Shri. M. V Govindan Master, Minister, Local Self Government Department & Excise, Government of Kerala visited the training camp of Sthreesakthi Cultural Procession which is being held at Agricultural Co-operative Staff Training Institute, Manvila, Thiruvananthapuram on 10 January 2022. He visited the training camp and had interacted with the Kudumbashree members who are taking part in the training camp, which is being conducted as part of 'Sthreepaksha Navakeralam', the State Level Awareness Programme being organized in Kerala under the leadership of Kudumbashree against dowry system and the atrocities against women. "Women should be equipped to be defensive and the sense of democracy and fundamental rights should be taken to everyone in the society", the minister said.

"To create equality among the society, each and everyone in the society should have a women centric point of view. Through the drama, we would be able to communicate the idea to the audience and thereby transfer it to the society and it would turn out into a physical force". He added. He also said that theatre is the most influential art form that is capable of bringing in changes among the public. He interacted with the women artists taking part in the camp and the resource persons who train them and had also conveyed his wishes to them.

As part of the awareness programme being implemented under the leadership of Kudumbashree against dowry system and the atrocities against women, a cultural procession would be conducted all across the state during February 2022. For this, groups comprising of 10 members each from 'Rangashree' the theatre group of Kudumbashree, of every districts has already been formed. The training is now being extended to the teams who would train them. They would be given 6 days training. The training is being extended under the leadership of Shri. Rafeeq Mangalasserry, Smt. Sreeja Arangottukara, Smt. Shylaja Ambu, and Shri. Sudhi, theatre experts. A total of 140 artists would become part of the 'Sthreesakthi' Cultural Procession.

Smt. Myna Umaiban, Public Relations Officer, Kudumbashree presided over the function. Shri. B. S Manoj, Programme Officer, welcomed the gathering and Smt. Sindhu, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree extended vote of thanks.

The training camp of the Sthreesakthi Cultural Procession had began at Agricultural Co-operative Staff Training Institute, Manvila, Thiruvananthapuram on 10 January 2022. Shri, Shaji. N. Karun, Renowned Director and Chairman of Kerala State Film Development Corporation, inaugurated the training camp being organized as part of 'Sthreepaksha Navakeralam', the State Level Awareness Programme being organized in Kerala under the leadership of Kudumbashree against dowry system and the atrocities against women. "The society would move forward when men and women work together", said Shaji M Karun.

"During the period of digital media, the gap between men and women in the employment sector has decreased. We were able to attain the growth, people had achieved through lakhs of years, within the last twenty years. Humans have created culture. The women who are participating in the training programme of the cultural procession are those who showed up to share the knowledge and dreams they have acquired as part of this, to the next generation." He added.
 

The Cultural Procession as part of the 'Sthreepaksha Navakeralam Campaign' which is proposed to be held all across the state in February would include two music programmes and one short play and the training would be held for 6 days for the same. Previously, a Script Workshop had been organized in connection with the Cultural Procession. Based on that, the short play and the music programmes are formulated based on the topics such as dowry system, atrocities against women and women empowerment. The training is being extended under the leadership of Shri. Rafeeq Mangalasserry, Smt. Sreeja Arangottukara, Smt. Shylaja Ambu, Shri. Sudhi, theatre experts.

Women from 12 districts other than Wayanad and Malappuram are taking part in the training programme. 36 women (three women each from the districts) are actively participating in the training programme. Later, they would train the 10 member group specially formed in their respective districts for the cultural procession. As per this, 140 women, representing all the districts would become part of the 'Sthreesakthi' Cultural Procession. They would be presenting the programmes all across the state during February.

Smt. Myna Umaiban, Public Relations Officer, Kudumbashree presided over the function. Smt. Sindhu, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering and Smt. Biji. M, representative of 'Rangashree' the theatre group of Kudumbashree members extended vote of thanks. Shri. B. S Manoj, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Smt. Preetha G Nair, State Assistant Programme Manager, Kudumbashree Smt. Sujitha, State Assistant Programme Manager, Kudumbashree and various Resource Persons took part in the programme.

