Kudumbashree State Level Onam Marketing Fair at Pathanamthitta will provide an opportunity for everyone to color this Onam with various products of Kudumbashree entrepreneurs. The logo of the fair was released by Ms. Veena George, Minister for Health and Woman and Child Development, Government of Kerala at Pathanamthitta Collectorate on 31 August 2024. The fair will begin at Private Bus Stand, Pathanamthitta on 10 September 2024. The fair will conclude on 14 September 2024.

An expert panel selected the winning logo from 22 entries received in a logo design competition organized for the public. The logo was designed by Shri. Anish Vasudevan, a native of Adoor. The prize for Anish will be distributed at the fair. For this Onam, Kudumbashree will organize around 2000 Onam marketing fairs at District and State levels.

Shri, Mathew T Thomas, MLA, Thiruvalla Constituency, Shri. Jiji Mathew, Chairman, District Panchayat Welfare Standing Committee, Ms. Jyothi B, ADM, Ms. Maya M, District Planning Officer, Ms. Aadila S, District Mission Co-ordinator,  Kudumbashree Pathanamthitta District Mission, Ms. Bindu Rekha K, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Pathanamthitta District Mission also participated in the function.

The consortium formed in Thrissur as part of the Branding Project to make powder products including curry powders produced by Kudumbashree entrepreneurs available in the public market under one brand has opened its own office. Adv. K. Rajan, Minister for Revenue and Housing, Government of Kerala inaugurated the new office at Vanitha Handwork Centre at Poochetty of Nadathara Panchayath, Thrissur during the function organized on 27 August 2024.

The 'Branding Project' is to unify the Kudumbashree enterprises producing various products like chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, sambar powder, chicken masala, fish masala, meat masala, garam masala, steamed puttu powder, wheat flour and appam powder and make them available in the public market under the brand 'Kudumbashree' in the same quality and packaging. Branding was done in Kannur district on a pilot basis in the financial year 2019-20. Later, the scheme was extended to the districts of Malappuram, Kottayam, Thrissur, Kollam and Pathanamthitta.

Consortiums are formed comprising the selected units at the district level and through those consortium the branding activities of the products prepared by the entrepreneurs are coordinated in a decentralized manner. This consortium is responsible for the marketing of branded products and procurement of raw materials. 34 people from 15 units selected in Thrissur district are members of the consortium.

Ms. Sreevidya Rajesh, President, Nadathara Grama Panchayath presided over the function. Adv. Rajith P.R, Vice President, Shri. Abhilash P.K, Chairman, Welfare Standing Committee, Shri. Ashok Kumar MS, Shri. Siju Kumar. A and Ms. Jeeja Jayan, Chairperson, Nadathara CDS conveyed their greetings. Shri. K. Radhakrishnan, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission welcomed the gathering and Ms. Omana K.N, President, Curry Powder Consortium delivered the vote of thanks.

Kudumbashree NHG & Auxiliary Group members have collected Rs. 20,07,05,682 in the first phase of the 'Njangalumundu Campaign' to help Wayanad, which was hit by landslides. Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister, Government of Kerala received the amount from Shri. M.B. Rajesh, Minister, Local Self-Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department during the function held at Chief Minister's Chamber on 29 August 2024. 

Rs. 20,05,00,682 was collected by Kudumbashree NHG members and Auxiliary Group members and  Rs. 2,05,000 was collected by various training agencies under Kudumbashree which altogether made Rs. 20,07,05,682. Dr. Sharmila Mary Joseph IAS, Principal Secretary, Local Self Government Department, Shri. Jafar Malik IAS, Former Executive Director, Kudumbashree, Ms. A Geetha, Designated Executive Director, Kudumbashree, Ms. K.S. Bindu, Director, Kudumbashree, Shri. Nafih Muhammed, Public Relations Officer, Kudumbashree, Shri. Nishad C.C, State Programme Manager, Shri. Abdul Manaf, Accountant, Ms. Chaithanya G, Communication Specialist and other officials were also present at the function.

