The International Day of Indigenous Peoples was celebrated under the name 'Nam Ekila' as part of the Kudumbashree Attappady Tribal Comprehensive Development Project on 9 August 2024. The Day Observance was jointly organized by Kudumbashree's Agali, Sholayur, Puthur and Kurumba Panchayat Samitis. 

Ms. Binumol, President, Palakkad District Panchayat  inaugurated the meeting organized at EMS Hall, Agali, Attappady. Ms. Maruti Murugan, Member, Kudumbashree Governing Body and President, Attappady Block Panchayath presided over the function. Dr. Mithun Prem Raj IAS, Sub Collector, Ottappalam and Nodal Officer, Attappady was the Chief Guest of the function. The elder Head of the Hamlets were also honored in the ceremony. Ms. Saraswathi Muthu Kumar welcomed the gathering and Ms. Santhi,  Secretary, Puthur Panchayat Samiti delivered the vote of thanks. 

Dr. Mithun Prem Raj IAS inaugurated the 'Thaimanam' Project, which is being implemented under the auspices of Snehitha Gender Help Desk, focusing on pregnant women in Attappady. Nutrition Fest and Spinach Fest were also organized in connection with the day celebrations as part of the FNHW Programme being implemented through Kudumbashree. More than 250 dishes prepared with 25 varieties of greens, small grains, pulses and tubers available at Attappady was also exhibited at the programme.

Half Lakh Rupees to Chief Minister's District Relief Fund

Rs. 50,000 jointly collected by Kudumbashree Animators, Panchayat Samiti Officials, Members, PMU Officials, Attappady Snehitha Officials for the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund in the wake of the Wayanad Disaster was handed over to the Sub Collector by Shri. B.S. Manoj, Kudumbashree Assistant Project Officer. Shri. Suresh Kumar, Project Officer, Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) inaugurated the distribution of study materials to Kudumbashree Bridge Course Centres.

Kudumbashree today organized the state-level observance of the International Indigenous People's Day on 9 August 2024 in Kottayam. It was notable that the Kudumbashree members from the local areas of Palakkad, Kottayam, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts inaugurated the day observance.

Dr. B. Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree presided over the function. Shri. Robin Tommy, Head of Research, Tata Consultancy delivered the keynote address. Kudumbashree members from the indigenous areas shared their experiences about the characteristics of their respective indigenous areas and the views put forward by the indigenous people. Shri. Arun P. Rajan, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering and Shri. Jishnu Gopan, State Assistant Programme Manager delivered the vote of thanks.

'Sajjam- Surakshitharavam Surakshitharakkam' (Be Safe and Make Safe) Disaster Management Training Programme was also started under the leadership of the Scheduled Tribe Sustainable Development Project organized by Kudumbashree in the indigenous area on 9 August 2024.  'Sajjam- Surakshitharavam Surakshitharakkam' (Be Safe and Make Safe) Disaster Management Training Programme is implemented by considering the unique social, economic, cultural and environmental characteristics of indigenous communities to understand and respond to natural disasters. Apart from Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, the training for the high school students in hamlets in other 11 districts was completed by 11 August 2024.

Kudumbashree has come up with a state level campaign 'We are with you' to support Wayanad that suffer from landslides. The aim is to strengthen the survival activities of Wayanad. As part of this, special NHG & Auxiliary Group meetings will be held in the state on 10-11 August 2024 to collect funds for the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

Actions have been planned to bring the entire amount collected through the Kudumbashree three-tier organization system to the State Mission on 14 August 2024. Apart from this, the amount received from the Kudumbashree State-District Mission staff, various support systems and various agencies will also be paid into the account of the State Mission. No one will be forced to fundraise.

On 12 August 2024, the entire amount collected from the NHG- Auxiliary Groups towards the relief fund will be handed over to the ADSs on the same day itself. Then on 13 August 2024, this amount which will be transferred to the CDS will be transferred to the account of the District Missions. Thus, the counterfoil of the amount deposited by each CDS will be submitted in a Special Review Meeting convened by the District Missions on 14 August 2024. After checking whether the amount as mentioned in the counter foil is available in the bank, the entire amount collected by each District Mission will be paid to the account of the State Mission on 14 August 2024 itself. Along with this, the details of the amount received from each CDS will also be made available separately.