Training Programme is being organized for the Kudumbashree Auxiliary Group members in connection with the 'Sthreepaksha Navakeralam' Gender Campaign which is being implemented in Kerala through Kudumbashree, against the dowry system and the atrocities against women. The training would be extended to more than 3 lakh members of 19,500 Auxiliary Groups.

Through this training, it is envisaged to discuss the issues faced by the women in the society and make realize the reasons for the same. Three important training modules have specially been prepared for the same. The district level trainers include Community Counsellors, Gender Resource Persons and Vigilant Group Members. One person would be in charge of one CDS.  The ideas evolved from the group discussions would be compiled and the group representatives would make presentation on the same. The facilitators who hold the charge of the training would mark the positive and negative opinions. After the general discussions, the same would be compiled and the Resource Persons would present it. 

The training would last for three months. One module would be discussed a day. As the first phase of the training programme, discussions were organized on  the topic 'Dowry & Atrocities' at all Auxiliary Groups in the state. It is planned to make necessary interventions to bring in a mind shift of the among the society and the general public, against dowry and the atrocities against women, based on the ideas evolved from among the discussions.

Kudumbashree election to identify the new office bearers for Kudumbashree three tier system, thereby to give a new face to  Kudumbashree was started on 7 January 2022. The election process to the three Tier System has now commenced with the NHG (Neighborhood Group) level elections which was started from 7 January onwards. The respective Presiding Officers had identified the eligible NHGs for the elections and the 5 member office bearers, including the President and Secretary of the NHGs would be found through the NHG level elections which would be held till 13 January 2022.

The Kudumbashree elections would be held under the leadership of the respective District Collectors. One Presiding Officer and one Assistant Presiding Officer would oversee the elections in the Local Self Government Institution level.The time period of the current office bearers had come to an end on 26 January 2021. But due to the crisis of Covid-19 pandemic, the time period of the current office bearers were extended upto the elections.

The elections to the ADS (Area Development Society), the ward level organizational system of Kudumbashree would be held from 16-21 January 2022.  The 11 member office bearers for every ADS would be selected during this period. The elections would be held to 19,489 ADSs. The office bearers to 1069 CDSs (Community Development Society- the Kudumbashree organizational system of Kudumbashree) would be identified through the elections proposed to be held on 25 January 2022. The activities are planned and arranged in such a way that, the new office bearers would take charge on 26 January 2022.

The elections to identify the office bearers of the 729 NHGs, 133 Oorusamithis and 4 Panchayath Samithis of the three tier system which was formed as part of the Attappady Comprehensive Tribal Development and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group Development Project would also be held along with this. Kudumbashree team members and the concerned are making relentless efforts for many weeks to complete the election process without any flaws.

Kudumbashree Pink Cafes which serve indigenous cuisine at affordable rates would be extended to more districts in Kerala, soon. Pink Cafe was launched in November 2020 at Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. The concept behind 'Pink Cafe' was starting Kudumbashree's Branded Restaurants that serve indigenous cuisine including steam cooked snacks at affordable rates. Kudumbashree launched the 'Pink Cafes' focusing on this concept during November 2020 and now, these Pink Cafes have got wide acceptance among the general public. On the grounds of this acceptance, Kudumbashree was able to extend the formation activities of the Pink Cafes to more districts.

The formation of Pink Cafes was started in such a way that the branded restaurants were opened in old KSRTC buses designed in fixed models. Kudumbashree started the first Pink Cafe at East Fort of Thiruvananthapuram district. KSRTC provided the bus at fixed charge and converted the same into a restaurant model. Kudumbashree arranged the interior design and the basic amenities. Along with the indigenous cuisine, other vegetarian, non-vegetarian cuisines are prepared and are served through the cafe. The entrepreneurs of this cafe were able to make sales of around Rs 22,000 per day before the second lockdown. In addition to the Pink Cafe at Thiruvananthapuram, Kudumbashree was able to start Pink Cafes at Kottayam, Idukki and Kozhikode districts. Recently, Pink Cafe was started in Kollam district on 19 December 2021. 'Pink Cafes' are started as kiosks in fixed models at main locations where the KSRTC buses weren't available. A Pink Cafe is run by a unit that includes five members. Therefore, through a Pink Café, it is able to bring income to five families.

