'Kakkolla Pareeksha', the second phase of 'Kunju Pareeksha' to give awareness about Covid-19 pandemic to Balasabha members in the state functioning under Kudumbashree was conducted on 30 October 2021. A total of 26,054 students from across the state had participated in the examination. The exam is being conducted to take the message of countering the Covid-19 pandemic to students and equip them to analyze whether the Covid protocol is maintained in their own houses.

Kunju Pareeksha is being conducted in online mode in four phases viz., Model Exam, 'Kakkolla Pareeksha' (Quarterly Exam), 'Arakkolla Pareeksha' (Half yearly Exam), and 'Kolla Pareeksha' (Annual Exam). The Model Exam which was conducted on 10 June 2021 as the first phase was also wholeheartedly welcomed by the Balasabha members. The link to participate in the exam was given to the Balasabha members in every district through the respective Kudumbashree CDSs and ADSs. There were 25 questions regarding the prevention of covid-19 pandemic. The students participated in the exams during the time between 10.30 AM and 10.30 PM. Kudumbashree expects that the students would be able to get a clear awareness on how to prevent covid-19 pandemic once all the four exams would be completed. The date of the other exams would be notified later.
 
The participation of the Balasabha members was ensured in the examination through the Balasabha Resource Persons, Block Coordinators, CDS Chairpersons and ADS members. The State- District Mission had supervised the activities. 'Kunju Pareeksha' (A Small, Simple Exam), the awareness programme is the continuation of the efforts being taken by Kudumbashree to take the awareness lessons about the Covid-19 pandemic to everyone in the society through children.

The ownership of the houses which are built through PMAY(U)-LIFE Project being implemented through Kudumbashree in Kerala is given to women as part of ensuring women's participation, in addition to providing safe and secure homes. Out of the 1,11,835 approved beneficiaries 87,753 of them are women. Under certain circumstances, when it is unable to give the ownership in the name of the women, the ownership would be given jointly in the name of man and woman or in the name of the man. As of now, construction of 70,463 houses have been completed. By giving the ownership of the completed houses, Kudumbashree is making a notable intervention in women empowerment. Through the 31 Women Construction Units functioning in the urban areas, under the leadership of Kudumbashree, construction of 52 houses which is included in the programme has been completed.  

In addition to providing the houses to the beneficiaries, the project ensures a better lifestyle for them as well. As part of this, with the convergence with Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, gas connection was provided to 7490 families at subsidy rates and LED lights were provided to 17603 families free of cost. In addition, by converging with Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme, each beneficiary was given 90 additional work days and additional financial assistance of Rs 26,190 was also provided to them. Financial assistance of Rs 70 crores was provided to them in this manner. 95 % of the project beneficiaries are Kudumbashree members. The efforts to make the remaining 5% as Kudumbashree members is progressing.

'Kakkolla Pareeksha', the second phase of 'Kunju Pareeksha' to give awareness about Covid-19 pandemic to the four and a half lakh Balasabha members of 32,627 Balasabhas in the state functioning under Kudumbashree is proposed to be held on 30 October 2021. The exam is being conducted to take the message of countering the Covid-19 pandemic to students and equip them to analyze whether the Covid protocol is maintained in their own houses.

Kunju Pareeksha is conducted in online mode in four phases viz., Model Exam, 'Kakkolla Pareeksha' (Quarterly Exam), 'Arakkolla Pareeksha' (Half yearly Exam), and 'Kolla Pareeksha' (Annual Exam). The Model Exam which was conducted on 10 June 2021 as the first phase was wholeheartedly welcomed by the Balasabha members.  The link to participate in the exam would be given to the Balasabha members in every district through the respective Kudumbashree CDSs and ADSs. There would be 25 questions regarding the prevention of covid-19 pandemic. The students may participate in the exams during any time between 10.30 AM and 10.30 PM. Kudumbashree hope that the students would be able to get a clear awareness on how to prevent covid-19 pandemic once they would complete all the four exams.  The date of the other exams would be notified later.
 
