The Government of Kerala has decided to grant a monthly travel allowance of Rs. 500 to CDS members. It has fulfilled the long-standing demand of Kudumbashree. This is also a great recognition for the CDS workers who have taken a crucial position in all the poverty eradication and women empowerment activities implemented by Kudumbashree as volunteers. An amount of Rs. 11.02 crores is spent annually on this item for the 18,400 CDS members.

The CDS members working in each ward play a major role in the efficient implementation of various schemes implemented by Kudumbashree at the grassroots level. Most of them belong to the BPL category. They play a key role in coordinating the three-tier organizational activities of Kudumbashree and successfully delivering welfare activities to the grassroots. In addition, CDS members were the backbone of relief and rehabilitation activities during the floods and the Covid pandemic.

The announcement of granting travel allowance to CDS members was made in the 2021 budget. The Cabinet meeting held on 27 November 2024 approved this and the CDS members are excited to receive this as their New Year's gift. Rs. 11.02 crores has also been allocated for granting travel allowance to CDS members in the Plan Fund of Kudumbashree for the Financial Year 2025-26.

This is the first time in the state that a Kudumbashree CDS has received ISO (International Standard Operation) Accreditation. Vengapally CDS in Wayanad has won this award for its operational service excellence. The utilization of files, accuracy in maintaining financial transactions and registers, information about NHGs, accurate accounting system, efficiency, improvement of the office system to provide any information related to Kudumbashree within three minutes, and conducting internal auditing every six months to make the accounting system efficient, all these have led to Vengapally CDS achieving this accreditation.

Nisha Ramachandran (CDS Chairperson), Soumya P.S, Sahini Raveendran, Babitha V.P, Sudha, Nijikumari, Kavitha, Sarojini, Sajina, Suhara, Sunitha, Jasmine, Santha E.K, Razeena A (Accountant) and Rajendran M.P (CDS Member Secretary) are leading the CDS activities.

The Nayi Chetna 3.0 Gender Campaign organized by Kudumbashree in Kerala began in all districts on 25 November 2024. The National Rural Livelihood Mission has been organizing the Nayi Chetna campaign across India since 2022. This year's theme of the Nayi Chetna campaign is 'Against Gender Discrimination and Gender-Based Violence'. To mark the conclusion of the campaign, which will last until 23 December 2024, a Gender Carnival will be organized in 1070 Kudumbashree CDSs in Kerala.

The campaign focuses on NHGs, ADSs, CDSs, Gender Resource Centres and Vigilant Groups. Training on the POSH Act, which ensures a dignified and safe work environment for women in the workplace without facing harassment, and on forming an Internal Committee in all institutions will be organized as part of the campaign.

A variety of activities will be conducted, including open forums, special Grama sabha, group discussions involving men, boys and local leaders, gender quiz, honoring gender champions, hashtag, poster and mural campaigns, pledge taking, street plays, flash mobs, short film exhibitions and Rangashree Cultural Processions.

Kudumbashree had a colorful presence as usual at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) that began on 14 November 2024 at Pragathi Maidan, Delhi. Kudumbashree's branded products are also attracting the most attention! The Kerala Pavilion of the Fair which is organized by the India Trade Promotion Organization and the Union Ministry of Rural Development, had two Kudumbashree stalls containing various products of NHGs from Kollam, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Kannur districts. In addition, 5 Kudumbashree entrepreneurial units (Athira Herbals, Karthika Chips from Thiruvananthapuram, Grace Food Products from Kollam, Madhuvani Millets Unit from Attappady, Sree Handlooms from Palakkad) were present at the Ajeevika Saras Mela held simultaneously.

Kudumbashree 'Fresh Bites' brand of chips, Jaggery Coated Banana Chips (Sarkaravaratti) and branded curry powders are the stars of the Kudumbashree stalls this time. In addition, handicrafts, pickles and textiles were also made available. The IITF Food Court had delicious food prepared by two Kudumbashree units (Souparnika from Kozhikode and Lakshya from Ernakulam). The fair came to an end on 27 November 2024.

