Kudumbashree ADS-CDS Elections will be held following the covid protocols. The Executive Director of Kudumbashree has issued the guidelines regarding the same on 15 January 2022. The ADS elections are now being held following the covid protocols, Also, the CDS elections that is proposed to be held on 25 January 2022 across the state would be conducted following the covid protocols. Earlier, the Government of Kerala had given approval to conduct the elections to the three tier system to identify the new office bearers, following the covid protocols.

The Executive Director had issued the special guidelines regarding the elections, as the covid cases are rising in the state. As per this, the covid positive ADS, CDS, General Body members may get the help of a representative from their respective NHGs to cast their votes. They may submit an affidavit entrusting a representative to cast their votes to the respective Polling Officer through WhatsApp or mail. During the time of election, the representative may call the covid positive member in the presence of the Polling Officer and ensure to whom their vote goes to. If the covid affected member wishes to contest in the election, that should be specially noted in the affidavit.

The election should be conducted either in a hall that has sufficient air circulation or at an open space. It should be ensured that the social distancing is maintained at the areas where the elections are being conducted. All General Body members should wear N95 mask or double surgical masks. Sanitizer should be used during regular intervals. The sanitizers should be made available at the areas where the elections are being held or necessary arrangements should be made for washing the hands with soap and water. To avoid crowds at the CDS elections, ADS office bearers from 5 wards each would attend the elections at a time and they would select the CDS Office Bearers. For this, special time slots has been given to each ward. Covid protocol was ensured at the NHG level elections held across the state during 7-13 January 2022.

Training Camp of Sthreesakthi Cultural Procession as part of the 'Sthreepaksha Navakeralam' State Level Awareness Programme was concluded on 15 January 2022. The five day training camp was started at the Agricultural Co-operative Staff Training Institute, Manvila, Thiruvananthapuram on 10 January 2022. The Cultural Procession is proposed to be held in February, as part of the State Level Awareness Programme being implemented under the leadership of Kudumbashree against dowry system and the atrocities against women. 

The training was extended under the leadership of Shri. Karivellur Murali, Shri. Rafeeq Mangalasserry, Smt. Sreeja Arangottukara, Smt. Shylaja Ambu and Shri. Sudhi. Three members each from the Rangashree team (the theatre group of Kudumbashree) of every district had took part in the training camp. A total of 42 members had took part in the training camp. They would instruct the ten member team formed at their respective districts for the Cultural Procession. A total of 140 artists would become part of the 'Sthreesakthi' Cultural Procession.

The short film made on the success story of Rajitha, a Kudumbashree Entrepreneur from Ernakulam has been officially selected to the 'Impact Forum Film Festival', which is being organized with the support of United Nations and Investment News. Ms. Rajitha Mani had started her enterprise as part of the Startup Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) being implemented in Kerala through Kudumbashree and had attained success in life.

Through SVEP, assistance and financial support is extended to start maximum enterprises in the 'non-farm' sector to encourage entrepreneurship development in the rural sector. Kudumbashree had prepared short films depicting the lessons learnt from the project implementation, work experience and the stories of entrepreneurs who had overcome the hurdles and attained success. One of these short films, named ' Pioneers of Change- Keerthi Foods' is now selected to the Impact Forum Film Festival.

Rajitha Mani was a common homemaker, who used to find livelihood by selling homemade pickles in her neighborhood. Through 'Keerthi Foods', the SVEP Enterprise, she had grown into an entrepreneur who industrially produces food products. Keerthi Foods produces various types of snacks, grain flours and spices. The short film is produced in association with Traveling Tripod Films.

To see the short film, click here

'Munne', the film produced by Kudumbashree Kottayam District Mission gets selected to the Competition Section of 5th National Rural Development Film Festival. The Film Festival which is based in rural development activities is organized by National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR). Kudumbashree State Mission had directed all the District Missions to do the video documentation of the best practices from the districts. In this regard, Kottayam District team decided to make a short film that depicts the changes Kudumbashree has made in the lives of women. Later, they identified the experts in the respective sectors and made 'Munne'.

84 films were received in the film festival in the fiction and non fiction sections. From among them, 44 films including 'Munne', the film produced by Kudumbashree Kottayam District Mission was selected to the Competition Section. The film had competed in the Fiction section. The Film Festival was held at NIRDPR Campus at Hyderabad on 26 November 2021. The film was directed by Mr. Pradeep Nair, who had won several awards in National and State levels. The cast of 'Munne' include Ms. Radhamani Prasad, Ms. Jyothi, Ms. Maya, Ms. Anjima Sibu, Ms. Geetha, Ms. Thankamma, Ms. Raji, Ms. Ponnamma, artists of 'Rangashree', the theatre group of Kudumbashree women and Mr. Gireesh Champakulam, Mr. Madhu G, Mr. Sharshad M.P, Mr. Nandu, Mr. Vasudev and Ms. Sheela Kuttompuram.

The cinematography was done by Mr. Nikhil S Praveen, National Award winner and the Sound Mixing was done by Arun Rama Varma and Mr. Aby Thomas. The Music is done by Mr. Ajeesh Anto and the Editing is done by Mr. Suneesh Sebastian. The script of the film was done by Mr. Vasudevan Theeyadi.

To watch 'Munne', click here

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.