The participation of the Balasabha members is ensured in the examination through the Balasabha Resource Persons, Block Coordinators, CDS Chairpersons and ADS members. The State- District Mission would supervise the activities. 'Kunju Pareeksha' (A Small, Simple Exam), the Awareness Programme is the continuation of the efforts being taken by Kudumbashree to take the awareness lessons about the Covid-19 pandemic to everyone in the society through children.

Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission has launched the first of its kind 'Cycling Club' for the Balasabha members in the district. The Cycling Club is named as 'Kudumbashree Cycling Club Kannur' (KCK). Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission formulated the concept of Cycling Club Formation aiming at the physical- mental health of the Balasabha members, gender equality and environment conservation.

There are 2446 Balasabhas in Kannur district, which has 37,039 students as members. In the first phase, Cycling Clubs would be formed at 50 Kudumbashree CDSs in the district. 1000 children would be included in these Cycling Clubs. Children between 10 and 18 years of age can take membership in these clubs. One club would have a maximum of 25 members. 'Riders Club' would be formed at the district level by including the best 200 children from the Cycling Clubs in the CDS level. Riding Competitions would be conducted for them. They would be uplifted as 'Amateur Racers' by arranging riding opportunities for them inside and outside the state.

The activity of extending training to those including Balasabha Resource Persons in three phases has already been started under the leadership of the Kannur Cycling Club. The District also aims to extend the activities of Cycling Clubs to Kudumbashree Auxiliary Groups for young women as well.  It is expected  that the interested would come forward to become part of the Cycle Club.

Balasabha is the federation of students formed under the leadership of Kudumbashree. Acquiring knowledge through entertainment, developing leadership qualities, nurturing co-operative attitude, raising aptitude towards science, helping in  understanding democratic processes, ensuring participation in conserving the environment, and focusing on personality development of the students are some of the key aims of Balasabha. Children between 5 and 18 years of age can become members of Balasabha. As of now, there are 28,387 Balasabhas in Kerala, which has 3,95,401 students as members.  Various programmes are formulated and are being implemented at the State level and every district as their own to achieve the objectives.

Amidst the crisis of covid-19 pandemic, 47 DDU-GKY students are all set to go to Malaysia & Middle East after securing Foreign Placements through Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), the skill training programme jointly being implemented by the Central-State Governments in Kerala through Kudumbashree. They had completed their training in the same course, that too from the same training centre. It is a notable fact that, it is amidst the crisis of the covid-19 pandemic, that these much students have secured foreign placements. And now, the number of students who had secured foreign placements through the DDU-GKY programme being implemented through Kudumbashree has became 350. 

The students who had completed the Injection Molding Machine Operations Course from Central Institute of Petrochemical Engineering and Technology (CIPET), the Central Government Institute at Palakkad has secured placements at Malaysia and Middle East Countries within two months. The Visas for them had already been issued. Sujeesh, Shihabudeen, Mubasheer, Jithesh K S, Muhammed Favas, Unnikrishnan, Sreenath K R, Jishnu Arakkingal, Sreerag K, Sanjay K V, Shahinsha, Sulthan Basheer, Samsad, Muhammed Shafi, Akshay M K, Afsal M A, Naseeb Rahman, Jishnu K, Muhammed Junaid K, Jagan C J, Sandeep, Sanal G P, Shyamjith, Arjun K K, Premjith, Jithin, Kamal Kumar, Rahul Krishnan, Junaid K, Jithil T T, Muhammed Yasin K, Vishnu K K, Abijith K K, Abhilal Abhayan, Abdul Hashim Sunaid, Christo Jose, Ijlal T I, Nimal Mohanan, Nitheesh K,  Shahil Siraj T P, Sharshad K, Ubaidh K K, Hareesh Murali, Muhammed Swalih VM, Mohammed Thamseed, Ibrahim M H and Shuhaib are the 47 students who had secured the foreign placements through DDU-GKY.  

