Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission's 'Payasam on Wheels'-Payasamela van is all set to welcome Onam adding more colours to the festive season of Kerala. The Kudumbashree Payasamela started near Mananchira Library has already started attracting masses. The mobile Payasamela was launched on 29 June 2018. Mulayari payasam (Bamboo Rice Payasam), Palada Payasam, Cherupayar Payasam and Parippu Payasam etc are the Payasams being served through the Payasamela mobile van. Smt. Sibitha Smt. Jaya, Smt. Usha, Smt. Radhika, Smt. Suhara and Smt. Ayisha of Navajyothi Kudumbashree unit are the women who are behind this Mobile payasam Van.

Mulayari Payasam is their special item. As it is a unique payasam, several people are coming in search of the payasamela mobile van for tasting their payasams. The mulayari bought from the 'Uravu' tribal society is being used for preparing payasam. The team had also been participating in several trade fairs as well. They had also been running a restaurant 'Ruchipura' serving delicious food and also selling parcels meals at city and near KSRTC and private bus stands. The Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission and and Kozhikode Corporation is extending full support to the team.

'Ente Hotel', launched by Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission in convergence with Malappuram Municipality sets an extra ordinary model. The highlight of ' Ente Hotel' is that the energy conservation is ensured through steamers, the kitchen appliance which is used to prepare various foods with steam heat by means of holding the food in a closed vessel reducing steam escape. Using this appliance, 30 kg rice can be cooked within 30 to 40 minutes. Steamers preheat relatively quickly because of steam's high heat transfer. The units are usually well insulated to reduce heat loss to the kitchen and to require less energy to maintain temperature during slow times. Shri. P. Ubaidulla, MLA inaugurated the hotel on 5 July 2018.

The bond between Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission and Malappuram Municipality is continuing for the last 20 years. The hotel is run by 5 members of Kudumbashree network under the DAY- NULM scheme. The Urban Local Body has provided 400 sqft space in Malappuram Bus stand and has also provided a revolving fund of Rs. 5 lakhs. The Kudumbashree group have also availed loan for Rs.4.25 lakhs from Union Bank of India. Malappuram Municiplaity and Kudumbashree District Mission of Malappuram is strengthening the bond between them once again through ‘Ente Hotel’. The Urban Local Body is also in the process of starting the She Lodge, an exclusive safe stay for women which will again be managed by the Malappuram CDS.

Kudumbashree reaches out to Rohingya refugees in Delhi transcending borders. Kudumbashree, the Poverty Eradication Programme of Kerala since its inception has been working a meaningful way touching the lives of millions. It has brought in a huge change in the lives of women in Kerala since its origin two decades back. Later Kudumbashree was recognized as a National Resource Organisation (NRO) by 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.

Now, a group from Kudumbashree members from Kozhikode reached out the Rohingya refugee camps in Delhi extending support. It was under the leadership of Shri. Ramsi Ismail, Corporation Kudumbashree Member Secretary, a group of 13 member team visited the refugee camp.The team included CDS Chairpersons and members from Eksath Training Centre. The team visited 54 families at Kalindi Kunj, 38 families in Faridabad, 42 families in Majoodigav and 17 families in Mirzapur. Skill training programmes for the Rohingyan refugees will be commenced soon. Kudumbashree Eksat Training Centre will provide the staff to impart skill training in tailoring, soap manufacturing, candle, cloth bag and paper bag making. According to Shri. Ramsi Ismail, the marketing of the products would be done through the Mahila Mall, which would be launched soon by Kozhikode Corporation Kudumbashree, in association with the Kozhikode District Kudumbashree Mission. They also donated dresses and other essential commodities.

The Kudumbashree team also submitted a submission to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding the activities to be implemented in the Rohingyan refugee camps such as setting the basic facilities like drinking water, proper sanitation, medical camps and ensuring education facilities for the children among them. The team donated more than 500 dresses and 30 sacks of food grains to the refugees. The five day visit was conducted from 28 June 2018 - 2 July 2018.

Kudumbashree received work order from Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussorie, India’s premier institution dedicated to train Officers of the country’s higher civil services. The order is received for supplying 2300 handmade toilet soaps. Kudumbashree had sent toilet soap samples of different fragrances to Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussorie. It is after that they placed the order for 2300 handmade toilet soaps. The orders are placed Turmeric, Pappaya, Rose and Sandal fragrances.

