Kudumbashree set out to excel in India International Trade Fair, which is scheduled to be held from 14-27 November 2017 at Pragati Maidan with around 22 countries and 3,000 domestic and foreign companies as participants. Organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), the nodal trade promotion agency of the Government of India, the premier event was inaugurated by Shri. Ram Nath Kovind, Hon'ble President of India on 14 November 2017.

Kudumbashree will make maximum out of this opportunity. The Kerala Pavalion set up at IITF 2017 was inaugurated by Smt. J. Mercykutty Amma, Minister for Fisheries, Government of Kerala. 10 product stalls were set up at Saras India International Trade Fair.14 Entrepreneurs from all districts across Kerala made their representation at IITF. One Product Stall was set up at Kerala Pavilion, which displays and sells the Best Kudumbashree products from all districts across Kerala.

In line with the theme start up India, Kudumbashree presented the social start ups that Kudumbashree women have ventured into to cater the social needs and to address the social issues.These social startups address the social issues in an entrepreneurial way and are completely managed and run by women. It have high scalability and employment generation. As per the definition of Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, any business model which has high potential of employment generation and scalability could be regarded as start ups. Kudumbashree Mission presented 4 women managed social start ups that address the severe social issues faced by Kerala society like Animal birth Control enterprises, Sujalam dig Well recharging, She Lodges and Kudumbashree Geriatric Care. Theme Stalls depicting these was also set up along with Start UP Village Entrepreneurship Programme. 2 counters of Cafe Kudumbashree was opened at IITF by 3 Units from Kottayam, Malappuram and Ernakulam at Kudumbashree Food Court.

IITF is a major tourist attraction and lakhs of people visit the fair every year. This annual event provides a common platform for the manufacturers, traders, exporters and importers. The fair displays comprises a wide range of products and services including automobiles, coir products, jute, textiles, garments, household appliances, kitchen appliances, processed food, beverages, confectionery, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, cosmetics, bodycare & health care products, telecommunication, power sector, electronic sector, furniture, home furnishings, sporting goods, toys, and engineering goods.

Ever since its inception in 1980, IITF has been evolved as a major event for the business community. The event is held between 14–27 November every year at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India. "Start-up Standup", is the theme of 37th India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2017.The partner country for the fair in 2017 is Vietnam, and the focus country is Kyrgyzstan. IITF will come to an end on 27 November 2017.

38 Tribal youth in Attappady get Job placement through Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY). The programme made its interventions in Attappady Tribal areas from 29 May 2017 onwards. The project aims at the social and economic uplift of them.

70 people had joined in 2 trades like Assistant plumber and Domestic Electrician. 64 out of them had completed skill training. 26 out of them completed their training in plumbing and 12 of them in Electrician trade. Training was also given on soft skills, English and computer skills etc. The classes were completed in 104 working days. The courses are accredited by National Council for Vocational Training.

As per the Standard Operating Procedure of DDU-GKY programme, 832 hours of training was given in electrician trade and 695 hours of training in Plumbing Trade. The training of the second batch of students was also started. The training was being was conducted at Kerala Institute of Local Administration at Agaly, Attappady.

Kudumbashree envisages to give training to 52000 rural youth from 2016 to 2019 through DDU-GKY. Training had been given training in 55 job sectors through DDU-GKY. So far, 20,493 people had received job training and 14,458 had got job placements. It is for the first time that Kudumbashree is giving skill training in tribal areas.

Kudumbashree Women made scintillating performance by sharing their incomparable yet inspiring success stories at a programme organised by Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE) associating with Kudumbashree Mission and Industry Training Department at Mascot Hotel Thiruvananthapuram on 9 November 2017.

4 Kudumbashree Women who had 'harvested' success by starting Micro Enterprise units shared their experiences during the programme. Smt J. Sandhya of K.M food products, Attingal, Smt M.V Bhageerathi of Ammu Food products, Palakkad , Smt. Bindu Aji of Animal birth Control unit, Pathanamthitta and Smt Sindhu Balan of Kudumbashree Matrimony, Thrissur shared their experiences of overcoming the hurdles they faced while attempting an innovative initiative and how they became successful entrepreneurs today. These 4 women had became the centre of attraction of the programme.

