Skill Training Activities of Kudumbashree are actively progressing across the state. The interested may get enrolled in various courses in various sectors of these skill training programmes. Three important programmes are being implemented through Kudumbashree that would equip the young generation to succeed in life, by extending them free skill training and help them secure job placements. DDU-GKY (Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana), the skill training programme jointly being implemented by Central-State Governments, Employment through Skill Training and Placement (EST&P) as part of the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) and Yuva Keralam Programme which was formulated by the Government of Kerala by including in the Rebuild Kerala Initiative for extending skill training to 10,000 young people are these skill training programmes. The training activities as part of these programmes being implemented through Kudumbashree are now active after the restrictions notified to contain the spread of covid-19 pandemic. 

Through the DDU-GKY programme, free skill training is being extended to the rural youth between 18 and 35 years of age. The age limit for women candidates, Person With Disabilities (PWD) and candidates belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) is 45 years. The study materials and the uniform are free. Also, food and accommodation is absolutely free of cost for those who opt for residential training. The training is being extended through the 177 Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) selected by Kudumbashree. Certificate of Sector Skill Council (SSC) is issued to those who successfully complete the training. Through DDU-GKY, skill training could be acquired in various courses in 26 different sectors such as Tourism Hospitality, Electronics, Health Care, Construction, Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) etc. Until now, 69,121 have become part of the programme to acquire skill training. Out of them, 56,670 have successfully completed the training and 42,681 of them have secured job placements. Those who completed the courses as part of the programme were able to secure placements at foreign countries such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar etc. 

Through 'Yuva Keralam', the indigenous programme of Kudumbashree, it is aimed to extend skill training to 10,000 youth from rural-urban areas. Through the 40 training agencies that have signed contracts with Kudumbashree, training is extended in various courses from about 14 sectors such Banking, Logistics, Retail, Media and Entertainment etc. Until now, 2923 candidates have made their registrations and 1276 of them have completed the training. 937 candidates have secured job placements. 

Through the skill training programme, which is part of NULM, free skill training is extended to urban poor who are between 18 and 35 years of age. The candidate may get trained in various courses in 8 sectors such as Tourism and Hospitality, Automotive, Electronics, Construction, Capital, Health, Logistics etc. 28 Skill Training Providers have signed contracts with Kudumbashree for extending skill training. Until now, skill training has been extended to 20,983 candidates. Out of the 16,218 candidates who had successfully completed the training, 10,601 had secured job placements. More details of the skill training being extended through NULM is available to the public through the toll free number, 155330.

Kudumbashree has lent helping hands to Shri. Anoop Krishnan alias Akbar, the adopted son of Kasaragod to secure job placement through DDU-GKY Skill Training Programme. Anoop, who hailed from the state of Uttar Pradesh had become the adopted son of Kasaragod when he had lost his mother and two siblings. Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission and Hira Charitable Trust, the Yuvakeralam Training Centre at Kasaragod are extending all support to Anoop to dream of a happier and secure life. 

Anoop's father had left the family after selling him to someone to make him do child labour. When he was 13 years old, he was rescued from child labour. As part of the intervention of the Government, accommodation was arranged for Anoop at Paravanadukkam Observation Home and from there he had completed his tenth grade. He was continuing his legal fights to get an address of his own. On getting to know about the plight of Anoop, the District Administration had made arrangements to help him secure the documents. 

With the aim of securing a livelihood of his own, he had attended the mobilization camp of Kudumbashree Yuva Keralam Programme and had got enrolled for Assistant Electrical Course at Hira Charitable Trust functioning at Uduma, Kasaragod. He had secured placement at Skyla Electricals after completing the training programme. 

Amidst the challenging situations, he looks forward to life with hope and is a motivation for the young generation. Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission had facilitated Anoop for his dedication and determination under the leadership of Shri. T. T Surendran at the Collectorate Conference Hall, Kasaragod on 26 October 2021. Shri. Prakashan Palayi, Shri. Iqbal C.H, Assistant District Mission Coordinators, Smt. Reshma, District Programme Manager, Representatives of the Training Agency and Community Volunteers had also attended the function.

Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission has devised an innovative plan for delivering the products of the Kudumbashree micro entrepreneurs in Kannur district. Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission has set up a 'Kudumbashree Delivery Van' as the first of its kind initiative in the district. Shri. V. Sivadasan, MP flagged off the Kudumbashree Delivery Van at Kannur District Panchayath premises on 20 November 2021.

