The honourable Chief Minister, Government of Kerala had made special mention about the various activities being implemented by Kudumbashree amidst the pandemic, during his press meet on 22 May 2021. The Chief Minister had mentioned about the Kudumbashree Janakeeya Hotels, the Chain Call awareness programme being implemented through Kudumbashree, the awareness campaign proposed to be implemented from next week onwards through social organisations, the awareness classes being extended to Kudumbashree members under the leadership of Indian Medical Association etc.
As Kudumbashree had realised that the efforts and involvement of each and everyone is inevitable in fighting back this pandemic, various activities are being implemented to prevent covid-19 and to make all the families aware that everyone should do their part in the fight against covid-19 pandemic. Along with this, Kudumbashree is also engaged in extending various help and services to the public in convergence with the respective Local Self Government Institutions as well. Kudumbashree network would take up more such activities to create more awareness among the public.

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A series of Covid-19 Awareness Class for Kudumbashree members and the general public has been started under the leadership of Kudumbashree associating with the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The programme is ongoing receiving good responses from among the public. This program is done under the supervision of the Health Department, in cooperation with the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA).

The topics which everyone should be aware of while fighting back this pandemic are chosen for the series. The topics dealt at the awareness class series include ‘Covid home care - what all should the caretakers note’, ‘covid treatment- mental pressure’, ‘covid patient and heart disease’, ‘post covid issues and its solutions’, the ‘scientific base of covid home treatment’, ‘lung diseases of covid patients and the ‘treatment protocols’, 'Covid and women',  'Covid preventive measures at work places', 'Know everything about Covid Vaccination', 'Covid- preventive measures', Diabetics in Covid patients: What to note', 'Covid home care- How to make the home safe', 'Covid home care and children', 'Covid home care- masks and waste', 'Covid patients-food', 'Non covid monsoon diseases- What all to be taken care of' etc. The classes are dealt with by the experts who have experience in the healthcare sector.  The awareness classes were started on 13 May 2021 onwards. The classes are being conducted on alternate days. 

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) extends full support for this initiative. IMA has selected the doctors for the classes and prepared the schedules and has also chosen the subject experts who have good communication skills and are capable of communicating the information with the common people. Kudumbashree members and the public have participated in these classes with great enthusiasm. As per the protocol being followed now, the Category-A covid patients should take their treatments at home. And during this time, it is important that everyone should be aware of the treatment and all sides of covid-19 pandemic. This is the reason why such a programme was started. All the technical settings for these classes are arranged by KILA. 

The Health Department supervises this programme and gives the needed advice. Arrangements are made to answer the questions with the support of the Health Department and if any questions regarding the policy of the Government arise while giving these technical classes under the leadership of IMA. Also the concerned officials of KILA would attend the classes to answer the questions regarding the Government orders and services related to the Local Self Government Department. 

The classes could be watched live on the respective days from 2.30 PM onwards through the Facebook pages and YouTube channels of KILA and Kudumbashree. The viewers may also ask their doubts and get it clarified from the experts themselves.  The previous classes are also available in these pages and channels. It is expected that these awareness classes about covid, organized with best convergence and partnership would reach out to all  people in Kerala and it would help them in the treatments of covid patients and will be of great help to all.

The 1054 Janakeeya Hotels in Kerala have already set a unique model by extending best of their services amidst the crisis of covid-19 pandemic. As lockdown is notified in the state to contain the spread of the second wave of covid-19 pandemic, most of the Janakeeya Hotels are delivering the food parcels to the needy. Everyday, an average of more than 80,000 meals @ Rs. 20 are packed and served from all the Janakeeya Hotels across the state. A total of 1054 Janakeeya hotels are functioning all across the state which includes the 874 Janakeeya Hotels in the panchayat areas and 180 Janakeeya Hotels in the municipalities and corporations. These have turned out to be a great service provider for the common people during this crisis.

Around 1.50 lakh people were served meals every day @ Rs 20, before the lockdown was notified in the state . When the lockdown was started, the number of  meals from the Janakeeya Hotels had decreased as only parcel meals were permitted. In the budget speech for the 2020-21 financial year, it was announced that 1000 Janakeeya Hotels will be started all across the state under the leadership of Kudumbashree. Kudumbashree was able to implement this programme in the best way possible, amidst the crisis of covid-19 pandemic. When the financial year ended on 31 March 2021, the number of Janakeeya Hotels started in the state was 1007. A total of 1054 Janakeeya Hotels have started functioning until today.