The programme was conducted in connection with the National Entrepreneurship Day Celebrations and was inaugurated by Shri T.P Ramakrishnan, Minister for Labour, Government of Kerala, Shri. Tom Jose IAS, Additional Chief Secrtary, Labour and Skills, Government of Kerala, Shri. S. Harikishore IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission, Dr. Sreeram Venkitaraman IAS, Director, Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence, Shri M.A George Francis, Joint Director, Employment Department, Shri P.K Madhavan, Additional Director, Industry Training Department also attended the programme. Praveen Parameswar,CEO, Thoughts Academy, emerging Organization Development Strategist was the moderator of the programme.

The Juice centre put up by transgenders at 'Kozhikkodan Ruchikkoot' Cafe Kudumbashree food fest held at Kozhikode beach from 3-12 November 2017 attracts many. Kudumbashree had formed special NHGs for finding livelihoods for them.Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission had given them training on ethnic juice making with the help of Kudumbashree training institution. Satheesh alias Monisha, Jacky alias Jasmine, Shamsu alias Shamna are the micro entrepreneurs behind the juice stall. The honey berry juice, green berry, carrot berry, beet berry, musambi, orange and pineapple juices prepared by them are of high demand at the food fest.The food lovers of Kozhikode is giving a warm welcome and good support to them. Kudumbashree Mission is feeling content in helping them to find a space of their own in the society. By helping them finding livelihoods of their own Kudumbashree envisions the upliftment of transgenders in the society.

Kudumbashree Chicken, the broiler chicken nurturing programme initiated by Kudumbashree Mission in association with Government of Kerala, Animal Husbandry Department & KEPCO was launched by Dr T.M Thomas Issac, Minister of Finance, Government of Kerala at Kanakakunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram on 8 November 2017. " It's the continuation of the timely intervention of Kudumbashree Mission in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sector" Minister said.

"Kudumbashree Mission had always ensured the participation of women from all sectors of the society and had played a major role in the social upliftment of the women who were sidelined in the society." He added.

Through this programme Kudumbashree envisions the self sufficiency of the state by producing milk, eggs and meat of our own. It is planned to start 5000 Kudumbashree units that could nurture broiler chicken.1000 units will be started very soon and about 274 units are already prepared to launch.

The launch of the convergence programme of Kudumbashree and Animal Husbandry Department and the distribution of the revolving fund was inaugurated by Adv.K Raju, Minister of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, Government of Kerala.

The logo of ' Bhakshya Suraksha Bhavanam' programme was launched by Dr K.T Jaleel, Minister of Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala. The programme envisages to cultivate the vegetables of one's own through Kudumbashree and NHGs. Seeds and training will be given to the common women who will become part of the programme. So far, 6 lakh families had received seeds and training for the same.

Shri.K.Muraleedharan MLA presided over the function. Shri.S.Harikishore IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission welcomed the gathering and Dr Vinod John, Managing Director, KEPCO extended vote of thanks. Shri N.N Sasi, Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Adv. V.K.Prasanth, Mayor, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Shri. V.K.Madhu, District Panchayath President, Shri.Anil.X, Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department, Ms.J. Chinchurani, Chairperson, KEPCO, Shri.Rajan, Ward Counsellor, Palayam, Shri.K.K Jayaraj, Additional Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department, Shri S. Rajendran, District Animal Welfare Officer and Dr.K Shaiju, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Thituvananthapuram District Mission also attended the function.

Cafe Kudumbashree stalls set up at Greenfield Stadium during T20 Cricket Match on 7 November 2017 won hearts. 40 counters were opened by Kudumbashree women at the venue under the leadership of 25 units from Trivandrum and other districts. 16 units were from Trivandrum and the rest from the districts like Kannur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Alappuzha and kottayam. Cuisines from Travancore, Kochi and Malabar were served.The cafe Kudumbashree units offered snacks, fresh juice and steamed snacks. The food was cooked under the leadership of 150 women at the central kitchens set up at Sreekaryam and Kazhakoottam. The cuisines offered at the stalls were of high demand and it added more energy to the Cricket lovers.

