Kudumbashree opens AC waiting Hall at Tirur Railway Station. The AC waiting hall opened by Kudumbashree at railway station is being a boon for many people especially women and the elderly. The air conditioned waiting hall opened at Tirur Railway Station works 24 hours a day and provide a comfortable halt to the travelers. Feeding console is also arranged for lactating mothers is one of the attractive feature of Kudumbashree Waiting Hall. An amount of Rs 25 per hour is charged for availing the services of Kudumbashree's AC waiting hall. Special play area for children would also be set up along with. Recliner sofa is made available for senior citizen. The AC waiting hall has also set up a clean, hygienic bathroom and special area for mobile charging as well.

The staff of the rest room were given special training at Kudumbashree Facility Management Centre which had recently bagged the Excellence Award 2018 constituted by Kerala Management Association (KMA)for the Innovative HR initiatives. Kudumbashree rest rooms are opened at Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Thrissur railway stations. The clean and safe rest rooms opened by Kudumbashree is a boon to the women passengers who travels alone.

Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission is all set to launch 'Shree Taxi' associating with the National Health Mission, Malappuram. It is a convergence programme of Kudumbashree Mission and the National Health Mission. As per the programme, the 'Shree Taxi' would take the pregnant women to the hospital and also take the mothers and newborn babies after delivery from the Tirur Government Hospital to their homes. Smt. Rahmath, mother of a mentally challenged kid, who was struggling to make her livelihood would be the driver of the Shree Taxi. She had already secured her Driving Licence and Badge for the same. According to the National Health Mission this is the first of its kind project in India. The District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission and the District Programme Manager, National Health Mission, Malappuram had already signed the MoU regarding the same.

The service is framed as per the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) Scheme which was launched by Government of India during June 2011 to motivate those pregnant women who still choose to deliver at their homes to opt for institutional deliveries. The Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) Scheme has the provisions to provide several entitlements to the mothers and the newborns which include Free Transport from Home to Health Institutions, Free Transport between facilities in case of referral and Free drop Back from Institutions to home. It is also planned to extend the programme to the other government hospitals in the district as well. By the convergence, the Kudumbashree women and the pregnant women would be benefited.The ' Shree Taxi' service would be officially inaugurated on 11 August 2018.

Kerala became the first state in the country to ensure the proper inclusion of street vendors in the society, by issuing Identity cards to them. For rehabilitating the street vendors in a proper and effective way, it was decided to extend skill training to selected 1000 street food vendors. The training programme was conducted as part of the Recognition of Prior Learning(RPL). It has been designed to provide RPL training to 1000 street vendors this year.During the first phase, 200 street vendors from 10 Urban local Bodies were trained. The first phase training had almost been completed.

The training of the first batch was conducted at Kottayam District from 20-23 June 2018. The RPL Trainings at Alappuzha, Thodupuzha, Moovattupuzha, Thrikkakara, Kodungalloor, Wadakkanchery, Chalakkudy and Malappuram Urban Local Bodies had already been completed. The training at Koyilandy Urban Local Body would be conducted from 25-28 July 2018.

Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), the pioneer institute for tourism and hospitality in Kerala had been extending 12 hour training to street vendors in Urban Local Bodies of the state under National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) Scheme. The trainers of the KITTS were extending training sessions in all urban Local Bodies. During the training programme the participants were exposed to the aspects such as food safety & hygiene, procurement of quality raw material, food contamination (physical, chemical and microbial), high risk foods, cross contamination, importance of safe food, quality of water/ice to be used, cleaning sanitation of utensils, effective waste/garbage disposal, table manners and etiquette, customer relation practices and basics of food safety laws. Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) would issue certificate to the participants who had successfully completed the training programme. A hand book is also issued for quick reference along with participation certificate.

A large number of street food outlets are functioning across 93 urban pockets in the state. Local flavors are being served at such roadside outlets at cheapest prices. Food borne illnesses of microbial origin are major health problem associated with such street foods and its major causes are lack of proper knowledge in safe food handling, lack of clean environment, sanitation and hygiene, mode of food display, food service, hand washing, sources of raw materials, and use of potable water. If adequate measures are followed it can be prevented. It is highly imperative to give basic exposure to street food vendors about food safety & hygiene, effective waste disposal, table manners & etiquette, customer relation practices and laws, rules & regulations for food safety. It was on the realization of the prevailing situation that the training was planned.