As per the order Kudumbashree will supply toilet soap bars of 40 gm weight. The Eladi Soap Unit from Elambakappally, Perumbavoor, Ernakulam would supply the soaps. Eladi Soap Unit had participated in several trade fairs inside and outside Kerala and their product had received wide acceptance among the customers. The soap is also available at kudumbashreebazaar.com, Kudumbashree's online portal. Kudumbashree would deliver the order to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussorie by August 2018.

Muttathe Mulla scheme which involves the disbursement of loans at low rates of interests to rural households was launched as a pilot project in Palakkad. Shri. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Co-operation, Tourism and Devaswoms, Government of Kerala launched the scheme at a programme held at Palakkad on 26 June 2018.The programme is implemented by Department of Co-operation, Government of Kerala with the support of Kudumbashree, aiming at liberating the women from the local blade mafia and also private micro finance companies as the latter's interest rates vary between 24 and 30 percent.

Muttathe Mulla seeks to disburse loans at lower rates of interest and the women have to repay it on a weekly basis. Under the scheme, each woman will be disbursed a loan between Rs 1,000 and Rs 25,000.The interest rate will be 12 percent, that is Rs 1 for a loan of Rs 100 for one month. Loans which can be repaid in 10 weeks were also available. The loans will also be given to close old loans taken from blade companies which can be settled on a one-time basis. The scheme is being implemented in each ward through the three units of the Kudumbashree which would be selected based on its efficiency in its working and its credibility. The members of Kudumbashree will go to the houses of its members who need loans and disburse it to them. They would also collect the loan repayment visiting the households in weekly basis. Each Kudumbashree unit will get a cash credit of Rs 10 lakh at an interest of 9 percent would be disbursed as loan. Of the 12 percent interest to be levied, 9 percent will go to the primary cooperative societies, and 3 percent to the Kudumbashree women. Therefore the Muttathe Mulla Programme of Department of co-operation would help the Kudumbashree women raise themselves while raising their fellow citizens, putting an end to the exploitation of the local blade mafia and private micro finance companies.

Kudumbashree Mission in convergence with the Kollam Corporation has launched Reverse Osmosis plant (RO Plant) in Kollam Corporation. The RO Plant was inaugurated by Smt. J. Mercykutty Amma, Minister for Fisheries, Harbour Engineering and Cashew Industry, Government of Kerala on 28 June 2018. Located at the premises of Kollam Corporation, the plant is run by ' Mithra' a group of 5 selected women from Kudumbashree groups in Kollam. Minister said that the Venad Purified Water would be a solution for the drinking water scarcity in Kollam District.

Kudumbashree had launched the idea of launching a Reverse Osmosis Plant to produce bottled drinking water, as part of the National Urban Livelihoods Mission Project being implemented in Kerala. The bottled drinking water is named as ‘Venad Purified Water’. The public need to give only a nominal charge of just Rs 25 for 20 litres of Venad Purified Water. The total investment of the project is Rs 25.5 lakhs which is met from LSG fund, bank loan and Kudumbashree financial assistance. The other RO plants are located at Kozhikode Old Corporation office, Malappuram Corporation, Kasaragod Municipality, and Kochi.

Soccer Shree, the Quiz Competition conducted by Kudumbashree exclusively for Kudumbashree women adds to the Football fever. World Club Foot Ball was the theme for the quiz competition. The Quiz competition was conducted on 22 June 2018 in connection with the Reading Week observance. The Competition was conducted to ensure the participation of common women in celebrating the World Cup Foot Ball Championship. The competition underlined the fact that 'Nothing is impossible to women'. The programme envisioned to encourage the reading habits and interest in sports activities among women as well. Smt. EP. Latha, Mayor, Kannur Corporation inaugurated the Soccer Shree Quiz Competition. K. Jisha and Sumangala from Peralassery CDS came first in the Soccer Shree Quiz Competition. K.Shijina and O.Nimina from Mattannoor CDS came second and Shanthakumari and Haritha of Keezhaloor CDS came in third place.

Only one team per CDS was allowed to participate in the competition. Micro Enterprises Consultants, Kudumbashree Accounts & Audit Service Society Members, Gender Resource Persons, Balasabha Resource Persons etc were considered for participating in the Quiz Competition. As the participation was beyond expectation, it is sure that the upcoming seasons would be more colourful.

Collegiate Education Department joins hands with Kudumbashree Mission offering job opportunities for Kudumbashree Women. The Kudumbashree women are entering into new horizons as the Collegiate Education Department, Government of Kerala entrusted Kudumbashree Mission for the house keeping, cooking and sanitation jobs in the Arts & Science colleges and hostels in Kerala. As per the order, 54 women across the state has got job opportunities.