It was a long cherished dream to bring the products of Kudumbashree micro entrepreneurs to the market in their own van. The challenges caused by the covid-19 pandemic had turned it into an inevitable need. Rs 9 lakhs was needed to fulfill the need. Kannur District Panchayath had extended all the support for launching Kudumbashree Delivery Van. Rs 6 lakhs was approved in the Annual Plan. Rs 3 lakhs was arranged from Kudumbashree. This Delivery Van would help in expanding the marketing network for the products of more than 4000 Kudumbashree enterprise units in the district.

The 40th India International Trade Fair (IITF) is progressing at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Kudumbashree is also taking part in the Indian International Trade Fair being held under the leadership of India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) and Ministry of Rural Development. Commercial Stall to market the various products of Kudumbashree entrepreneurs and Theme Stall on 'Self Reliant India' that explains the livelihood activities and development activities of Kudumbashree are set up at the Kerala Pavilion in connection with the IITF. Two stalls of Kudumbashree catering units are also set up at the Food Court.

Saras Mela of National Rural Livelihood Mission for introducing the best products of the rural enterprises, all across India is also being held as part of the IITF. There are 6 stall of Kudumbashree micro entrepreneurs at the Saras Mela. The Trade Fair which was started on 14 November 2021 would come to an end on 27 November 2021.

An online Antibiotic Awareness Webinar was organized for Kudumbashree Office Bearers in connection with the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week observance on 22 November 2021. The awareness classes were led by Dr. Aravind, Head, Infectious Disease Department, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram and Dr. Indu P.S, Head, Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Kollam. The programme was organized jointly by the State Health Department, Kudumbashree and Local Self Government Department.

Sessions were held on the topics such as the right usage of Antibiotics, the issues caused due to negligence and side effects. The office bearers of Kudumbashree CDSs, ADSs and NHGs have taken part in the training programme. The online class was live streamed through the official YouTube, Facebook pages of Kudumbashree and KILA and around 4000 people have watched this online training programme. 

Smt. P.I Sreevidya IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering. Dr. Vidya V. S who is in charge of the training section of National Health Mission leads the programme. Shri. C. C Nishad, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree extended the Vote of Thanks. The World Antimicrobial Awareness Week is celebrated from 19-24 November 2021.

The formation of Auxiliary Groups are progressing across the state. The Auxiliary Groups are being formed with the objective of creating a new space for the social, cultural and livelihood upliftment of young women. It is aimed at 'forming a minimum of one Auxiliary Group in every ward'. As per the statistics till 18 November 2021, a total of 19,521 Auxiliary Groups have been formed which has 3,00,531 young women as members. The districts are moving forward with the aim of forming Auxiliary Groups in all wards. In some districts, more than one group has been formed in a ward. 

Auxiliary Group Formation also aims at taking the benefits of these various projects, being implemented through Kudumbashree to young women. Young women between 18 and 40 years of age can become members of  Auxiliary Groups. One group will be formed in a ward. A group can have a maximum of 50 members. If more women come forward, another group could be formed in the same ward. 

The main objectives of Auxiliary Groups include setting an arena that would help in finding opportunities for women empowerment, financial empowerment of the families through young women and thereby to the social upliftment, arranging a public platform to discuss the social issues faced by women such as dowry, domestic violence etc and to find solutions for the same, for equipping young women to get together devoid of the differences in politics, religion, caste, creed and actively involved in the developmental activities of the state, to make the young women confident enough to intervene in the developmental activities, discuss and respond to the general matters of the state according to the present social situations, for quipping the women to function associating with the various campaigns/ programmes such as the 'Jagratha Samithi' for intervening in the social issues of women, 'Vimukthi' against alcoholism 'Samam' project implemented by the Cultural Department etc, to create an avenue to introduce the activities of various agencies that function for the welfare and development of the youth such as Youth Commission, Youth Welfare Board etc and to achieve good results, for creating awareness about the various livelihood projects being implemented by Central- State Governments, Cooperative Department etc and thereby create opportunities to make sustainable livelihood possible.