Kudumbashree 'Fresh Bites' Project was launched. Shri. M.B. Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Excise Department, Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala performed the State-Level Inauguration and Product Launch of the Kudumbashree Fresh Bites during the function held at Wedding Village, Civil Line, Thrissur on 26 August 2024. Adv. K. Rajan, Minister for Revenue and Housing, Government of Kerala presided over the function.

The LSGD Minister said that the 'Fresh Bites' Project implemented by Kudumbashree will help the NHG women to achieve economic prosperity. Kudumbashree's strength is their innate talent or gift in cooking flavorsome food. Kudumbashree is successfully implementing various programmes such as Janakeeya Hotel, Premium Cafe, Lunch Bell Project etc. This Onam, Kudumbashree's Fresh Bites Branded Chips and Sarkaravaratti (jaggery coated banana chips) will reach all over Kerala. The product has a branding and reasonable price that can compete with any corporate. Vegetable Farming is being done in 12000 acres aiming the onam market.  Through this, more than three lakh women farmers are getting livelihood. And floriculture is also done in1500 hectares of land. The entrepreneurs running the Janakeeya Hotels have been provided with an average subsidy of Rs 16 lakhs per Janakeeya Hotel apart from providing rice at subsidized rates, as well as water, electricity and building. Significant interventions are being made to help entrepreneurs. 

Through the K-LIFT (Kudumbashree Livelihood Initiative for Transformation) Project to provide employment to women, three lakh people will be provided livelihood within the next one year. Out of this 70,000 people have already got employment. It was Kudumbashree that gave the common women the opportunity to get employment and income, to stand on their own feet and live with self-respect.

As part of strengthening the rehabilitation activities in Wayanad, the micro plan required for each family is being prepared under the leadership of Kudumbashree. Also, the amount collected from Kudumbashree members across the state will be handed over to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) on 29 August 2024. The Minister said that when Kerala becomes an example for the world for complete rehabilitation, it will have the stamp of Kudumbashree and clarified that Kudumbashree is a movement that changed the destiny of women's lives in Kerala.

In his presidential address, Adv. K. Rajan, Minister for Revenue and Housing, Government of Kerala said that it is very gratifying that Kudumbashree's branded chips and sarkaravaratti will reach every family during Onam through the respective clusters and it is a matter of pride that many women will get employment through it.

Shri. M. Krishna Das, Chairman, Guruvayoor Municipality and Chairman, Chamber Association, handed over Rs. 25 lakhs Shri. M.B. Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala, as a contribution of Guruvayoor Municipality to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. The Minister felicitated Shri. Siju Rajan, Co-founder of Team Brandism, who designed the cover of Fresh Bites.

Shri. Sreekanth A.S, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree explained the project. Shri. V. S Prince, President, Thrissur District Panchayath was the Chief Guest of the function. Shri. Basanth Lal S, President, Grama Panchayath Association, Ms. Satyabhama Vijayan, Chairperson, Thrissur Corporation 1 CDS, Ms. Rejula Krishna Kumar, Chairperson, Thrissur Corporation 2 CDS, Ms. Omana K. N, President, Curry Powder Consortium and Ms. Smitha Sathyadev, President, Kudumbashree Food Processing and Marketing Cluster gave away their felicitations. 

Ms. Rejeena T.M, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission welcomed the gathering and Dr. Shanavas, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree delivered the vote of thanks. Assistant District Mission Co-ordinators, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission, Block Co-ordinators and Accountants participated in the programme.

Through 'Happy Kerala - Happiness Centre' Project, Kudumbashree aims to make every family a centre of happiness by ensuring the overall well-being and upliftment of every individual in the society. By raising the happiness index of families in this way, the state can advance in the happiness index. This project is being implemented in connection with the FNHW (Food Nutrition Health and WASH) activities being implemented by Kudumbashree. Shri. Jafar Malik IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree launched the logo of the 'Happy Keralam-Happiness Centre' Project during the function held at Kudumbashree State Mission, Thiruvananthapuram on 24 August 2024.

