As part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations, all the three lakh NHGs in the state are organizing a community gathering called 'Chuvad 2023' on 26 January 2023. 46 lakh Kudumbashree women who are members of NHGs, their family members, Auxiliary group members, Balasabha members, elderly NHG members and special NHG members will participate in this gathering. Based on twenty-five years of working experience, the changes brought about by Kudumbashree in the lives of the NHG family members and the general public, health, public cleanliness, clean NHG environment, development needs of the NHG families and the area will be discussed on the 'Ayalkkootta Sangamam Day' under the leadership of the NHG members. Then the NHG groups will prepare a micro-level plan keeping in mind the sustainable development goals and submit the report to the ADS (Area Development Society).

Kudumbashree initiates various programmes starting on 26 January 2023 and ending on 17 May 2023. The national flag will be hoisted at 8 AM in all NHGs of the state on 26 January 2023 as part of the 'Ayalkkootta Sangamam'. Then the 'Ayalkkootta Sangamam' song will be performed. After that, the members will watch the 'Ayalkkootta Sangamam' message together through the Kudumbashree YouTube channel. After this, discussions focusing on various topics will be organized. It is aimed to turn the NHG gathering into a starting point for enabling the Kudumbashree system to achieve sustainable development goals including infrastructure development, better income-generating livelihood activities, health, education and quality of life.

Celebrating the Silver Jubilee celebrations together in all the NHGs and informing the whole state about the same, and ensuring awareness that public spaces also belong to women and are a space for their social and cultural expression are the main objectives of 'Chuvad 2023'. The participation of prominent personalities in the fields of art, literature and culture will also be ensured to make the community gathering attractive. Various art programmes will also be staged.

NHGs have been instructed to include 'Chuvad 2023' as a special agenda in the NHG meeting to be held on 26 January 2023 and to make prior arrangements. At present training programmes and campaign activities are being organized at district, CDS, ADS and NHG level on various dates. The same will be completed on 22 January 2023.

Kudumbashree is extending a golden opportunity for the public to take part in the vlog, reels competition in connection with the Kudumbashree Silver Jubilee Celebrations and to win exciting prizes. Vlogs, reels on any projects, activities, initiatives of Kudumbashree will be considered for the competition. Last date for submitting the entries is 8 February 2023.

Cash award of Rs. 50,000 will be given for the best vlog. Whereas cash award of Rs. 40,000 will be given as second prize and Rs. 30,000 will be given as third prize. Cash Award of Rs. 25,000 will be given for the best reel whereas cash award of Rs. 20,000 will be given as second prize and cash award of Rs. 15,000 will be given as third prize. Consolation prizes will also be given for best entries. In addition to cash award trophies and certificates will be awarded to the winners.

The vlog should not exceed 5 minutes and the reels should not exceed 1:30 minutes. An applicant can submit one or more videos. The copyright of the video belongs to Kudumbashree and Kudumbashree shall not be responsible for any copyright claims or seeking approval from any authority. Videos can be prepared in English and Malayalam.

The videos selected by the primary jury will be uploaded on the official YouTube, Facebook and Instagram of Kudumbashree State Mission. 30 percent weightage will be given to views. The winners will be determined based on concept, content, videography and views weightage.

To know more details including the conditions, visit - www.kudumbashree.org/reels2023

Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission's 'Kuttykkoottam' organized cultural procession against drug addiction. The members of Balasabha in Kannur have indeed won the applause of their peers through the cultural procession organized to convey the awareness message that they should not perish under the influence of alcohol and should not become a victim of the terrible calamity that destroys the future of a nation by eating up generations. 

The theme of the cultural procession was 'No to drugs, Life is more important'.  The cultural procession mainly focused on the human relations spoiled by alcohol and drugs, isolation, and the dangers that alcohol and drugs create in the society. The cultural procession, which was able to make the audience take a firm decision not to use intoxicating substances, was also able to inspire people to make efforts to free themselves from it.

21 Balasabha members selected from various Kudumbashree CDSs of the district had lined up in the procession. The Cultural Procession which started from LP School, Naduvanad, Iritty on 29 December 2022 was concluded at the New Bus Stand, Thalassery on 15 January 2022. Within 7 days ( 29, 30, 31 December 2022 and 7, 8, 14, 15 January 2023), they performed at 19 different locations in the district such as Aralam, Kolayad, Koothuparamba Municipality, Mathil GHSS, Kannadiparamba Deshaseva UP School. Art programs were presented in 19 centers of the district such as schools.

Shri. Binoy Kurian, Vice President, District Panchayath inaugurated the Cultural Procession. The valedictory function in Thalassery was inaugurated by Ms. K.M. Jamunarani, Chairperson, Thalassery Municipality. Shri. Vazhayil Sasi, Vice Chairman presided over the function. Dr. M. Surjith, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission, P.V. Pranav, Leader of the Cultural Procession also spoke at the function. Children who participated in the procession were given certificates and gifts.