'Nature's Fresh' Agri Kiosk Network, which provides organic vegetables, fruits and other value-added products produced by Kudumbashree NHG members to public is started in Alappuzha. The first kiosk in the district was started at the Kudumbashree CDS in Thakazhi Grama Panchayat. The products of the Kudumbashree Joint Liability Group (JLG) members, which are part of the Kudumbashree Farm Livelihood Project, are sold in the kiosks.

The kiosk in Thakazhi has been started as part of the second phase of the Vegetable Kiosk project included in the Chief Minister's 100-Day Programme. 4,14,881 Women Farmers in 89,917 Kudumbashree Farming groups in the state are cultivating in more than 15,000 hectares of land. The kiosks have provided excellent marketing opportunities for the agricultural crops they produce.

Nature's Fresh Kiosks are functioning under the leadership of CDSs. A Kudumbashree member will be responsible for marketing at each kiosk. The products are procured from JLG members through Community Resource Persons selected as part of the project.
  
The inauguration of the kiosk was performed by Shri. Ajayakumar, Panchayat President at a function organized at the Thakazhi Panchayat premises on 13 November 2024. Ms. Geetha Murali, CDS Chairperson, Ms. Ambika Shibu, Panchayat Vice President,  Shri. K. Sashankan, Chairman,  Development Affairs Standing Committee , Shri. Jayachandran, Chairman,  Health and Education Standing Committee, Ms. Tessy Baby, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission, Vimalamma, CDS Vice Chairperson, other elected representatives, CDS Members, Block Co-ordinators, Accountants, Block Agri CRPs, Community Councilors, and JLG members participated in the function.

'Punarjeevanam',  Kudumbashree's Entrepreneurship  Development Series to revive the livelihood opportunities in agricultural sector was organized in Kollam. The Punarjeevanam project, jointly organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR - CTCRI) and Kudumbashree, began in Attappady during August 2024.

A training course on manufacturing value-added products from tuber crops was organized in Thenmala, Kollam on 11 November 2024. The training aimed to ensure livelihood for the Kudumbashree Joint Liability Group (JLG) members who are engaged in Colocasia cultivation in the district through the production of value-added products.  Dr. M. S. Sajeev, Scientist, Crop Utilization Department, CTCRI led the class. A total of 85 JLG members attended the class. In addition to colocasia, training was also given to the members for the production of value-added products of sweet potato and cassava.

Shri. Muhammad Haris, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Kollam District Mission welcomed the gathering. Dr. A. Shanavas, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree explained the project. CDS Chairpersons of Karavaloor, Kulathupuzha and Eroor in Anchal Block conveyed their greetings. Ms. Valsala, Chairperson, Thenmala CDS delivered the vote of thanks. Ms. Ramya Rajappan, Ms. Honey Mole Raju, State Assistant Programme Managers, Kudumbashree, Ms. Sreepriya, District Programme Manager, Kudumbashree Kollam District Mission, Ms. Shiji, Ms. Aishath, Block Co-ordinators also participated in the function.

As part of expanding the microenterprise activities implemented through Kudumbashree, the One Stop Facility Centre-OSF project has been launched in selected blocks of the state. The project is being implemented in Parassala and Perumkadavila blocks of Thiruvananthapuram district and Haripad and Ambalapuzha blocks of Alappuzha district. This has been done following the central approval for the financial year 2023-24. The project will help many entrepreneurs working in the micro-enterprise sector to expand their employment and increase their income. This will be implemented as part of the State Government's Fourth Hundred Days Action Plan.

The scheme will provide development services for existing enterprises, idea generation and support for starting and growing new enterprises, necessary infrastructure for setting up and running enterprises, various trainings required by entrepreneurs, and support for marketing and access to credit.

One Stop Facility Centre-OSF will be established in two blocks of a district. A total of Rs. 11.06 crores has been allocated for the implementation of the scheme, with Rs. 5.53 crores allocated for each centre. Out of this, Rs. 6.64 crores is the central share and Rs. 4.42 crores is the state share. The duration of an OSF scheme is three years. Each OSF centre will support 150 entrepreneurial units during this period. Thus, a total of 600 entrepreneurs will be supported through two OSF centres in three years.

The OSF centres have been started as part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission-Scheme implemented in the state through Kudumbashree. They function as business-cum-incubation centres started at the block level to provide business services to existing entrepreneurs.