The details of the location where the Pink Cafes function in the districts are given below:
1. Thiruvananthapuram Pink Cafe - East fort KSRTC Depot
2. Kollam - KSRTC Bus Stand Depot Garage
3. Kottayam - Medical College Hospital
4. Idukki - Pallivasal Panchayath Randam Mile
5. Kozhikode - Kayanna Family Health Centre

Pink Cafes are one of the efforts of Kudumbashree entrepreneurs to overcome the crisis caused by Covid-19 pandemic. Pink Cafe Entrepreneurs and Kudumbashree Team members are making relentless efforts to extend the activities of Pink Cafes to more districts. It is expected that the public would wholeheartedly welcome and support Pink Cafes like they do for the Kudumbashree enterprises.

Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission is organizing 'Gender Sensitization Training' at National Service Scheme (NSS) Training Camps as part of the 'Sthreepaksha Navakeralam' Campaign, which is being implemented across the state from 18 December 2021 till 8 March 2022. The Gender Sensitization training is being organized at the NSS camps of various schools and colleges in the district. The trainings were held at Palayad Higher Secondary School, Kannur Town School, Naduvil Higher Secondary School, Chovva Higher Secondary School, Thottada Higher Secondary School, Azheekal Fisheries Higher Secondary School, Chelora Higher Secondary School, Mathamangalam Higher Secondary School, Mattannur Higher Secondary School, Vadakkumpad Higher Secondary School, Kadambur Higher Secondary School, Kalliasseri Polytechnic School, Payyanur College and Anthoor Government Engineering College.

The sessions dealt at the Gender Sensitization Workshop include the topics such as 'Gender and Sex', Gender Identities, Patriarchy, Gender Sensitivity and Gender Neutrality. The Gender Sensitization class was held during the Samadarshan Session of the NSS Camp. The classes were led by the District Programme Manager, Gender, Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission, Snehitha Staff and the Community Counselors. The students had wholeheartedly welcomed the training and actively responded to the same. Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission has also charted the Gender Sensitization Classes in several NSS camps during the Samadarshan Sessions in the upcoming days.

The 'Sthreepaksha Navakeralam' campaign aims at equipping the society to nurture social attitudes against dowry, violence towards women and resist the same. Through 'Sthreepaksha Navakeralam' Campaign, it is envisaged to take the awareness messages against dowry and violence against women to all sectors of the society and thereby bring in a mind shift among the society and the general public.

The Script Workshop of the Cultural Procession (Kalajatha) as part of the awareness programme of 'Sthreepaksha Navakeralam', the State Level Campaign has been started at Arts and Crafts Village, Vellar, Thiruvananthapuram on 28 December 2021. The programme is being organized under the leadership of Kudumbashree against dowry system and atrocities towards women. The Script Workshop would be held till 31 December 2021. The Script Workshop is being held under the leadership of Shri. Karivellur Murali, Shri. Rafeeq Mangalasserry, Smt. Sreeja Arangottukara, Shri. Vinod Vaisakhi and Smt. V. S Bindu. 

The first phase of the 'Sthreepaksha Navakeralam' campaign would be held from 18 December 2021 to 8 March 2022. The one month long Cultural Procession would be started in February 2022. The Cultural Procession (Kalajatha) would include two music programmes and one short play. On the first day of the workshop, the discussion regarding the idea formulation of the Cultural Procession was held under the leadership of Dr. T. K Anandi. Smt. Suja Susan George, Dr. A.G Oleena, Smt. Amrutha, Smt. Maggi, Representative of Prathidhwani Cultural Organization, Smt. Biji, Representative of Rangashree, the theatre group of Kudumbashree women, Shri. B. S Manoj, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Smt. Sindhu. V, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree and Smt. Preetha G Nair, State Assistant Programme Manager, Kudumbashree took part in the discussion. 

