Kudumbashree's Back to School Campaign, the largest training programme for women ever held in the country which aims to bring 4.6 million women to school on holidays, is progressing in full swing across the state making steady growth in the participation of NHG members. As the third batch of the 'Back to School' Campaign has been completed, more than 11 lakh NHG members attended the campaign within 6 days. As per the data received till 15 October 2023, a total of 11,07,627 NHG members from 1,29,392 NHGs have attended the 'Back to School' Campaign. Palakkad, Malappuram and Ernakulam districts came in first, second and third places with participation of 139851, 136575, 116611 NHG members respectively. The campaign was launched with the aim of strengthening the three-tier structure of Kudumbashree and for equipping the NHG women to take up novel ventures in tune with the changing times.
The district wise data as on 15 October 2023 are as follows: (In the order of district, no. of NHGs attended, no. of NHG members attended)
Thiruvananthapuram- 11161- 95855
Kollam- 11031- 78683
Pathanamthitta- 5139- 37511
Alappuzha- 8569 - 74670
Kottayam- 6834 - 58942
Idukki- 4674- 35274
Ernakulam- 13734 - 116611
Thrissur- 14140- 114728
Palakkad- 15609- 139851
Malappuram- 15788- 136575
Kozhikode- 6593- 67328
Wayanad- 4868 - 40872
Kannur- 6327 - 58458
Kasaragod- 4925 - 52269
Total- 129392 - 1107627
The campaign was started when Shri. M.B. Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala performed the State Level Inauguration of the Campaign at K.B. Menon Memorial Higher Secondary School, Thrithala, Palakkad on 1 October 2023. The campaign envisages bringing 46 lakh Kudumbashree NHG members back to classrooms on holidays until 10 December 2023. On the first day itself, lakhs of NHG members took part in the Campaign across the state, amidst the heavy rains.
The campaign activities have been designed in a way reminiscent of the school days. Class time is from 9.30 AM to 4.30 PM. The Assembly is from 9.30 AM to 9.45 AM. Kudumbashree's Mudra Geetham (Anthem) will be sung during the Assembly. The Lesson topics include Organizational Strength Experience Lessons, Vibrancy of NHG is in Mathematics, Community-Life Security Our Happiness, Livelihood-Ideas Projects and Digital Age.
As part of the Campaign being conducted in collaboration with the General Education Department, the NHG members are coming to the schools under the respective CDSs during available holidays from 1 October-10 December 2023 to gain knowledge on various subjects. More than 2000 schools in the state have been sanctioned for the campaign.
The classes are led by more than 15,000 Resource Persons all across the state. There will be a 10 member team of Resource Persons in each district which includes 2 Kudumbashree Training team members, 2 Auxiliary Group members, 2 Micro Enterprise Consultants, District Programme Manager in charge of Organizational Strengthening, Assistant District Mission Coordinator and 2 Gender team members. There are Resource Persons in Block level as well as in CDS level.
Notable personalities including ministers and others from social-political-cultural sectors have visited the 'Back to School' Campaign.