell tickets to increase sales. Rs 250 is the cost per ticket. By selling one book of 10 tickets, the Kudumbashree member may receive Rs 553 as income.

Harithakarmasena of Koyilandy is active in making the Koyilandy  ULB neat and  clean.  It is as  part of  the 'Clean & Green' programme of Koyilandy ULB that  the Harithakarmasena members took  charge of collecting and segregating the waste from Koyilandy ULB. Shri. K.Sathyan, Chairman, Koyilandy  ULB inaugurated the distribution of the uniform, gum  boots, masks and gloves to the Harithakarmasena members recently.

The non biodegradable wastes were segregated and were  handed over to some agencies. Recently a shredding  unit was set up at Kunnoth, Koyilandy for shredding the non biodegradable wastes.

The  Harithakarmasena  at Koyilandy was launched during 2017.  The team consists of 88  members from 44  wards in Koyilandy ULB  and  12 members of Dhanashree which altogether makes 100 members. 88 of them collects wastes from their respective wards and the other 12 collects waste from the shops. The  team had earned an amount  of Rs 2.25 lakhs out of their waste management task, out of  which Rs 55,000 was paid as vehicle rent and  the rest was divided within themselves.

An amount of Rs.50 is being collected from the households and receipts are being given regarding the same.The Harithakarmasena members were active in flood  relief activities as well.