The details including the location of these 1054 Janakeeya Hotels, the contact numbers to order the food, the details of the food supplied from the Janakeeya Hotels every day (including free meals) are available in public domain in this link: https://kudumbashree.org/pages/826. The NHG members and entrepreneurs have succeeded in running these Janakeeya Hotels efficiently,  providing the best of their services to the people and are extending the best of their services even during the time of crisis.

Kudumbashree marked the 23rd Anniversary, extending services to the public, amidst the crisis caused due to covid-19 pandemic. Kudumbashree members all across the state are partnering in various activities such as running the Janakeeya Hotels, extending services as part of the Rapid Response Teams converging with the LSGIs, coordinating the IEC (Information, Education, Communication) activities, counselling services in the local level, delivering essential goods to the door steps of the households etc.

It was on 17 May 1998, Kudumbashree, the poverty eradication mission of Kerala came into being. Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then Prime Minister of India officially inaugurated Kudumbashree Mission. Since then, Kudumbashree had been conceptualizing and implementing innovative ideas for poverty alleviation. Kudumbashree is moving forward with the best of its activities, aiming at the local economic development, social development and women empowerment for the last 23 years. 
 By that time, Kudumbashree could turn into the cornerstone of the growth of Kerala society.  Also, in addition to effectiveness in planning, Kudumbashree focused on convergences and actual field implementation and thereby became an integral part of foundation for the development of Kerala.

On completing 23 years, Kudumbashree has grown to a network and system that involve itself for the welfare of people of Kerala  and ensures social development and empowerment in some way or the other. Kudumbashree has transformed into a National Resource Organization that gives guidance to other states in India in activities of convergence, livelihood and women empowerment. Kudumbashree also provides consultancy in framing policies for poverty alleviation and for developing training modules for other countries. 

Every year, the anniversary of Kudumbashree is celebrated in all its glory. Various programmes were organized in the NHGs, ADSs, CDSs, in districts and at state level as part of the anniversary.  But, no special programmes were organized this year and the last year.  Most of the Kudumbashree members observed the anniversary by indulging themselves in various covid-19 countering activities, extending their services. The positive changes brought in the society through Kudumbashree  are the results of the sacrifice, hard work, dedication, self less efforts and services of as many women and families.

Awareness programme Series on Covid-19 War Room activities has been started. The awareness programme is jointly organised by the Health Department of Kerala, Local Self Government Department War Room, Indian Medical Association (IMA), Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), and Kudumbashree. The awareness programme series was inaugurated by Smt. K. K. Shailaja, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Government of Kerala, on 13 May 2021. The programme aims at spreading awareness on the spread of the second wave of covid-19 pandemic to each and every household as most of the people are getting affected from the same. The awareness classes are scheduled to be held on 15, 17,19, 21 and 23 May 2021 at 2.30 PM. Eminent doctors and the concerned officials would clear the doubts of the public. 

The elected representatives of the LSGIs, ward level committee members, war room nodal officers, volunteers, officials working in connection with covid-19 countering activities, Kudumbashree staff, office bearers of CDSs, ADSs and NHGs, training team members, KAASS members, Micro Enterprise Consultants, Jagratha Samithi members, community counsellors, office bearers of Balasabha, BUDS teachers, DDUGKY trainees etc have attended the awareness programme. The zoom meeting was streamed through the facebook and youtube channels of KILA. Dr. P.T Zacharia, State President, IMA, presided over the function. Shri. S. Harikishore IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree introduced the project.  Dr. Padmakumar, Professor of Medicine, Medical College, Alappuzha, led the class on taking care of covid-19 patients at households. Dr. R.C Sreekumar, Chairman, Research Cell & Digital IMA was the moderator of the programme. Dr. P. Gopikumar, State Secretary, IMA Kerala delivered the welcome speech. Dr. Joy Elamon. Director General (DG) Kerala Institute of Local Administration, also participated in the programme.