The main programmes of the cultural procession include music programme by Dr. Prashanth Krishnan, drama by Surendran Aduthila and presentation song composed by Balasabha children. The presentation song was sung by Ms. Sajini, Chairperson, Padyam CDS. Shri. V.K. Kunjikrishnan Master and Shri. Ravi Ezhome, Theatre workers jointly put together the cultural procession and brought it to the stage. Kudumbashree Kannur district team have indeed taken up the great task of creating awareness against drug addiction.

Kudumbashree Pathanamthitta District Mission organized torch relay as part of 'Nayi Chethana' Gender Campaign during 21 to 23 December 2022. The 'Nayi Chethana' Gender Campaign was conducted under the auspices of the National Rural Livelihood Mission. NHG members, general public and Balasabha members  took part in the procession. The torch relay was organized associating with the District Sports Council. 

Shri. Chittayam Gopakumar, Deputy Speaker, Kerala Legislative Assembly inaugurated the torch relay during the function held at SNDP Hall, Adoor on 21 December 2022.  Ms. Divya Reji, Vice Chairperson, Adoor Municipality presided over the function. The torch relay passed through the main 34 areas of the district namely Adoor, Pandalam, Aranmula, Malayalapuzha, Konni, Kodumon, Kozhanchery, Thiruvalla, Mallapally, Ranni Pazhavangadi, Chittar and Vadasserikkara and ended at Pathanamthitta on 23 December 2022. All participants were given certificates and plaques for the march which was concluded with a night walk and pledge.

In the opening ceremony, Shri. K. Anil Kumar, President, District Sports Council delivered the keynote address. Ms. Been Babu, Chairperson, Municipal Welfare Standing Committee, Ms. M.V. Valsala Kumari, Chairperson, Adoor CDS, Ms. Geetha P. K, Chairperson, Pallikal CDS, Ms. Ajitha Kumari, Chairperson, Erath CDS, Ms. Geetha, Assistant Secretary, Ms. Tulasi Suresh, Convener, Social Development Sub-Committee, Ms. Anupa P. R,  Shri. Shahjahan T. K, Ms. Sunitha V, Shri. Jason K Baby, Ms. Treesa S James, Ms. Gayathri Devi, Ms. Fauzia, Ms. Vidya, Kudumbashree officials, Shri. Ajiraj, Ms. Kitty, Shri Jefin, Shri. Vijay, Shri. Sebin, Shri. Bibin, Ms. Tinu, Sports Council Members, CDS and ADS Members took part in the function. 'Nayi Chethana' Jerseys were also distributed on the occasion of the inauguration.

Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission is extending a golden ray of hope to the NHG members who were unable to complete their education due to various reasons, through 'Yogya', the literacy programme. A total of 1065 NHG members have registered to appear for the 10th and 12th exams during March 2023. Out of these, the examination fee for 731 candidates was found by Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission through CDS own funds and sponsorship. This amount of Rs. 13,05,650  was handed over to Kerala State Literacy Mission by Prof. R Bindu, Minister of Higher Education, Government of Kerala at the function held at Municipal Bus Stand Hall, Malappuram on 26 December 2022. 

Shri.P. Ubaidullah, MLA, Malappuram presided over the function and Shri. Haskar, District Programme Manager welcomed the gathering. Shri. Jafar. K. Kakkooth, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission explained the project and Shri. Muhammad Basheer M, Assistant Co-ordinator, District Literacy Mission delivered the introductory lecture. Shri. Mujeeb Kaderi, Chairman, Malappuram Municipality and Shri. N.M. Mehrali, Additional District Magistrate conveyed their greetings. Ms. Rubiraj, District Programme Manager, Kudumbashree proposed vote of thanks.

Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission has also submitted a 'Yogya' proposal to the Kerala State Literacy Mission to provide non-formal education to all NHG members below the age of 35 years to write the 10th and 12th Equivalency Examinations.

The Exhibition & Marketing Fair of Agricultural Value Added Products of Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission attracted many. The Exhibition and Marketing Fair of Agricultural Value Added Products was held at Parappukkara Grama Panchayath from 23-30 December 2023 under the leadership of Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission in connection with the Silver Jubilee Year Celebrations of Kudumbashree. The fair was inaugurated by Shri. K.K. Ramachandran, MLA. 45 value added units of the district and one producer company participated in the fair organized from 3 pm to 10 pm near Nandikkara bypass road.

A group of students visited Kudumbashree to learn about the poverty eradication activities being implemented by Kudumbashree in Kerala. A group of 22 students and 3 teachers studying in various universities in US arrived at the Kudumbashree State Mission Office, Thiruvananthapuram on 4 January 2023 for a study visit.

The officials of State Mission explained about the working methods of Kudumbashree. The team also visited the Nutrimix unit operating at Kalluvettamkuzhi under Thiruvananthapuram Corporation CDS 4. The students came to India for a three-week study visit as part of the India Wintering Program conducted under the auspices of the Laurie Baker Centre for Habitat Studies (LBC).

Haritha Karma Sena has made notable accomplishment by removing 4836 tons of plastic waste in one year. Haritha Karma Sena Unit comprises of a group of women who relentlessly work like a well-oiled machine in the nooks and corners of Kerala. Harithakarmasena, a group spearheading sustainable waste management activities under the leadership of Suchithwa  Mission, Haritha Keralam Mission and Kudumbashree, is providing invaluable services.