The names of the NHG and Auxiliary Group members contributing the amount will be recorded in a separate register.  When the amount is transferred to ADS, CDS and District Mission, the information regarding this will be added in the register. A receipt for the amount deposited will also be issued. It will also be recorded in minutes.

Even before this, Kudumbashree has been awake and worked to help the people of Kerala when it faced natural calamities. In 2018, Kudumbashree donated Rs. 11.18 crores to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) for the reconstruction of Kerala. In addition, many services were provided by Kudumbashree on that day such as distribution of food to those in relief camps, collection of essential items, home appliances at a low price through the Resurgent Kerala Loan Scheme, cleaning of flood affected houses, counseling to provide psychological support to the women and children in the camps etc. At present, Kudumbashree is carrying out many voluntary services in Wayanad as well.

149 Kudumbashree Community Resource Persons get the A HELP (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Live Stock Production) Accreditation of Animal Welfare Department to coordinate activities in the Animal Husbandry sector. So far 179 Community Resource Persons have received this accreditation.

The Animal Husbandry Department has set up A HELP Workforce along with Kudumbashree to bring the services to the doorsteps of dairy farmers and accelerate knowledge activities. They were selected for the A HELP Workforce on the basis of successful completion of 17 days of Residential Training and third party evaluation through written, viva and practical examinations conducted by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Rural Development & Self Employment Training Institute (RUDSETI).

The members completed the training and got certification at Kannur LMTC, Palakkad, Vagamon and Thiruvananthapuram Centres. At present, the training for 90 people are ongoing. Their training will be completed on 25 August 2024. This year, it is aimed to form A Help Workforce in the field of Animal Husbandry by training a total of 2500 people, two people each in every panchayat.

As part of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, State Level Day Observance will be organized under the leadership of Kudumbashree at Kottayam on 9 August 2024. 'Sajjam- Surakshitharavam Surakshitharakkam' (Be Safe and Make Safe) Disaster Management Training Programme will be organized under the leadership of  the Scheduled Tribe Sustainable Development Project implemented in the tribal area by Kudumbashree.

State Level Training will be extended to Balasabha Resource Persons on 9 August 2024. Sajjam Training will be organized in 11 districts except Wayanad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts  at various local on centres 10-11 August 2024. About 30 to 50 children will become part of a training programme. The children from the hamlets will be selected for the training through Kudumbashree Animators. The training will be extended on two topics such as Disaster Impact Mitigation and Children's Rights and Responsibilities.

Implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes in indigenous areas requires an approach that takes into account the unique socio-economic, cultural and environmental characteristics of indigenous communities. Indigenous sectors often have unique needs and vulnerabilities, and traditional knowledge and practices play an important role in disaster mitigation management for indigenous sector activities. So the 'Sajjam' Programme in tribal areas will be implemented by including these activities.

Every year, major disasters that happen in different parts of the world affect the lives of millions of people. In addition to the threat to life and education crisis, after a long time children are exposed to various types of exploitation, abuse and neglect. Kudumbashree implements 'Sajjam' Building Resilience Training Programme to understand and deal with natural calamities.

Haritha Karma Sena members set a model by returning the diamond ornament found in the garbage and donating the reward received for returning the ornament to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). Ms. Jessy Varghese and Ms. Reena Biju, Haritha Karma Sena members got a small package from the garbage collected from Ward 15 of Kumbalangi Gram Panchayath. On opening it, they found a diamond ornament inside. They also found another package right next to it and that was also diamond - a diamond necklace and two diamond earrings. Both together worth more than Rs 4.5 lakhs. They didn't have to think for a second. They immediately called Ms. Lily Raphael, Ward Member. In the presence of the ward member, the owner was found and the diamond ornaments were returned.

It is not new to Kerala now that the Green Karma Sena members find many things worth lakhs and millions from the garbage heap and return them to their owners. Haritha Karma Sena, the guardians of the country's cleanliness through waste management, has become a name of trust. But Ms. Jessy and Ms. Reena went one step further. They immediately contributed the reward they received for their trustworthiness to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) for the survivors of the Wayanad Landslides. Shri. K. J Maxi, MLA and Shri. K. V Thomas, Former Union Minister, who came to congratulate both of them after hearing the news of the return of the diamond ornaments, handed over the award to them.