Once the script of the Cultural Procession would be fully completed, the State Level Training Camp would be conducted. One team each would be set up in every districts under the leadership of Rangashree members for the Cultural Procession. District Level Camps would be organized for the same. Following that, the Cultural Processions would be held in every district in the routes decided by the District Missions. Through the 'Sthreepaksha Navakeralam' Gender Campaign, Kudumbashree envisages to put an end to the social evils like dowry, atrocities against women and lavish weddings and to lead the people towards women sided social literacy.

Kudumbashree Elections to identify the new office bearers for the Kudumbashree three tier system is proposed to be held from 7-25 January 2022. The Government Order regarding the same has been issued. A total of 1065 CDS Chairpersons, 2,14,379 ADS office bearers and 14,72,180 NHG office bearers would be selected through the elections. The time period of the current office bearers had come to an end on 26 January 2021. But due to the crisis of Covid-19 pandemic, the Government had extended the time period of the current office bearers until the new committee would be selected. 

According to the Government Order, the new office bearers may take charge on 26 January 2022 and the elections would be conducted according to that. As per that Government Order, the elections would be held at 2,94,436 NHGs, 19,489 Area Development Societies (ADSs), and 1065 Community Development Societies (CDSs) under Kudumbashree in Kerala. The elections to identify the office bearers of the 729 NHGs, 133 Ooru Samithis and 4 Panchayath Samithis of the three tier system which was formed as part of the Attappady Comprehensive Tribal Development and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group Development Project would also be held during these days.

The elections to the NHGs would be held from 7-13 January 2022 and the elections to the ADSs would be held during 16-21 January 2022. The CDS Election would be held on 25 January 2022. As per this, 5 office bearers each would be selected for the NHGs and a total of 14,72,180 people would be selected. 11 office bearers each would be selected for the ADSs and a total of 2,14,379 people would be selected. Whereas,  one Chairperson each would be selected to the CDSs and 1065 people would be selected. The new office bearers would take charge on 26 January 2022. 

The respective District Collectors are in charge of conducting the elections in the districts. One Presiding Officer and one Assistant Presiding Officer would oversee the elections in all CDSs. For this, Presiding Officers have been selected in all districts. The training had been extended to the District Mission Coordinators, Assistant District Mission Coordinators, District Programme Managers, Block Co-ordinators, City Mission Managers, 14 State Level Resource Persons, more than 500 District Level Resource Persons, CDS Chairpersons, CDS Member Secretaries and Vice Chairpersons for the smooth functioning of the elections and the same had already been completed.

Kudumbashree NHGs of Tanur Municipality need not stand in long queues for performing financial transactions at SBI Bank anymore. The State Bank of India Tanur Branch has launched Kudumbashree Pink Privilege Card for Kudumbashree NHGs for depositing and withdrawing their money without standing in long queues. It is for the first time, such a privilege card is launched in the state for the financial transactions of Kudumbashree members. The Regional Manager, State Bank of India, Kozhikode informed that the Pink Card would resolve the problem of waiting in the longer queues for hours to perform financial transactions.

Tanur is a crowded coastal town and the number of banks in the place is comparatively less. This peculiarity and due to the crisis caused by the covid-19 pandemic, one has to wait for a long hours to perform the financial transactions at the banks. As of now, there are 513 Kudumbashree NHGs in Tanur Municipality and the Kudumbashree members depend mainly on 3 banks. So the NHGs have had to spend more time performing financial transactions. Once, the 'Kudumbashree Pink Card' would come into being, Kudumbashree NHGs could perform financial transactions at banks through the special counter without standing in queues or taking tokens for the same. 