The poor rural youth between 18 to 35 years of age is extended free skill training in various 26 sectors such as Tourism Hospitality, Electronics, Healthcare etc, through DDU-GKY. Those who have completed the courses as part of the programme has secured foreign placements in various foreign countries such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Spain.

'Kerala Chicken', the project conceptualized and launched by the Government of Kerala to ensure the market of good quality chicken at affordable rates all across the state is being a hit among the public. Kudumbashree was able to make a sales of Rs 50.20 crores until now through this project which was started during November 2017. Sales of around Rs 20 lakhs are recorded per day. More than 25 lakh chickens have already been sold out. The project is jointly being implemented by Kudumbashree and the Animal Husbandry Department.

The project is supervised by the Animal Husbandry Department. Kudumbashree implements two activities, viz., taking chicken to the market through integration farming and launching & running the processing units. Kudumbashree Broiler Farmers Producers Company Limited (KBFPCL) has been started for the same. In the initial phase, Kudumbashree did the activity of starting the farms and bringing the broiler chicken from these farms to the market. Later, from June 2020, onwards, specially branded, exclusive marketing outlets of Kerala Chicken were also started. Through these outlets, Broiler Chicken was made available in the brand, 'Kerala Chicken'.

As of now, 248 farms and 82 marketing outlets are functioning as part of the Kerala Chicken project, which is being implemented through Kudumbashree. The farms and marketing outlets are functioning in 6 districts viz., Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kozhikode. The matured broiler chicken is directly taken from the farms to the marketing outlets. Livelihood opportunities were opened for 330 families through these farms and marketing outlets. In the second phase, these activities would be extended to4 more districts viz., Palakkad, Malappuram, Kannur and Alappuzha. We are also making efforts to extend Kudumbashree's Kerala Chicken Project to the remaining 4 districts as well.

The State Level Inauguration of the Seed Capital Financial Assistance Scheme was held. Shri. P. Rajeev, Minister for Industries, Law and Coir, Government of Kerala inaugurated the function at Hotel Avenue Regent, Ernakulam on 18 October 2021. The Seed Capital Financial Assistance is given as part of the PMFME (PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme-Project for forming food processing enterprises) for extending support to the enterprises functioning in the food processing sector. 

The project is formulated by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India and is being implemented in Kerala through the Industries Department, Government of Kerala. Approval was received to give Rs 4,30,51,096 to 1440 Kudumbashree entrepreneurs from 14 districts across the state. Ms. S. Renjini, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission and Kudumbashree entrepreneurs jointly received the amount from the Minister during the function. 

The financial assistance is given as interest free loans to the entrepreneurs through the respective CDSs. As per the project, the individual-group enterprises in the food processing sector would get assistance for 4 main factors such as Seed Fund, Credit Linked Capital Grant, Public Basic Amenities, Branding-Marketing. 

Shri. M.G Rajamanickam IAS, MD, KSIDC welcomed the gathering. Dr. K Ellangovan IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries Department, Government of Kerala delivered the presidential address. Shri. Biju P. Abraham, General Manager, Ernakulam District Industries Centre extended vote of thanks. After the Inaugural function, classes were given to the entrepreneurs on value addition.

Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission is all set to create an egg revolution through the Community Enterprise Fund of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). The 'Kozhiyum Koodum' Programme has been kick started at Kasaragod district under the leadership of Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission. The Programme is being implemented using the Community Enterprise Fund (CEF) allotted by Kudumbashree State Mission for Kasaragod district. The programme aims at making available at least two eggs per head a week for Kudumbashree members and their families and to improve the livelihood sector of the women. Kudumbashree Kasaragod District had decided to observe 2020-21 Financial year as 'Silver Revolution Year' and on it's basis, they had chosen to give Community Enterprises Fund (CEF) loan as stall installments to the selected CDSs in the district and encourage backyard egg production. 