Prevent outbreaks of food/water-borne diseases from street food vending units, reduce the chances of spoilage of food, ensure quality of street food and health of the customers, effective waste management system for food vending units, understand basic table etiquette, customer handling techniques and enhance business potential of street food vending units, create basic understanding about the food safety laws, rules and regulations among street food vendors, brand the street food vendors in Kerala under a single brand- Kudumbashree etc are the benefits of the training programme. In the next phase trainings would be extended to more street food vendors. It is envisaged to create a clean and hygenic food culture through these trainings.

The winners of the Photography competition and logo designing competition organised in connection with the Animal Birth Control programme of Kudumbashree Mission is announced. ' Stray Dog Issue' was the theme for Photography Competition. Shri. Sumesh Kodiyath, Photographer, Deshabhimani Thiruvannathapuram unit bagged the first prize and Shri. Sudharmadas, Chief Photographer, Kerala Kaumudi Ernakulam unit bagged the second prize for the Photography Competition. The Award for the First Prize and Second prize would be Rs.10,000 and Rs.5,000 respectively. Shri. Pradeep Kumar,Senior Photographer, Malayala Manorama, Malappuram Unit received special Jury Mention.

Shri. K.S. Ananthakrishnan bagged the first prize for the logo designing competition. The Award for First prize is Rs.10,000. Shri. R. Gopalakrishnan, renowned Photographer was the External Expert of the Jury who selected the winners. Smt. R. Ramlath Director, Kudumbashree Mission, Smt.Jayanthi Narendranath, Public Relations Officer, Kudumbashree Mission and Dr. L. Ravi Kumar, ABC Expert, Kudumbashree Mission were the other Jury members.

The Awards would be distributed to the winners at the programme which would be held as part of the conclusion of the 'Suraksha-2018' Awareness Campaign organised connection with the Animal Birth Control programme of Kudumbashree Mission at Thiruvananthapuram on 31 July 2018.

To promote the products of Kudumbashree members, Marketing team of Kudumbashree Mission conducts monthly office fairs. The office fairs were conducted at State Mission office located at Thiruvananthapuram and the Kudumbashree District Mission offices across the state.The District Missions were directed to conduct at least one fair in their districts by the Kudumbashree State Mission. A few districts took initiative to conduct the fairs at the CDS level as well. To attain more promotion for the products within the employees was the desired outcome of the programme. The office fairs were a grant success that sales of more than Rs 3 lakhs had been generated altogether.

Around 150 Kudumbashree Micro Enterprise units got benefited by the Office Mela held in the month of July 2018. Smt. Anupama T.V, District collector inaugurated the Office Mela held at Thrissur Collectorate. Thrissur District Mission came first by making maximum sales during Office trade fairs. Sales of Rs 96,870 had been generated from Thrissur. 17 Micro Enterprises Units participated at the trade fair held at Thrissur Collectorate.

A total of 18 office fairs were conducted and 49 Micro Enterprises Units participated at Wayanad. The other districts made one office trade fair each during the month. Total sales of Rs.16,500, Rs.2,950, Rs.9,110, Rs.7,880, Rs.16,600, Rs.14,160, Rs. 14,950, Rs. 96,870, Rs. 6,000, Rs. 11,420, Rs. 3,280, Rs. 67,156, Rs.15,500, Rs. 3,300 were recorded at Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts respectively. A sales of Rs. 16,500 was recorded at Kudumbashree State Mission office. The office fairs undoubtedly bring in more acceptance for the Kudumbashree products.

Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission conducts 'Koottukari', the special programme organised for the girls from Scheduled Tribe Community in the district. The girls are given training for self defense, health, hygiene etc. Motivational training, capacity building classes are also provided to them to protect themselves from abuses and illness. The programme also extend legal awareness classes as it is envisioned to make the tribal girls, aware about the legal norms and the legal steps to be taken to fight back as more number of unwed mothers are identified in the tribal areas.