An Entrepreneurship Meet & Exhibition was organized as part of the KA Biz Nest Programme of Kudumbashree at Saintgits College of Engineering Campus, Pathamuttam, Kottayam on 7 November 2024. The programme was organized by Kudumbasree Kottayam District Mission in association with the Food Technology Department of Saintgits College of Engineering. 

KA Biz Nest is an Agri Business Networking activity run by Kudumbashree to introduce the young generation to Kudumbashree's agricultural entrepreneurship activities and to introduce Kudumbashree entrepreneurs to innovative technologies and opportunities in the field of entrepreneurship. It is designed to bridge the generational gap by connecting Kudumbashree's successful agribusiness activities with younger generations. The initiative seeks to ensure that the knowledge, skills, and legacy of Kudumbashree's entrepreneurial ventures are passed on to the youth, fostering a new wave of innovation and continuity.

The objectives of KA Biz Nest include engaging youth and continuing the legacy. The primary objective is to actively involve college students and young people in Kudumbashree's agribusiness ventures. By exposing them to real-world agricultural practices and business models, KA Biz Nest aims to spark interest and inspire the next generation of agripreneurs. The initiative is focused on ensuring that Kudumbashree's legacy of women empowerment and sustainable agriculture continues to thrive by empowering young people to take up these activities and build on the existing foundation.

KA Biz Nest fosters relationships between Kudumbashree members and the younger generation, creating a platform for knowledge exchange, mentorship, and collaboration. This interaction benefits the youth by providing them with practical insights and experience, while Kudumbashree members gain fresh perspectives and energy from the younger participants. By engaging the youth, KA Biz Nest ensures that Kudumbashree's agribusiness activities remain dynamic and continue to grow, maintaining a sustainable growth, adapting to new challenges and opportunities with the enthusiasm and innovation of the next generation.

The Kudumbashree Haritha Samrudhi Winter Vegetable Cultivation Campaign, which was launched at the state level in October 2024, is progressing well in all the districts. The campaign is organized from October 2024 to January 2025 under the leadership of the Kudumbashree Agriculture Department. Through Haritha Samrudhi, it is aimed to promote the cultivation of locally produced winter vegetables through Kudumbashree Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), increase farmers' income and ensure nutritional security.  

Along with the winter crops like cabbage, cauliflower, carrot and radish, crops such as chilli, lady's finger, spinach, tomato, brinjal, yardlong beans, cucumber varieties, watermelon have been cultivated as part of the Haritha Samrudhi Campaign.

Alappuzha will be the venue for the National Saras Mela organized by Kudumbashree, bringing together the products of rural entrepreneurs of India under one roof. The fair, which will be held from 20 to 31 January 2025 at the Chengannur Municipal Stadium, will be complemented by an outdoor food court offering traditional cuisines from various states of India and cultural events. Entry to the fair, which is held in a 1.5 lakh square feet pavilion, is absolutely free.

Shri. Nithin. S, a native of Seethathodu of Pathanamthitta district, participated in the competition to find the logo and tagline of Saras Mela and became the winner. The tagline of the fair is 'Onnayi Valarnn Akasha Chirakil' (Growing together on the wings of the sky). Shri. Saji Cherian, Minster for Fisheries and Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala released the logo of Saras Fair by presenting to Shri. Roy Kottarachira, President, Alappuzha Press Club during the function held at Alappuzha Press Club on 8 November 2024. 

The exhibition market stalls from 28 states including Kerala will have handicrafts, jewellery, textiles, household items and daily use items. One can also enjoy food from the food court with 30 stalls. Every day there will be cultural programmes and seminars in the fair. In addition, there will be an amusement park, flower show, pet show and book fair.

The Organizing Committee with Shri. Saji Cherian, Minister as Chairman and Shri. Alex Varghese IAS, District Collector, Alappuzha as General Convener, Shri. Ranjith S., District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission as Convener and 18 sub-committees are working for the success of the fair.

There is also an opportunity to win cash prizes by participating in poster, mascot design and theme song contests as part of the fair. The mascot and poster should be prepared in harmony with the unique cultural identity, artistic presence and local characteristics of Alappuzha district. The entries should be sent to sarasalp2025@gmail.com before 16 November 2024.
One can contact 9020651322, 9072102606 for more details