They have removed 4836.262 tons of plastic waste from our Kerala during the last one year itself and that itself shows the magnitude of the silent revolution of Haritha Karma Sena. This achievement was achieved by 28,235 green workers working in various local self-government bodies in Kerala. The Haritha Karma Sena members who have taken up this effort to save nature from the menace of waste are not the paid employees of the government.  Haritha Karma Sena members survive only on a meager user fee, which takes care of the garbage that the public disposes of.

Unfortunately there has been a current widespread social media campaign that Haritha Karma Sena who work so effectively for us and future generations should not be paid a fixed user fee is completely baseless. The fact is that, in the Right To Information document circulated along with this news, there is no mention of any user fee being paid to Green Karma Sena.

The formation and functioning of Haritha Karma Sena is as per the Government Order G.O (RT) No. 1496/2020/LSGD dated 12/08/2020, which approved the Haritha Karma Sena operational guidelines. There will be two members per ward in the Haritha Karma Sena in the local body area. Households and establishments are obliged to pay the user fee fixed by the local self-government bodies to Haritha Karma Sena members for collecting plastic waste. This is as per the rules 4(3) and 15(f) of the Plastic Waste Management Rules issued by the Central Government in 2016.

The Haritha Karma Sena are doing activities such as visiting every house, collecting non-organic waste, sorting them and handing over the recyclables to the companies for that purpose, and handing over the non-organic waste for activities like road tarring. They also provide solutions and suggestions for household organic waste management.

It is expected that everyone will support Green Karma Sena, which is very helpful in fulfilling the duty of keeping one's own house and environment clean by following the general principle of 'My Garbage is My Responsibility' and will keep the morale of Green Karma Sena intact by not believing or sharing baseless information.

Kudumbashree Palakkad District Mission's 'Aaravam 2022', the Christmas-New Year trade fair which was a huge hit was concluded. 'Aaravam 2022', the Christmas-New Year trade fair was held at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium, Palakkad under the leadership of Kudumbashree Palakkad District Mission. The trade fair which was started on 23 December 2022 in connection with the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Kudumbashree was inaugurated by Shri. M.B. Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department and Excise Department, Government of Kerala. The trade fair was concluded on 30 December 2022 with the tribal art fair 'Thudi'.

Shri. V.K. Sreekandan, MP inaugurated 'Thudi' Tribal Art Fair. Traditional art forms of the tribal groups of Vandazhi, Ayiloor, Perumatty, Vadakarapathy, Kozhinjampara, Muthalamada and Attappady CDS such as Muramkottippaatu, Kathirukali, Vattakkali Kathiruthsavam, Kalyana dance, Kummippaatt, Kummiyadi, Aadi Malayar dance, Kadar dance, Gothra dance, Vaduka dance, Aattamppaatu, around 14 programs were staged on the stage.

In connection with the fair, a tribal nutritious food exhibition fair was also organized as part of the FNHW (Food, Nutrition, Health, Wash - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) project of the National Rural Livelihood Mission. District level tug-of-war competition for NHG members, Mehndi Fest for Auxiliary group members and film festival for Balasabha members boosted the excitement of the fair. Also, during every evening there were art performances and seminars on various topics including BUDS, Balasabha, Auxiliary group members and special neighborhood groups of the district.

Ms, K. Binu Mol, President, District Panchayath presided over the inauguration of 'Thudi' Tribal Art Fair. Shri. B.S. Manoj, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Palakkad District Mission welcomed the gathering. Ms. Baby Chandran, Chairperson, Palakkad Municipal Welfare Standing Committee,  Ms. Padmini Teacher, Member, District Panchayath Education Standing Committee and Ms. Reetha P.D, Chairperson, Palakkad South CDS extended their greetings. Shri. Jijin. G,  Kudumbashree District Programme Manager delivered vote of thanks.

Kudumbashree Alappuzha District team formed 'Ekam' Sexual Minority Forum to reach out to the sexual minorities, who are always marginalized in the society. The aim of this district level forum called 'Ekam' is to provide them with the necessary support systems, services and opportunities to get opportunities and equal rights regardless of gender in all sectors of the society. The forum was formed under the leadership of the 'Pratheeksha' and 'Nanma' Transgender NHGs operating in Alappuzha district.

Ms. K.G. Rajeshwari, President, District Panchayath inaugurated the forum. Shri. Prasanth Babu J, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission presided over the function. Adv. Riyas, Member, District Panchayath, Shri. Abin, Officer, District Social Justice Department, Shri. James, Member, Youth Welfare Board, Shri. V.G. Vishnu, President, District Olympic Association, Shri. Xavier K.V, Shri. Suresh M.G, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinators, Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission extended their greetings. Hima and Gangadharan spoke on behalf of the NHGs Pratheeksha and Nanma. Ms. Sunitha, District Programme Manager delivered the vote of thanks.

Apart from Alappuzha, district level Sexual Minority Forum has been formed in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kozhikode districts in the state so far. It is aimed to complete the formation of Sexual Minority Forums in all districts, this year itself.