Alike the exemplary confidence and power shown during the crisis of unprecedented floods and covid-19, Kudumbashree women are offering helping hands to the victims of the Wayanad Landslides. From coordination of the Help Desks to Counselling Services, Kerala's women army is extending their compassion to those who are suffering due to the landslides. 10 CDS Office Bearers are given charge of the Help Desks are opened in GHSS, Meppadi, St. Joseph Higher Secondary School, Meppadi, St. Joseph's UP School, Meppadi, Kottanad GUP School, Nellimunda Temple Hall, GHSS, Thrikkaipatta and Kappamkolly Aroma Inn. They will be available at the Help Desk until the camp will be disbursed and will coordinate the activities of the Help Desk associating with Revenue/Health/Police Officials and will update the details of the inmates and the physical conditions to the control room opened at Meppadi Grama Panchayath. 

About 50 Haritha Karma Sena Members selected from different panchayats of the district are active in sanitation activities in the relief camps. Kudumbashree is also extending mental support to the survivors of the landslide who lost their dear ones in the landslide. As part of this, Community Counsellors who work under the leadership of Kudumbashree Snehitha Gender Help Desk are extending counselling services to women and children. More than 450 Resource Persons of FNHW (Food Nutrition Health Water and Sanitation) Project are working in various camps extending various services to the inmates of the camps. Around 30 members including Kudumbashree Executive Members, ADS Office Bearers and Kudumbashree members of Meppadi and Moopainad CDS are actively working here. 

Around 1000 people, including those who escaped from the landslide site and those in nearby areas facing the threat of landslides, are staying at Meppadi Higher Secondary School, Kaipattukunnu Higher Secondary School and Meppadi Juma Masjid. Also, about fifty families are living in the SKMJ School in Kalpetta. The aim is to provide the necessary assistance to them through the Kudumbashree system in the district. For this, various activities have been planned under the leadership of Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission. Kudumbashree District Programme Managers have also been tasked with intensifying and coordinating the activities implemented by Kudumbashree for those living in the camps.

The contact details of the CDS Office Bearers who are given charge of the Help Desks opened are given as follows:

1. GHSS, Meppadi

    Reshma-9947549727

    Sainaba-9605394283

2. St. Joseph Higher Secondary School, Meppadi

    Bindu Jayan -8086653422

    Vineetha Sasi- 9447081314

3. St. Joseph's UP School, Meppadi

    Rafeena-9947677513

4. Kottanad GUP School

    Omana-9605627288

5. Nellimunda Temple Hall

    Suneera-8086569833

6. GHSS, Thrikkaipatta

    Shobhana-9745367148

    Vijaya-9526912645

7.  Kappamkolly Aroma Inn

     Bindu-7156630323

Bediyata Season - 3 will be organized in the month of August as part of Wayanad Thirunelly Tribal Comprehensive Development Project implemented by Kudumbashree in Wayanad. The campaign poster of Season 3 was released by Shri. O.R. Kelu, Minister for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Welfare Department, Government of Kerala by giving it to Shri. P.V. Balakrishnan, President, Thirunelly Grama Panchayath during a function organized at Thirunelly Panchayat, Wayanad on 28 July 2024. 

Bediyata Season - 3 is organized under the leadership of Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission, Thirunelly Grama Panchayat and Thirunelly CDS. The Mud Festival of the youth will be organized at Cherukumbam Paddy Fields on 10 August 2024 whereas the Independence Day Celebrations and Mud Festival of the women children will be organized at Plamoola Paddy Fields on 15 August 2024. On 18 August 2024, the Mud Festival will be held at Kampalanatti Aanappara Paddy Fields. The Mud Football Match for Tribal Youth Club members will be organized at Appapara Paddy Fields on 25 August 2024. 

Shri. P.K. Balasubramanian, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission, Ms. P. Valsala Kumari, Vice President, Thirunelly Grama Panchayath, Ms. P. Saumini, CDS Chairperson, Ms. Regina V.K, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Shri. Sai Krishnan T.V, Co-ordinator, NRLM, Panchayat Standing Committee Chairmen, Panchayat Members and Kudumbashree Executive Members were present at the Poster Release function.

