The State Level Gender Campaign, Neetham 2018 was concluded at Olympia Hall, Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram on 20 March 2018. Shri. V.S Sunil Kumar, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Kerala inaugurated the report presentation held in association with the programme. It is by the launch of Kudumbashree Mission that Kerala began to think about 'gender equality'. The growth of Kudumbashree Mission is that the common women of Kerala realised that they are also the part of the society. Kudumbashree could succeed in persuading the women to take up the challenging jobs sectors, that were considered not suitable for women, till then. Kudumbashree had played a main role in bringing up the women from the mentally backward state to the main stream. Minister said.

It is notable that in the 50 % seats reserved for women at the Local Self Government Departments, a greater percentage had entered into the main stream through Kudumbashree Mission. Neetham Campaign should bring in a big change by ensuring security for women and children from the base level itself. The contribution of Kudumbashree into the agriculture sector is really notable. The village markets set up by the Kudumbashree women are the best examples for these. He added. Minister also said that all support would be extended for ensuring regular markets for the agricultural products produced by the Joint Liability Groups of Kudumbashree.

Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission presided over the function. He said that Kudumbashree had started taking up the gender activities to the international level. After the successful completion of the first phase of Vulnerability Mapping, the panchayaths had submitted various projects worth Rs 11 Crores for the security and finding livelihood for women and children. The vulnerability mapping would be done this year also and the community counselling activities would be more strengthened. It's a greater achievement for Kudumbashree that the activities of Snehitha Gender Help Desk could be extended to all districts across the state. He added.

The representatives from all districts presented the details collected from the districts in fighting back the atrocities against women and the preventive measures identified through NHG get togethers. Dr. K.R Shaiju, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree District Mission, Thiruvananthapuram welcomed the gathering. Smt. Ramlath.P, Director, Kudumbashree Mission, Shri. Pramod K.V, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Shri. Binu Francis, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree and Smt. Soya Thomas, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree also attended the function. Smt. Priya E, State Assistant Programme Manager extended vote of thanks.

The Executive Committee of the Department of Women and Child approved the scale-up of the Amrutham Take Home Ration Fortification to all Nutrimix production units in Wayanad district. Fortification of Take Home Rations is the collaborative project between Kudumbashree Mission, Department of Women and Child Development and United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP), which aims to deliver fortified blended foods to children between 6-36 months of age through Integrated Child Development Services Programme in Kerala.

As per the MoU signed between the Government of Kerala and United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP), with the intention of demonstrating that fortification can be well implemented in government systems and schemes with adequate capacity building of the women’s neighbourhood groups, starting in December 2016, Kudumbashree Mission in collaboration with UNWFP and the Social Justice Department (SJD), had setup a fortification demonstration at the Snehadeepam Amrutham Nutrimix unit in Vellamunda panchayath in Manathavady block of Wayanad district.

Fortification is a practice of deliberately increasing the micronutrient content of a food, so as to improve the nutritional quality of food supply and provide a public health benefit with minimal risk to health. As per the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau Survey 2012, average intake of children (1-3 years) for recommended micronutrients was found to be much lower than the required, resulting in the consequent malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. According to the World Health Organization, young children between 6-36 months of age catered to by the Integrated Child Development Services Programme and Kudumbashree, should receive foods which provide sufficient energy, protein and micronutrients to cover a child’s energy and nutrient gaps. The pilot project in Mananthavady aimed to address the same as well. Micronutrients may be provided to these children through dietary diversification, supplementation or fortification. Food fortification however is the most cost-effective strategy by which the micronutrients are added to foods leading to rapid improvement in the micronutrient status of various population groups at a reasonable cost without requiring any behavioural change.

As of date, 163.5 metric tonnes of fortified Amrutham Nutrimix has been produced by the Snehadeepam unit in Wayanad and distributed to all 148 Anganwadi centres in the project area. The pilot project has efficiently demonstrated that, Take Home Ration can be easily fortified by addition of micronutrient premix to the existing recipe of Amrutham Nutrimix while using the same equipment’s available at the Nutrimix production unit. The beneficiary response and acceptability of fortified Amrutham as observed during the pilot project has been highly encouraging. As part of scaling-up the Take Home Ration fortification initiative across Kerala, the project will be initially extended to all Nutrimix production units in Wayanad district followed by other districts in the State. UNWFP will support with capacity building of all the units engaged in nutri-mix production in Wayanad.

The District Mission of Thrissur came up with a new idea for finding markets for their entrepreneurs, associating with Canara Bank. Similar to the mobile unit of Consumer fed, the Canaravahini would reach the customers and the products of Kudumbashree would be bought by the customers. A branded van would act as a mobile shop which would reach out to the customers and sell the products of the  micro entrepreneurs in the district. The programme is being implemented as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities of Canara bank. 

Alathur Rice produced by the JLGs of Annamanada Panchayath in the district, curry powders, other flours, masalas, jam, squash, coconut oil, handicrafts, toiletries etc are for sale at ‘Canaravahini’.