Kudumbashree has opened 10 stalls at the 40th India International Trade Fair 2021- Saras Mela 2021 being held at Delhi. The Indian International Trade Fair is being held under the leadership of India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) and Ministry of Rural Development at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Saras Mela of National Rural Livelihood Mission for introducing the best products of the rural enterprises, all across India is also being held as part of the IITF. The IITF is being held from 14-27 November 2021. Kudumbashree has four stalls in IITF and there are 6 stalls of Kudumbashree micro entrepreneurs at the Saras Mela. 

Commercial Stall to market the various products of Kudumbashree entrepreneurs and Theme Stall on 'Self Reliant India' that explains the livelihood activities and development activities of Kudumbashree are set up at the Kerala Pavilion in connection with the IITF. Also two stalls of Kudumbashree catering units are set up at the Food Court. The selected products of entrepreneurs from Wayanad, Kottayam, Idukki and Kozhikode are for sale at the IITF Commercial Stall. At the food fest, Kalyani Catering unit from Thrissur district and Annapurna Catering Unit from Malappuram district are also participating. 
 
Vishnumaya Handloom, Supriya Foods from Palakkad district, Malleshwara Producer Mill from Attappady of Palakkad district are participating in Saras Mela. Also, Lakshmi Spices and Pickles from Idukki district, Sneha Clay Pottery unit from Malappuram district and Queens Bakery unit from Thrissur district are also taking part in the programme. Kudumbashree has been participating in IITF since 2002. Kudumbashree had bagged for the Best Stall, several times. The Kudumbashree units which participated in the IITF 2019 were able to make a sales of Rs 22 lakhs.

State Level Review Meeting under the leadership of Kudumbashree State Mission was held at Kudumbashree State Mission office, Thiruvananthapuram on 12 November 2021. The meeting was held under the leadership of Shri. M.V Govindan Master, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Rural Development and Excise, Government of Kerala and he shared his valuable insights at the meeting. The Minister said that Kudumbashree would attain new pace and aims once the Auxiliary Groups start functioning. Young women would get the opportunity to actively involve in the social issues such as domestic violence in the name of dowry, suicide, drug addiction etc and thereby work for the development of the society, added the minister.

Kudumbashree should turn into a centre of power, that would productively involve in the issues that the women fraternity are facing now and in fighting back the same as well. He also suggested that various campaigns should be formulated joining with Women's Commission, Jagratha Samithi, Vimukthi etc. He also said that Kudumbashree members should be able to give leadership to the survey to identify the extreme poor in the state. 

The project to give employment to 5 people each in every Local Self Government Institutions so as to find a solution for the unemployment issue of the youth in the state, is effectively progressing and is being implemented in the state. He also added that, K DISC (Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council) would converge with the Local Self Government Department  and would formulate projects to arrange employment to maximum number of young women within five years under the leadership of Kudumbashree. 

He also reviewed the activities implemented in the districts through Kudumbashree during the period of covid-19 pandemic, Subhiksha Keralam Project, Auxiliary Group Formation, Three Tier Organizational System and Election, Local Financial Development, various projects being implemented in agriculture, farming, animal husbandry and micro enterprise sectors, micro finance, social development, women empowerment activities and skill training, PMAY, National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) etc being implemented in Kerala through Kudumbashree and their progress as well. The respective District Mission Coordinators explained the various activities being implemented by Kudumbashree in the districts. 

Smt. Sarada Muraleedharan IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Local Self Government Department also reviewed the programmes. Smt. P. I Sreevidya IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering. Kudumbashree Programme Managers, District Mission Coordinators, Assistant District Mission Coordinators and State Programme Managers also attended the review meeting.

The process of the formulation of VPRP (Village Poverty Reduction Plan) and UPRP (Urban Poverty Reduction Plan) through Kudumbashree has been started. Kudumbashree is implementing activities to prepare the Poverty Reduction Plans to become part of the Development Plans (VPRP-Village Poverty Reduction Plan/UPRP-Urban Poverty Reduction Plan) of the Local Self Government Institutions, through the organizational system such as NHGs, ADSs and CDSs. Kudumbashree is implementing activities, knowing the basic needs of every area, compiling the same and including it with the Development Plan of the respective Local Self Government Institutions. Kudumbashree had started implementing such activities from the last year onwards.