During this onam, the chips and sarkaravaratti (jaggery coated banana chips) produced by Kudumbashree entrepreneurs in various districts of Kerala will come to the market with the same taste, color, smell and quality under the Kudumbashree brand. Kudumbashree's agricultural, marketing and micro enterprise teams are working tirelessly for achieving this goal.

As the first phase of this, training for Community Resource Persons (CRP) and entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector selected from the districts in association with ICAR Krishi Vigyan Kendra was conducted at ICAR - CPCRI, Regional Station, Kayamkulam, Alappuzha by on 22 July 2024.

In the first phase, the enterprises producing more than 50 kg per day have been made part of the branding scheme. The training focused on making products of the same quality. Entrepreneurs and two CRPs each selected from Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kannur and Kozhikode districts were given training, making it a total of 28 people. The 28 people from the remaining seven districts was trained on 29 July 2024. Those who have received this training will go to the districts and provide training to other entrepreneurs in the district. The aim is to launch chips and jaggery under the Kudumbashree brand by mid-August.

Kudumbashree 'Shraddha' State Level Cancer Awareness Campaign launched. 'Shri. P. Prasad, Minister, Department of Agriculture,  Government of Kerala inaugurated the 'Shraddha' State Level Cancer Awareness Camp jointly organized by Kudumbashree, Medicon- Medical Students Collective of Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad at Coir Corporation Hall, Alappuzha on 26 July 2024. 

It is really appreciative that Kudumbashree is trying to practically address a really serious issue. It's saddening that Kerala is slowly becoming the 'Cancer Capital of India' and Kudumbashree is making efforts to find a solution for this issue. The Minister said. We should lead a lifestyle that would take health seriously into consideration. The quality of the food we intake has a key role in this. We should  realise that agriculture and health are connected. Changing the food and lifestyle can help control cancer. He added. The Minister also pointed out the importance of sanitation in controlling cancer. The Minister said that health should be our foremost priority. The Minister also offered the support of the Department of Agriculture for this programme. The Minister also released the logo of the campaign.

In the first phase, the campaign will be implemented in Ambalapuzha and Aryad blocks of Alappuzha district. The aim of this campaign is to provide women with the necessary awareness about breast cancer and cervical cancer and to provide them with the necessary support for cancer diagnosis and specialist treatment.

The 'Shraddha' State Level Campaign is being organized as part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission FNHW (Food Nutrition Health Water and Sanitation) project activities implemented in the state through Kudumbashree. In the first phase, all the NHG members in all the wards of the selected blocks will be made part of the awareness camp. Cancer awareness class will be given to them under the leadership of Medicon Resource Person, Gender Point Person of NHG and selected NHG member. Along with this, preliminary screening will also be conducted. Once these two are completed in all the wards, medical camps will also be organized at the block level in collaboration with Medicon. Those diagnosed with the disease through primary screening and medical camps will be provided support for follow-up treatment in collaboration with local health institutions. Necessary psychosocial support and counseling will be provided through Kudumbashree Snehitha Gender Help Desk and Gender Resource Centre. The diagnosed members will be provided with further treatment instructions and referral letters with the help of the Medicon team.

District, CDS, ADS and FNHW Resource Persons will visit the houses of infected members once a month. Also, in association with Family Health Centres, their health condition will be assessed by Asha workers and necessary support will be provided. Women will also be made aware of menstrual hygiene, physical mental health and lifestyle disease prevention to improve family health.

Shri. M.G Suresh, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission welcomed the gathering and Ms. Sunitha P, District Programme Manager, Gender & FNHW delivered the vote of thanks. Shri. Reego Raju, Municipal Councillor, Sea View Ward presided over the function. Dr. B Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree explained the project and distributed the certificates of Dheeram Karate Training. Ms.Sofi Augustine, Chairperson, Alappuzha North CDS, Shri. Muhammed Yousuf, Medicon State Secretary, Ms. M.S Ancy Mothis, Member, Medicon State Committee were also present at the function.