Through various activities, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission had been finding maximum market for their products and is monitoring them as well.  Kudumbashree District Mission of Thrissur  understood that only through such out of the box initiatives that market could be assured for the products.  Through different initiatives to market the products, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission is standing out unique.

Kudumbashree Women of Kasaragod will start climbing the electric posts soon! The Grama Kiranam Programme put forward by Kasaragod District Mission would enable the women to repair the street lights leaving behind all the gender discriminations. From now onwards they would climb the electric posts to do the electric works of their panchayaths. Both the theory and practical training for making LED bulbs and repairing the street lights are being given to them. 'Imprint' the accredited agency under District Mission of Kasaragod and Adersh Technical Institute are providing the needed training in Cheruvathoor and Uppala respectively. Those who wished to become the part of the programme were selected through concerned CDSs.

The training is being held at two centres in the district, Cheruvathoor and Uppala. Training is given to 30 people each through both centres. A team of 5 is selected from each panchayath out of which 3 are women and 2 are men. They are also given training in business management, communication leadership, accounting etc. The teams are also trained in making LED, tube, emergency, panel light etc. Those who finished the LED bulb training may start Micro Enterprises. 22 people from Cheruvathoor and 21 from Uppala attended the theory cum practical training. Once operational, these women would therefore be able to break all the stereotypes of gender.

Sparsham Campaign, launched aiming at strengthening the activities of Kudumbashree Mission at urban areas and to help reach the advantages of the various programmes implemented by Kudumbashree to the real beneficiaries, is progressing in all urban local bodies across Kerala. The campaign which was launched on 20 February 2018 had reached to almost all beneficiaries. Kudumbashree and the Urban Local Bodies were working together to help all the urban poor in the urban areas to find livelihood of their own. The campaign aims to strengthen the Kudumbashree activities in urban areas and to extend support to those who wish to start enterprises. Kudumbashree had ensured the assistance of local Self Government Departments for the same.

NHG grading, improve linkage activities, formation of new NHGs, rejuvenating the inactive NHGs in the urban areas, to introduce the NULM, PMAY programmes to the NHG office bearers, to make the NHG members actively participate in the NHG activities are the other main aims of the programme.

The information on various funds extended by Kudumbashree are also introduced to the beneficiaries through the programme. The campaign is being implemented by a team of 60 city mission managers, 70 city technical cell managers, 93 multi task persons, more than 100 community organisers, District Mission Co-ordinators, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinators, Urban local bodies secretaries, project staff, CDS chairpersons etc.

As part of the campaign, NHG meetings are being organised in the 46000 NHGs in 93 ULBs. The details about those who hadn't availed the benefits from Kudumbashree are also being collected. Its expected that the data collection would be completed by 20 March 2018.

The Pradhan Manthri Awas Yojana (Urban)[ PMAY (U)] programme under Central- State Ministries which works with the mission of achieving 'Housing for All' and National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) programme which enable the urban poor to find a livelihood of their own are implemented through Kudumbashree Mission. The campaign envisages to reach the advantages of these programmes to the real beneficiaries to the maximum. It is planned to spend Rs 10,000 crores in constructing the houses for the needy in the next financial year. Government will give Rs 4 lakh to the urban homeless who have plots of their own. There are 7,38,704 families dwelling in the urban areas. Even now, around 1 lakh urban poor are out of those NHGs. The campaign is being organised for including such urban poor to the NHGs.

Once the campaign would be finished, those who hadn't availed the benefits could be identified and can be extended the same.

Bhakshya Suraksha Bhavanam' (Food Security Home), the programme that was launched to attain self sufficiency in vegetable production is successfully progressing in all districts across the state. The NHG women had welcomed the programme with open hearts and now 20 lakh families attained self sufficiency by cultivating needed vegetables of their own.

The programme promotes vegetable farming among Kudumbashree women in NHG level and are making avail the cultivated vegetables to the needy as well. Proper trainings were given to all those who were getting enrolled in the 'Bakshya Suraksha Bhavanam' programme. Best quality seeds were also distributed to them on the training day itself.

Master farmers and JEVA team gave training to the groups and Master farmer were trained by master farmer trainers. Training was given to the groups on the topics such as the need of farming, tips to maintain the cultivation successfully, kitchen waste disposal and making of bio fertilizers etc. Every member was given a packet of high quality seeds worth Rs.20, from Kudumbashree Units, Vegetable & Fruit promotion Council Kerala (VFPCK), Kerala Agriculture University and other government organisations. The families that cultivate vegetables under this programme are regarded as ' Bhakshya Suraksha Bhavanam' ( Food Security Homes). Specially designed logo stickers are distributed and the same is being pasted in every Food security homes.

The NHG members who wish to be part of the programme were divided into different groups, each consisting of 4 members. NHGs had to register at the concerned CDS by remitting an amount of Rs.10. The groups were advised to renew the registration during every season. Each groups should cultivate at least in a minimum of 3 cents of land and they can cultivate in up to 25 cents of land. If the group intend to do grow bag farming, each member should cultivate at least 5 varieties of vegetables in a minimum of 20 grow bags.