Ms. K.S. Bindu, Director, Kudumbashree, Ms. M. Geetha, Chief Finance Officer, Kudumbashree. Shri. Nafih Muhammed, Public Relations Officer,  Dr. B Sreejith, Srikanth AS, Megha Mary Koshy, Programme Officers and Shri. Naveen C, Chief Operating Officer also became part of the programme.

Ms. Sudha Devadas, Mangamkuzhy House of Kuzhur, Mala of Thrissur district and Ms. Elsy Yousef of Palikoodath House of Thuravoor, Angamaly of Ernakulam district received the honor from Shri. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, Government of India. Both of them were selected to represent Kerala in a ceremony to honor 'Lakhpati Didis' from all over the country at Jalgaon in Maharashtra on 25 August 2024. Among them, Ms. Sudha also got a chance to directly interact with the Prime Minister. Lakhpati Didis are NHG/SHG members with an annual income of up to Rs.1 lakh. Dr. Shameena P.N, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree also accompanied them.

Ms. Sudha Prakriti became a member of Kudumbashree NHG in 2011. She turned to Group Farming to earn a living through agricultural sector. At present, Sudha and her group is cultivating various varieties of rice, banana, yam, spinach and beans in about 22 acres of land. Mahila Rice Producers Company was also formed. Sudha has also been trained in the Drone Didi Project to meet agricultural needs and generate income using drones. Sudha, who has fulfilled her responsibilities as a CDS member, is also a Gender Resource Person. She is currently a member of Kuzhur Gram Panchayat.

Ms. Elsy Yousef returned home in 2008 as her husband was diagnosed with cancer while living with her family in Mumbai. She came to know about Kudumbashree during a very difficult situation when she was finding it hard to move forward with her life. Then in 2012, an NHG called 'Kanchana' was started under the leadership of Elsy. She also participated in various trainings to earn livelihood. In 2018, the NHG members formed a Collective Farming Group called 'Nirapara' and started engaging in agriculture. Elsy, who is also a Kudumbashree Resource Person in the field of agriculture, was selected for the programme in the Krishi Sakhi Category.

The District Administration of Wayanad and Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission jointly organized the 'Njangalund Koode' (We are With You) Job fair with the objective of creating gainful employment opportunities for the job seekers in the disaster affected area of Meppadi Gram Panchayat in Wayanad, which was hit by landslide disaster. Adv K. Rajan, Minister for Revenue and Housing, Government of Kerala inaugurated the Job Mela organized under the leadership of the Deendayal Upadhyaya Grameena Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), the skill training programme of Kudumbashree and Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission organized at Meppadi Gram Panchayat, Wayanad on 23 August 2024.

The minister handed over the offer letter to ten candidates selected by employers ESAF Small Finance Bank, Markaz Knowledge City and Indus Motors at the inauguration ceremony. 21 employers from inside and outside the district participated in the fair. Out of about 300 job seekers, 59 were selected for various jobs. And a shortlist of 127 people was prepared.

Shri. P.K. Balasubramanian, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission welcomed the gathering. Ms. Bini Prabhakaran, Chairperson, Meppadi CDS, Ms. Rejeena V.K, Ms. Seleena K. M, Shri. Ameen K, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinators, Kudumbashree, Shri. Nishad C. C, Shri. Shibu N.P, State Programme Managers, Shri. Jenson M. Joy, Ms. Apsana K, District Programme Managers and others participated in the programme.

Kudumbashree's Snehitha Gender Help Desk is a system that provides help, support and shelter to women and children who are victims of violence. On 23 August 2024, it has been 11 years since the Snehitha Centre started functioning in Ernakulam district. Many programmes were implemented by the district. Radioshree, Kudumbashree's Online Radio broadcasted special programme in connection with the Anniversary of  Snehitha Gender Help Desk at Ernakulam. Radioshree broadcasted a special programme called 'Vijayaveethi' from 4 to 5 pm on 23 August 2024, where one could get to know the activities of Snehitha Gender Help Desk in Ernakulam district.