A total of 122 units including 20-25 layer poultry chicks had been distributed to the individual beneficiaries of 3 CDSs in the district until now. Out of them, 80 beneficiaries have received the chicks and the coops. Actions would be taken to make available the coops by making use of the convergence with the MGNREGS. The District Mission would give 'Chicks & Hoops' to 90 individual beneficiaries in 4 CDSs through CEF by the end of October. The backyard egg production programme would be implemented in the remaining CDSs, once the Special Livelihood Fund would be received. Kasaragod District Mission has also started the efforts to make available the Black Chicken (Kadaknath) and coops to the BUDS Children of Parappa and Karadukka Block Panchayats, the Intensive Blocks in the district.

Kudumbashree Wayanad team is continuing their relentless efforts in controlling covid-19 pandemic. Kudumbashree Wayanad team is helping out the District Administration who are breaching their quarantine. Those who were supposed to stay in quarantine at their houses were breaching this and it had turned out to be a problem. The Kudumbashree system at Wayanad is extending support to the District Administration to find a solution for the issue. As the breach of quarantine of the covid positive patients, their close contacts and the breach of quarantine that occur between the RTPCR tests and the results were increased, Kudumbashree closely observes those who breach the quarantine and hand over their details to the police. This is the service Kudumbashree system extends in the district.

The discussions about the breach of quarantine had arisen at the meetings of the District Disaster Management Authority. It is then, the Kudumbashree Wayanad team informed the District Administration that the organizational system of Kudumbashree, starting from the NHGs could help the police. The CDS Chairpersons would receive the details of those who did RT PCR tests from the government-quasi government hospitals. Those details are sorted on the ward basis and are given to the respective ADSs. From there, the details are given to the NHG Secretaries. And they ensure that those who did the tests are undergoing quarantine. And if any breach of quarantine occurs they report the same through Google form. The CDS Chairpersons compile such reports and disclose the details of those who breach the quarantine to the Police Station. The Police would take further actions.

In addition, Kudumbashree members extend all sorts of help to those who are in quarantine. The tribal colonies in the districts are under the observation of animators and ADSs. The vaccination activities are also ongoing. Daily review meetings are held from 7PM to 8 PM under the leadership of ADM, District Mission Coordinator, District Medical Office Representative and CDS Chairpersons. 

Kudumbashree have been making notable interventions since various precautions and regulations had been employed due to the spread of covid-19 pandemic. Kudumbashree had organized various activities such as awareness programmes, mask-sanitizer production, running community kitchens, disbursing loans etc.  At the same time, every district had formulated and implemented various activities associating with the respective District Administrations, considering the local needs. Even now, many of such activities are continuing. The Wayanad District team of Kudumbashree is moving forward with such great activities and are helping many through their relentless efforts. 

The results of 'Kudumbashree oru Nerchithram’ Photography Competition Season 4 has been announced. Shri. Suresh Cameo, Thekkumbatt House, Thekkankuroor, Malappuram bagged the first prize. Shri. Alfred M.K, Muringathery House, Erumapetty, Thrissur came second and Shri. Madhu Edachana, Kulangara House, Ozhakkodi, Wayanad came in third place. The Award for the Best Photographer is Rs 25,000. The second prize and third prize are Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. 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 Vargheese, Director, Kudumbashree selected the winners.

Kudumbashree organized the Season 4 of ‘Kudumbashree or Nerchithram’ Photography Competition for motivating the aspiring photographers and to propagate the activities of Kudumbashree Mission through photographs. The contestants were directed to submit photographs that reflect the priority projects of Kudumbashree Mission. Rs 2000 each will be issued for 10 entries as consolation prizes. 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 are the Consolation Prize winners.

The Photography Competition is organized realising 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 has 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.