The distribution of the Pink Card was officially inaugurated by Shri. P.P Shamsudheen, Chairman, Tanur Municipality, by giving the same to the Kudumbashree NHGs at Meeting Hall, Tanur Municipality on 18 December 2021. The Branch Manager, SBI Tanur Branch gave awareness about usage of the Pink Card to Kudumbashree CDS members and NHGs. Smt. C. K Subaida, Chairperson, Tanur Municipality presided over the function. Shri. T. Manoj Kumar, Secretary, Tanur Municipality, Smt. K.P Fathima, Smt. Jasna Banu, Shri. Jayaprakash, various Standing Committee Chairpersons, Smt. Arifa, Kudumbashree CDS Chairperson, Shri. Vinu T.B, City Mission Manager, NULM, Shri. Sameer, NULM Kudumbashree Accountant, Smt. Nasiya, Community Organizer, Councilors, and CDS Members took part in the function.

The prizes for the winners of 'Kudumbashree Oru Nerchithram’ Photography Competition Season 4 were distributed. Ms. Arya Rajendran, Mayor, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation handed over the prizes to the winners who came in the first three places during the Inaugural Session of the 'Sthreepaksha Navakeralam' Gender Campaign held at Nishagandhi Auditorium, Kanakakkunnu, Thiruvananthapuram on 18 December 2021.  Shri. V. K Prasanth, MLA, Vattiyoorkavu Constituency handed over the prizes to the consolation prize winners. 

Shri. Suresh Cameo, Thekkumbatt House, Thekkankuroor, Malappuram had bagged the first prize. The Award consisting of Memento, Certificate and Cash Prize of Rs 25,000 was presented to him. Shri. Alfred M.K, Muringathery House, Erumapetty, Thrissur came second and Shri. Madhu Edachana, Kulangara House, Ozhakkodi, Wayanad came in third place. Award consisting of Memento, Certificate and cash prize of Rs 15,000 was presented to  Shri. Alfred M.K. The Award consisting of Memento, Certificate and cash prize of Rs 10,000 was presented to  Shri. Madhu Edachana.

The photographs submitted by Shri. Deepesh Puthiyapurayil, Shri. K.B Vijayan, Shri. Sarath Chandran, Shri. Pramod K, Shri. Abhilash G, Shri. Baiju C.J, Shri. Dinesh K, Shri. Jubel Joseph Jude, Shri. Shiju Vani and Shri Ijaz Punalur were selected for consolation prizes. The consolation prize consisted of memento, cash prize of Rs 2000 and a certificate.

The jury consisted of Shri. R. Gopalakrishnan, Senior Cinema Still Photographer, Shri. V. Vinod, Chief Photographer, Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Kerala, Smt. Chandralekha C.S, Documentary Filmmaker & Photographer and Smt. Asha Varghese, Director, Kudumbashree selected the winners.

The Photography Competition is organized realizing the fact that the best photographs depicting the hard work of Kudumbashree members would further boost the women empowerment process. The fourth season of the competition was held from 22 July 2021 to 15 September 2021. Good quality photographs portraying the strength of Kudumbashree, functioning focusing on women empowerment is considered for the ‘Kudumbashree Oru Nerchithram’ Photography Competition, which is being conducted from 2017 onwards. Like the first three seasons, the fourth season had also received good responses.

The first season of ‘Kudumbashree oru Nerchithram’ was conducted during November- December 2017, the second season during February -March 2019 and the third season was held during January- February 2020. The three seasons of 'Kudumbashree Oru Nerchithram' Photography Competition had resulted in a huge success. Good quality photographs portraying the strength of Kudumbashree, functioning focusing on women empowerment is considered for the ‘Kudumbashree Oru Nerchithram’ Photography Competition. Kudumbashree Mission which envisions eradicating poverty through women in Kerala had successfully completed 23 revolutionary years.