 Apart from this, in connection with Snehitha anniversary in Ernakulam district, various publicity programmes like public announcement about Snehitha under the leadership of Kudumbashree Rangashree team in the name 'Uchabhashini', Gender Challenge and Online Gender Game aimed at creating gender awareness among the public were also organized. Also it is aimed to organize various programmes such as 'Unnathi', 'Blooming Buds' for the children of coastal areas, flash mobs/flyer campaigns centered on Gender Resource Centers and 'Phoenix' for underprivileged women are also targeted to be implemented in Ernakulam district from 23 August 2024 in the upcoming days in connection with the anniversary.

Kudumbashree is moving ahead with efforts to start Happiness Centres in 154 Model CDSs with the concept of Happy Kerala. The aim is to raise the happiness index of families. A three-day state-level training programme for the project trainers will be conducted on 28, 29 and 30 August 2024, with districts divided into South and North regions. 

A state-level training module, project-related guidelines and a template for surveying households were also prepared at a Planning Workshop organized in Thiruvananthapuram on 19 August 2024. The regional openings are Kollam and Kozhikode. A total of 140 people will participate in the training (ten people from each district). The training is conducted by State Level Resource Persons comprising of experts in various fields.

Trainees will participate in the activities of setting up 'Happiness Forums' at District and CDS ADS levels. The Happiness Forum is formed by including representatives of the Kudumbashree three-tier organizational system and representatives of local bodies. 'Idam' (spaces) will also be formed at the ward level with 10 to 40 families in each ward. It will include all the families in the general society. The family-based micro-level plan will be prepared in these 'spaces' formed at the ward level to find out the required happiness index for each family.

Dr. B Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Dr. Sreelekha T.J, Dr. Razeena Padmam, Shri. Rafi. P, Senior Programme Associate, UN World Food Programme Nutrition Division, Shri  Baiju Kumar R. S, Ms. Subha Sree, Ms. Sunitha, Nutritionists, Ms. Krishnakumari, Ms. Preetha G. Nair, Ms. Feby, State Assistant Program Managers, Kudumbasree District Program Managers, Ms. Beena, Ms. Nishitha, Dr. Unnimol, Ms. Anu, representatives of Snehitha participated in the planning workshop.

What are Happiness Centres?
Kudumbashree aims to make every family a centres of happiness by ensuring the overall well-being and upliftment of every individual and family in the society through Happiness Centres. With the implementation of this very innovative concept, Kerala will be able to advance in the happiness index and become a model for other states. The project is implemented in connection with the FNHW (Food, Nutrition, Health and WASH) activities as part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission implemented by Kudumbashree.

Actions are planned for the project to address the inadequacies faced by an individual or family in various areas like equality, economic sustainability, environment, art, literature, sports, mental health, nutrition, hygiene and democratic values and lead them to a happy life. The project will be implemented in such a way that it will be helpful to every person of the society like children, youth, adults and the elderly.

Activities
A survey will be conducted focusing on the families in the Model CDSs where Happiness Centres will be established and a micro-level plan will be prepared to raise the Happiness Index of those families. On the basis of this project, a Happiness Index will be prepared according to the social situation of Kerala and the project activities will be started after conducting an evaluation under the leadership of experts in various fields.

Kudumbashree will make convergences with various departments like health, social justice, women and child development, agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy development, forest and other departments in the implementation of the project. It will also coordinate with the various projects implemented by Kudumbashree.

The trainees of BUDS Institutions celebrated BUDS Day on 16 August 2024 with various events. BUDS Schools and BUDS Rehabilitation Centres (for above 18 years) are jointly run by local self-government bodies and Kudumbashree for intellectually challenged children. The first BUDS School in the state started functioning in Venganoor Gram Panchayat of Thiruvananthapuram district on 16 August 2004. The objectives of the Celebration of BUDS Day is to make BUDS Institutions more popular, bringing trainees into the mainstream of society, embedding more children in BUDS Institutions and providing psychological support to parents.

BUDS Week was also organized as part of BUDS Day Celebrations. As part of the BUDS Day Celebrations, various Buds institutions organized many programmes such as home visits to the homes of fellow trainees who could not reach the institutions, awareness raising for parents, public visits, film screenings, outings and art programmes. As of now, there are 11847 trainees in 361 existing institutions (BUDS Schools and BUDS Rehabilitation Centres).