The activities of Kudumbashree School, which works aiming at the personality development and social, cultural, educational empowerment of women is progressing in all districts.

Kudumbashree School, the informal education programme which is executed coordinating with the NHGs envisages to improve the intellectual quality of common women. For this, information on different arena are given to them. Kudumbashree school enables the women to be aware of the need of social commitment and equip them to be part of the campaigns against alcohol and drugs.

Retired school teachers, experts from social, cultural and different other sectors are giving training to Kudumbashree women. In addition to this, 6 Resource persons are selected from every ward. That is, 1.19 lakh ward level teachers from 19854 wards had become part of this programme. Two hour training is being given to NHG women for a tenure of 6 weeks. Those who complete 12 hours of Kudumbashree School training will be given certificates.

Kudumbashree School will make the women aware of the different programmes executed by Kudumbashree in the state. Kudumbashree Mission not only aims at the social, financial and cultural empowerment but also at the intellectual empowerment as well. The programme also aims at retrieving the indigenous agricultural culture of Kerala.

Kudumbashree School was officially launched by Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister, Government of Kerala at Penpol Ground, Vilappil Panchayath on 21 October 2017.

Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission is extending Karate Training to girl children of Balasabha through 'Defence 2021'  programme. The programme aims at making the children making confident about themselves in fighting back the atrocities against them with courage. Women are attacked both culturally and physically. The former was created as a result of feudalism, capitalism and patriarchy and it could be stopped only through strong and regular protests against such attitudes that are to be demolished. But through the strength and self defence acquired by getting trained in martial arts, the latter could be fight back to a great extend. Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission had started the Karate Training through the Defence 2021 programme with such a vision. 

The first batch of the Karate Training as part of the Defence 2021 programme was held at Panniyannur CDS of Kannur. The programme was welcomed by the girl students wholeheartedly and following its success, the second batch of the Karate Training as part of the Defence 2021 has been started at Cherukunnu CDS of Kannur. The second batch of the 'Defence 2021' programme was inaugurated by Smt. T. Nisha, President, Cherukunnu Grama Panchayath at the Grama Panchayath Hall on 27 November 2021.

The 'Best Practices' Booklet compiled by Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (Kerala) was released by Mrs Alka Upadhyaya IAS, JS( Rural Skills), MoRD at the National Level Conference organised by Kudumbashree Mission associating with Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and Ministry of Shipping (MoS) to discuss the modalities for the Implementation of Sagarmala-DDUGKY Convergence project Phase II at Hotel Marriott, Kochi on 2 November 2017. The Booklet features the procedures that DDU-GKY Kerala Mission team came across and found to be effective during the implementation of DDU-GKY programme on Kerala.

Click here to View/ Download the book

A two day training was given to the railway facility management service providers to improve the quality of the service they provide at Railway Stations. It is planned to improve the quality of the service, same as to that of the service provided at Kochi Metro Rail Limited. Presently Kudumbashree manages the parking of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Thrissur Railway stations and the AC rest rooms at Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Ernakulam and Thrissur railway stations. 230 Kudumbashree women are working in this sector. It was decided to give a training to the service providers after the discussion between Kudumbashree officials and railway authorities.

Kudumbashree women has been providing services in various sectors in Kochi Metro, the first all women run metro in the world. Till then, Kudumbashree women were considered only mediocre who were confined to the sectors like waste management, micro enterprises, exhibitions etc. Kudumbashree women had made a revolution in this regard by working with Kochi Metro. They are employed in Kochi Metro Rail Limited on different jobs like ticketing, house keeping, parking, gardening and customer care. The training programme was organised by Kudumbashree Metro Facility Management Centre which co-ordinates these jobs.

The training has been given by dividing them into 2 zones. The training for those from Ernakulam , Kottayam and Thrissur Districts was conducted from 30 October to 2 November 2017. Training for those from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam , Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha will be given from 8-11 November 2017.

Kudumbashree women has been associating with Railway as service providers of facility management for the last 2 years. The training will be framed so as to improve their personal as well as their professional skills. The training will equip them to identify the needs of the customers and act according to. Training will also be given to improve their communication skills.