The trainings of the Koottukari programme are extended in the CDS level. The training programmes are being conducted with the support of Nirbhaya Police, the project of Kerala Police launched by State Home Department, Government of Kerala to prevent atrocities against women and children.The 10 Community Development Societies which have more number of Tribal Girls are identified and given training in the first phase. So far, two training programmes had been completed and more programmes would be conducted in the upcoming weeks. Kudumbashree District of Kasaragod came up with such an initiative as the increasing cases of atrocities against women and children, especially in tribal areas needs to be identified, addressed and rectified.

Mazha Polima is a fallow less village Campaign being conducted by Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission as a part of the Mahila Kisan Sashakthikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) Agri Fest. The MKSP team of Kasargode District Mission propagates the innovative idea of this campaign. The Agri fest is being conducted in 41 Community Development Societies in Kasaragod district from 20 June 2018 to 30 July 2018. A total of 1010 Hectares of land was identified as fallow land in the district.

To convert fallow land into cultivable land, conservation of paddy land and traditional culture of farming, promotion of water literacy and food security, popularizing farming to the new generation, promotion of organic farming practices, to ensure convergence with various line department for to ensure fallow less village, promotion of the traditional farm related folk songs, games, art forms etc are the main objectives of the programme. The products of the Kudumbashree units were also kept for sale as part of the Mazha Polima campaign. As part of Mazha Polima Campaign, Community Development Societies (CDS) has also organised various innovative programmes such as District level photography competition and felicitation for women farmers etc.

The performance of the Community Development Societies participating in the campaign would be analyzed and awards would be distributed to the Best CDSs based on their performances. The CDS which converted maximum area of fallow land into cultivable land, best co-ordination, participation of the public in the campaign, documentation of the campaign, the CDS which cultivated maximum number of indigenous seeds, number of Joint Liability Groups doing cultivation in agriculture sector etc would be analysed for giving away the awards. The ethnic food festival organised as part of the Mazha Polima has been attracting more people to the campaign. The fest is becoming a model project in Kasaragod District.

Kudumbashree District Mission of Pathanamthitta is all set to enter into Tourism Sector through  their Gavi Package. Associating with Scheduled Caste Development Department, Government of Kerala, Forest Department and District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC)  Kudumbashree District Mission of Pathanamthitta would soon launch the Gavi Package. Kudumbashree would receive Rs 89 lakhs sanctioned for the same by the Scheduled Castes Development Department.  

As part of the initiative, 3 mini restaurants would be set up at Kodumon, Angamoozhi and Kochu Pamba engaging the Kudumbashree members. Kodumnon Panchayath will allot the land for the  restaurant which will be opened at Kodumon. At Angamoozhi, the restaurant would be set up near Angamoozhi bowl boat boat ride at Seethathode Panchayath and the land for the restaurant at Kochu Pamba would be provided by KSEB. 

Kudumbashree Mission would buy two mini luxury buses for operating the daily tour between Adoor and Gavi. E-tender for buying the buses had already been invited. The proposed mini bus would start journey from Adoor DTPC Centre. One of the buses would be for a one day journey and the other would be for two day journey. The one day tour package will cover Adoor, Kodumon, Konni, Thanithode, Chittar, Angamoozhi, Gavi, Thekkady, Kumily and return to Adoor via Mundakkayam. The one day trip is priced Rs.2000 inclusive of food. Whereas the the two day trip will cover Kottayam, Kumarakom, Alappuzha and return to Adoor and will be charged Rs 4000, which would also include the food charges. 

More than 75 % of the man power for the project would be met from the Scheduled Caste families. As per the plan, the consortium comprising the Departments of Scheduled Caste Development, Forest, Kudumbashree Mission, and the DTPC would monitor the project.

This is the success story of a woman who is radiating light onto the lives of others through her candle making unit. Kayamkulam is one of the home towns famous for processing coir in Alappuzha district. The City Mission Management unit of the Urban Local Body has supported many urban poor to find various means of livelihood. Smt. Sheelamma is one among them.

The City Mission Management Unit (CMMU) had received many applications after the General Awareness campaign conducted in the Urban Local Body which provided information on the Self Employment Programme (SEP) Component of NULM and the support provided to establish a micro enterprise unit. Many persons came forward with diverse enterprise ideas and Sheelamma came with the idea to start a candle making unit. She already had a little bit experience in candle making as was engaged in the business from 2016 onwards. The initial times were not at all profitable for her. She started selling the candles in the nearby shops located near the churches. The effort to sell the candles by providing commissions was not profitable and therefore she started selling the products directly to the shops. Her packing was not that attractive. But the quality of the product helped her to sell the products on a lesser scale. But due to shortage of working capital and lack of knowledge on marketing, quality and variety products she was not able to proceed further. The banks were not willing to provide her loan.

