Kudumbashree is a National Resource Organisation with a mandate of assisting other states to start ‘Kudumbashree model’. At present, Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with 12 states and 1 union territory. Once MoU is signed, Kudumbashree mentors (experienced women from the community, who will work as master trainers) will be appointed in these states (in selected blocks/ panchayats) who will select community cadre from the state and will impart training and build their capacity. Mentors work in two domains. One is development of Micro Enterprises; and the other is convergence project of Community Based Organisation with Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRI CBO convergence). Assam was one of the first states that signed an MoU with Kudumbashree. Initial MoU was for a period of 3 years, and the project was implemented successfully. As a result of this, Assam State Livelihood Mission requested for another MoU for extending the project to 50 new Panchayats from 2017, and this new MoU was signed in the presence of Hon. Minister

For the first time in the history of public transport system in the work, transgenders were given employment opportunities readily. 23 transgenders were selected and they were appointed for various positions (supervisor/ team leader/ cleaning staff/ ticket operator/ customer facilitation staff etc) in Kochi Metro. In the agreement with Kochi Metro for running Facility Management Centre, it was specifically mentioned that transgenders will be trained by selected, trained and will be posted in Kochin Metro through Kudumbashree network. This project aims at providing an employment opportunity for transgenders who are otherwise not generally employed in similar sectors. As a part of “Disha” campaign (a campaign run by Kudumbashree in November 2016 to strengthen the neighbourhood groups), transgender special NHGs were formed and training for self employment was given to some of them. This is the wage employment opportunity for transgenders, created specifically due to request from KMRL. This initiative will help in mainstreaming and in assisting transgender community.

Women Construction Units envisaged by Kudumbashree is selected as one of the ‘Best Practices’ of Pradhan Mantra Awas Yojana (PMAY) implemented by Government of India through Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA). Executive Director, S.Harikishore, IAS presented the best practice during the National Workshop held in Vijnan Bhavan, Delhi on 23/06//2017. Two states were invited for presenting their best practices related to urban poverty alleviation It is expected that more than 3 lakh dwelling units will be constructed in Kerala during the next three years (as a part of PMAY and LIFE mission of Government of Kerala) Forming construction groups of women will provide affordable solutions to rural poor for construction of their houses and will eliminate exploitation by contractors. Also, rural women will get higher income as they are doing skilled work (construction of houses). At present, training is given to 400 women, and Kudumbashree is envisaging construction groups in every development block and in every municipality.

A tripartite agreement was signed between Jan Oushadhi, Local Self Government Department and Kudumbashree for starting Jan Oushadhi medical stores in each Panchayat or wherever feasible. Its a convergence project of local self government department and Kudumbashree. Panchayat will find out a suitable building and will give it to Kudumbashree units for running the pharma store. Kudumbashree units will have to employ a pharmacist and a computer operator to run the store. More than 450 varieties of medicines will be supplied by Jan Oushadhi. As an initial assistance, Rs. 1.5 lakh will be given to the Kudumbashree entrepreneur as capital subsidy for purchase of computers and for procurement of furniture. Further, medicines worth Rs. 1.0 lakh will be given free of cost (on credit). Using sales of these medicine, new medicines may be purchased as per requirement. At present, there is demand to start such stores in 34 Panchayats, and we are expecting demand from more places in near future.

It was a prestigious moment for Kudumbashree when Hon. Prime Minister inaugurated Kochi Metro in June 2017. The reason for pride arose from the fact that for the first time in history, an ‘all women metro’ was inaugurated and Kudumbashree got the opportunity to do the facility management services for Kochi metro. As per the agreement with Kochi Metro, all services ranging from parking management to customer facilitation, from ticketing to housekeeping are entrusted with Kudumbashree. Total demand was for 780 staff. In this first phase 530 women are selected and they are serving Kochi Metro now. When 5 more new metro stations will be commissioned by September, Kudumbashree will provide 250 more staff. The present ‘women metro team’ are selected through a rigorous process. More than 40,000 candidates appeared for the written exam, and of them 1,077 were called for a personal interview. Kudumbashree members or their families only were allowed to participate. Yes, when Metro grows, opportunities for poor women also enhances.