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 issued order advising the Principals of the Colleges to sign MoU with the concerned District Mission Coordinators for assigning the house keeping, cooking and sanitation works at the Colleges and hostels. As per the MoU, Kudumbashree will provide the units for meeting the needs of the colleges as per the request from the principals. Uniform and ID card would be provided and the quality of their work would b ensured by Kudumbashree through CDS and respective Assistant District Mission Coordinators. The Colleges would provide the space for the units and also arrange the rest room and sanitation facilities for the unit members as well. The cleaning equipment, cleaning materials and other utensils would also be supplied by the college.

Government Model Hostel, Attingal and Government College from Thiruvannathapuram, Kollam Government College and BJM Government College from Kollam, Government Polytechnic from Kottayam, Government College, Kattappana from Idukki, Maharajas College and Law College from Ernakulam, Government Arts College, Kuzhinjapara from Palakkad, PMGC , Chalakkudy from Thrissur, Thunchan Memorial Government College and Mankada Arts and Science College from Malappuram, Manathavady Government College from Wayanad, Manjeswaram Govinda Pai College and EKNayanar Memorial Govt College, Elerithatt from Kasargode are the identified colleges.

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. Cleaning staff, sanitation worker, sweeper, night watch man,cook, house keeping, hostel cook, lab attender, security and matron are posts on which the job opportunities are offered for the Kudumbashree Women.

Shri. Mohammed Yunus,  the Bangladeshi social entrepreneur, banker, economist, and civil society leader who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for founding the Grameen Bank and pioneering the concepts of micro credit and micro finance interacted with the staff of Kudumbashree Mission at a programme held at Secretariat on 26 June 2018.

He had a detailed conversation with the Kudumbashree Misson staff on social business. He described in detail about the evolution of Grameen bank and how he turned the unemployed youth into successful entrepreneurs through micro credit and micro finance. He said that the real solution is to let young people express their creative capacity. Nowadays the Business Schools are training  their scholars to achieve interest only; it should be changed and they should be trained in a balanced system which consists of social entrepreneurship as well as profit motive. Organisations like Kudumbashree Mission have relevance in this scenario.Then only we can completely eradicate unemployment.

We had created more job creators than job seekers. Muhammad Yunus said.

The selfishness and selflessness of the younger generation should be abolished. In today's world bankers are always working for rich people. Micro credits entered into the scenario like a 'Bonsai' which have all the features of a giant tree. He added. He also described the relevance of communicating equality, social responsibility and social entrepreneurship  among the society. He also appreciated the Micro Enterprises Programme and Animal Birth Control Programme of Kudumbashree Mission.

Shri. T. K. Jose IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Local Self Government Department,Government of Kerala welcomed and introduced the Nobel Laureate to the gathering. Shri. Harikishore IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission, Shri Binu Francis, Shri. Dathan C.S, Smt. Niranjana N.S, Shri. Nikesh Kiran, Shri. Pramod K.V, Smt. Amrida G.S (Programme Officers) Smt. Jayanthi Narendran, Public Relations Officer Shri. Ajith Chacko, Chief Operating Officer , NRLM, Dr Praveen C.S, Chief Operating Officer, DDUGKY also attended the programme.

From now onwards wives of Migrant Labourers will also become the part of Kudumbashree Mission. The first of its kind Neighbourhood  Group, exclusively for the wives of migrant labourers was launched at Edayar, an industrial area in Kochi. The NHG came into being during  March 2018 when Kudumbashree’s Kadungalloor Community Development Society (CDS) registered the NHG as Mahalakshmi NHG. The group consists of 16 house wives who hails from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They had undergone a 32 day stitching training under Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission and  would soon set up two stitching units. The units would be registered as startup micro enterprises named Bismillah and Lakshmi.

The NHG came into being as a means to draw the children of migrant labourers in the region to the Government High School, Binanipuram, where the District Administration of Ernakulam piloted a project named Roshni, to bypass the language barrier to educate these children. As it was found to be good to train their mothers in stitching, which could then be turned into a livelihood opportunity, a training programme was organised for them, even though language was a main barrier in training the women. 

The group of 16 received their certificates in basic tailoring on 20 June 2018. Smt. Abida Khatum, hailing from Bihar is the President of the NHG and Bismillah startup unit. Most of them were doing household chores till then. They are looking forward to support their families better and also plans to attract more housewives to join the group. Kudumbashree District Mission of Ernakulam is confident of empowering them and making positive strides in inclusiveness.