When she came to know about the NULM scheme, she approached the City Mission Management Unit (CMMU) and discussed the possibilities of starting a candle making unit. She shared her anxieties as her initial experience was not positive. With the support of the City Mission Management Unit (CMMU) and Syndicate Bank, Kayamkulam she availed loan under the NULM Self Employment Programme (SEP) Component. The initial experience helped her to buy whatever is required and can be marketed. She started making 16 different types of candles and now she has wide customers. Today she is providing employment to two more women from the network. The marketing initiatives extended from the Kayamkulam to the nearby Urban Local Bodies and Districts now. She is now able to support her family in a good manner.

Transgenders, who were considered outcast by the society till recently, is now coming to the forefront with the confidence in themselves. Kudumbashree Mission have been implementing various programmes for bringing them to the forefront of the society. Kudumbashree had formed special NHGs and helped the transgenders find livelihood for themselves.

So far, there are 21 transgender NHGs working in the state which have 274 members. Any person in the transgender community who have completed 18 years of age could be the members of NHG. As per the bylaw, an NHG should consist of 10-20 members. But a concession had been given in the case of trangenders. Even though there are only less than 10 members , transgender NHGs could be formed as the District Mission Coordinator may use their discretion in forming the traansgender NHGs. The so formed transgender NHGs would be given Rs 10,000 as corpus fund. The formation of such NHGs are progressing in different districts across the state. There are 3 transgenders each working in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, 2 each at Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Malappuram and one each at Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargode.

There are 12 transgender Micro Enterprises working across the state. Nicy Chips, a first of its kind Micro Enterprise unit was launched by a group of transgenders from Aanakulam of Kannur district. Sandhya is the president and Sona is the Secretary of the Micro Enterprise unit. Sneha, Maya, Saumini, Aparna, Jasmine, Reema Satheeshan, Sanana and Laisa are the other members of the unit. An average of 2,000 kg of Chips are sold in a month, even though the business is mainly done focusing on trade fairs inside and outside Kerala. Punarjani Juice Corner from Kozhikode is the group initiative of Monisha, Aleena, Shamna and Varsha.They had been taking part in various trade fairs and now they are about to start a permanent juice shop at the civil station premises. They have a sales of Rs 80,000 per month and each of them is earning Rs 10,000 each a month. They had earned upto Rs 30,000 per person.

Amritha, Anamika, Sabitha are the team behind Lakshys Fruits and Juice Corner at Ernakulam Collectorate Premises at Kakkanad. Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission is also situated at the Ernakulam Collectorate premises. The juice shop set up at the kiosk is making a sales of Rs 70,000 per month. Another juice shop and jewellery making unit is also working at NGO Quarters, Ernakulam. Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission is planning to start an outlet as a livelihood activity for transgenders associating with Brahmagiri Society. The vegetables and other products from various units of Kudumbashree would be sold through this proposed outlet.

There are 2 transgender NHGs in Pathanamthitta and they are located at pandalam and Kodumon. Each NHG is running 2 Micro Enterprise units. The five membered group from Kodumon started a dance school. Shyama Prasad, Rahul Raj, Prasad, Sunil Kumar, Aravind are giving leadership to their dance school. 4 students are studying in this school. The other Micro Enterprise units at Pandalam lends the costumes and jewellery for dance programmes. There are 3 Micro Enterprise units at Alappuzha and one Micro Enterprise unit in Malappuram as well.

Nicy Chips of Kannur and Punarjani Juice unit of Kozhikode had took part in Saras fairs and other food festivals. Nicy Chips had also took part at the Saras Fair held at Delhi, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Kudumbashree had also made a path breaking gesture by employing trangenders in Kochi Metro through Kudumbashree Facility Management Centre. Presently 14 transgenders are working in Kochi Metro. Kudumbashree is thereby bringing the transgender community from the state of outcast to the accepted.