The programme was started all over Kerala in 17 August 2017 (Chingam 1). Initially NHG members of 6 lakh families were given training and seeds were distributed. Those families had harvested vegetables several times till now. As per the present statistics, more than 20 lakh families are pursuing farming in this manner. Special NHGs like elderly NHGs and BUDS School students are also taking part in ' Bhakshya Suraksha Bhavanam' ( Food Security Homes) programme.

To ensure the sustainable development of 43 lakh women in 2,77,175 Neighbourhood Groups through social, cultural and educational interventions, Kudumbashree Mission is getting ready to launch Community Radio. Through community radio, the benefits and the information on the centrally and state sponsored programmes implemented by Kudumbashree Mission would reach the real beneficiaries in no time. In the first phase, the community radio service would be launched in the Malappuram of Kerala.

The details of the programmes implemented by Kudumbashree in the state, job opportunities, financial assistance provided, information on various campaigns, information on sales exhibitions, informative programmes, programmes focusing on Balasabhas, awareness programmes, success stories of Kudumbashree units, success stories of individuals, circulars from state mission, information on various programmes of Government, messages from District Collectors, District Mission Co-ordinators, Phone in Programmes of Ministers, Executive Director etc would be included in the programmes. Special programmes for NHGs would be broadcasted weekly, through which women empowerment would be made possible in more systematic a way. A live programme in which the Executive Director of Kudumbashree Mission answers to the questions of Kudumbashree members would also be included.

The community radio programme of Kudumbashree would be implemented associating with Broadcasting Engineering Consultants Limited, New Delhi working under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. It is expected to start the community radio by June 2018.

Kudumbashree Mission associating with Malayala Manorama launched livelihood centres for the Endosulfan affected families at Kasaragod on 10 March 2018. Dr K.T Jaleel, Minister, Local self Government Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the programme by presenting the umbrellas and cloth bags made by the mothers of the endosulfan affected children to the public.

The livelihood centres set up at Chirappuram of Neeleshwaram Municipality and Community Hall of Enmakaje Panchayath has started functioning. Minister said that the mothers of the endosulfan affected children are sacrificing their lives for their kids and if heaven exists, these mothers are the ones who deserve it the most. Minister assured that such livelihood centres will be launched in every districts along with the BUDS institutions which would thereby rehabilitate them.

The mothers of the endosulfan affected children would make cloth bags and umbrellas and thereby find their livelihood of their own. The livelihood centres are located near the BUDS Schools/ Buds Rehabilitation Centres, which would enable them to make a livelihood while waiting for their children outside their schools. 18 mothers from Neeleshwaram and 15 mothers from Enmakaje were given training for making umbrellas and cloth bags.The mothers had already received a work order for making 1000 umbrellas for Kerala State Financial Enterprises(KSFE) out of which the making of 700 pieces had already been completed.

Shri. A.G.C Basheer, President, District Panchayath, Shri. V. V Rameshan, Chairman, Kanhangad Municipality, Smt. V Gouri, Vice Chairperson, Neeleshwaram Municipality, Smt. Baby Balakrishnan, Member, Kudumbashree Governing Body, Shri. T.T Surendran, District Mission C0-ordinator, Kudumbashree and other dignitaries also attended the programme.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs selected 7 Area Development Societies of Kudumbashree for ‘Swachhatha Excellency Awards’ for the notable interventions made by them in the sanitation programmes.The award will be distributed by the Hon. Minister for Urban Affairs at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra, Dr. Rizal Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi on 23 March 2018.

Four ADSs of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, one ADS of Kodungalloor Municipality and two ADSs of Malappuram Municipality are the ADS who bagged the prizes. The 7 ADSs include Kazhakoottam ADS, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Kalady ADS, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Kulathoor ADS, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Punnakkamughal ADS, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Chappara ADS, Kodungalloor Municipality, Thamarakuzhi ADS & Moonnampadi ADS, Malappuram Municipality.

The Awards are for the various interventions Kudumbashree ADSs made in vector control, waste disposal mechanisms, awareness campaigns, organic manure promotion, grow bag cultivation, plastic recycling etc. The first prize will be Rs. 1.5 lakh along with the certificate.

The street play presented by Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission in accordance with the International Women's Day Celebrations attracted many. The play was performed by the councillors of Snehitha Gender Help Desk, Kanjhangad at the Kanjhangad Bus Station, Kasaragod. 

The street play was welcomed by the audience with open hearts. The drama was scripted by Shri. Bharathan Peelikode, eminent dramatist from Kasaragod.

The street play depicted the atrocities and the gender inequalities that women faces today. The street play reminded the women to be more aware of their rights and to fight back the atrocities with courage. Being the largest women movement in Asia with a membership of 43 lakhs representing equal number of families, Kudumbashree had been making notable interventions for the betterment of the lives of the women in Kerala.