Through the 'Gramakam 2021' Campaign,Kudumbashree would do the data collection for various needs in the rural areas. This year, the data collection in the rural sector is being done through the specially prepared mobile application. This year, Kudumbashree does the data collection in the urban areas as well. These Poverty Reduction Plans include projects that include the access to various entitlements of individuals (social welfare pensions, insurance support, MGNREGS Job Cards etc), livelihood programmes ( in agriculture, animal husbandry, small scale enterprises, marketing sectors), Social Development Projects (to find solutions for the local social problems such as alcohol consumption, environmental issues, pollution etc), preservation and development of  public properties and natural resources (roads, drinking water facilities, health) etc.

The micro details of the above mentioned needs are collected from the bottom level itself under the leadership of the Kudumbashree NHGs. These needs are compiled in the ward level through ADSs and in the Local Self Government Institution level through CDSs and the Poverty Reduction Plans are prepared in various sectors and are submitted to the respective Local Self Government Institutions. The entitlement-livelihood projects would be included in the NHG level plan and the Social Development, Public Properties- Natural Resource Development Projects would be included in the ward level plan. These four factors would be compiled and the report would be submitted as Local Self Government Institution Level Plan.

Based on the previous year's Poverty Reduction Plans Kudumbashree is aiming to organize MGNREGS Job Card Mela, Insurance Campaign named as Jeevan Suraksha Campaign, Haritha Sabha Campaign in connection with organic waste management, livelihood development campaign, skill development campaign, campaigns to ensure 100 % covid vaccination, campaigns to include unorganized workers in E-shram portal and Swachh Survekshan campaign as part of the 'Gramakam 2021' Campaign. The Master Trainers were selected and their training had already been completed. The training of the District Trainers is progressing. They would enter into the Plan Formulation activities once the CDS, ADS training would be completed. Kudumbashree is trying to submit the Poverty Reduction Plans to the respective Local Self Government Institutions by 10 December 2021.

Kudumbashree, which is an integral part of more than 45 lakh families in Kerala is effectively intervening in the poverty eradication activities of the state focusing on about three lakh NHGs. Kudumbashree has regularly been making efforts to identify the needs of the common people and bring the same to the attention of the Local Self Government Institutions and get it fulfilled. 

Balasabha members from Wayanad district of Kerala had prepared a book on the detailed history of Wayanad. The book is titled as 'Charithramurangunna Wayanad' and is prepared in two volumes. The book was launched by Shri. Kalpetta Narayanan, famous writer, by giving the book to Shri. O.K Johny, Historian at the function held at Krishna Gaudar Hall, Puliyarmala, Wayanad on 2 November 2021. 

Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission had decided to prepare a book that includes the history of Wayanad, soon after the 'Nadariyan' Campaign was implemented for the Balasabha members in 2017. For preparing the book, a five member Advisory Committee that include renowned persons and Editorial Board that include 4 Balasabha members and 9 former teachers were also formed. The history of every areas in the district were collected with the help of renowned persons and books under the leadership of the Balasabha Resource Persons and CDS members.

There are 970 pages in the book and there are 20 chapters on 20 various subjects. The first volume deals with chapters on Environmental History, Administration History, Immigration to Wayanad, People and their lives, Agriculture, Development of the trade routes, Growth of the Trade and Merchandise, Growth of the Economy, Rich legacy of Wayanad and History of the Cultural Institutions. Whereas the second volume of the book deals with chapters on Social and Political Movements of Wayanad, Past lives of the Estate Workers, Cultural History of Wayanad, Cultural uniqueness of the tribals, Uniqueness of Wayanad, Through the Art-Literature of the tribals, Those who were marked in the history of Wayanad, History of the Educational Institutions in Wayanad, History of the evolution of the name of the places and History of Kudumbashree. 

Shri. C.K Pavithran, State Resource Person, Kudumbashree and Shri. K.J Bijoy, District Programme Manager, Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission are the Chief Editors of the book. The Editorial Boars members include Dr. Suma Vishnudas, Shri. P. C Mathew, Shri. A. Sivadasan, Smt. V.V Parvathy, Shri. Sivan Pallippad, Shri. C.M Sumesh, Shri. Shaji Pulppally and Balasabha members- P.S Saniya, Aabha Lakshmi, Sandra Sajeevan and Rani Paulose. The book would indeed be a reference to those who wishes to know about Wayanad in detail.