Kudumbashree joined hands with Supplyco for the home delivery of essential goods during the lockdown. This service is now available at 95 Supplyco outlets across the state. The customers may place their orders through phone or whatsapp and following that, the respective Kudumbashree members would deliver the essential goods at the door steps. One can apply for upto 20 kilogram in a single order. In the first phase, home delivery of essential goods would be available within 10 kms around the outlet.

The orders will be received till 1 PM and the goods will be delivered during the afternoon.  Rs 40 is charged for the delivery within 2 kms. Rs 60 is charged for the delivery within 5 kms. Rs 100 is the delivery charge for delivering the goods within 10 kms. The customer may pay the bill amount to the Kudumbashree member who delivers the goods at their doorsteps. This service is now available in all the major Supplyco Supermarkets. The details of the supermarkets, where home delivery is available and their contact numbers are listed in Supplyco's official website. As of now, 2 Kudumbashree members are entrusted in every outlet for the home delivery service. If the orders increase, more Kudumbashree members would be entrusted for the same. Kudumbashree considers this convergence as an opportunity to serve the public, overcome the crisis caused by covid-19 pandemic.

Amidst the lockdown notified in the state to contain the community spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission launched 'Kshree Radio', the community radio service of Kudumbashree Kasaragod District team. The community radio was launched by Ms. Baby Balakrishnan, President, Kasaragod District Panchayath on 10 May 2021.  Kshree Radio is launched to disseminate news and other important information from the Government, directly to the Kudumbashree members and to the general public. Thereby, the Kshree Radio also aims at avoiding the spread of fake news. 

The news bulletins are broadcasted everyday at 8 PM. The news bulletins are presented by Kudumbashree members and also by Kudumbashree staff including District Programme Managers. Kudumbashree members in the district are working with the District Rapid Response Team, Panchayath Help Desks, War Room etc. The news bulletins are prepared including the reports from those areas. It is also conceived as the IEC (Information, Education, Communication) activity for the vaccination campaign and also spread the news of the covid countering activities.

The programme of extending media training to Kudumbashree NHG members associating with Media Academy, the State Government Institution which extends training in the media sector, has been started. The training of the first batch has been completed and the training of the second batch is ongoing. Shri. S.Suhas IAS, District Collector, Ernakulam had given away the certificates to the participants of the first batch who successfully completed the training, at the function held at the Collector's Chamber, Collectorate, Ernakulam.

Those who received prior training as per the Mediashree Programme were selected for this training. The training is extended for 27 members who expressed their interest to take part in the programme. The training was started  from 15 February 2021 onwards and will come to an end on 8 March 2021. The training is being provided in two batches which consists of 14 and 13 members respectively maintaining the covid protocol.
 
It is expected that the members would be able to handle the camera well and take good quality photos and videos using the mobile phone, once this ten day training programme would be complete. It is hoped that they will be able to function in the media sector by identifying the opportunities in the local level. Kudumbashree expects that they would be able to secure a livelihood opportunity in this sector once they will start getting the opportunities from Kudumbashree as well.  The training of the first batch was held during 15-25 February 2021. The second batch training would be held during 26 February 2021- 8 March 2021. 

The classes are led by the eminent personalities in the visual media, photography and videography sector.The topics such as photography, videography, video editing etc are dealt during the 10 day training. It is anticipated that this training, which is being extended under the leadership of Media Academy would bring greater changes in their life.

Kudumbashree Disinfection teams which were formed under the leadership of Kudumbashree for countering covid-19 pandemic have secured an income of half a crore rupees. Kudumbashree formed disinfection teams in the enterprise model so as to make maximum of the opportunity received in a new sector as most of them had lost opportunities in various sectors due to the crisis of Covid-19 pandemic. Kudumbashree disinfection units were formed after giving proper training, as the agencies providing services for the disinfection in the districts could not meet the demand because of the rise of Covid-19 cases. Kudumbashree Disinfection teams were able to make income of more than half crore rupees in the last five months.

Mostly, Haritha Karma Sena members came forward to form such units for earning additional income. Persons who are not part of Haritha Karma Sena have also formed disinfection teams. 704 people across the state were extended training in disinfection activities under the leadership of the officials of the Health Department and Fire and Rescue Officials. Out of them, 653 had made registrations in the enterprise model and have started 118 enterprises. Out of these enterprises,105 of them are actively functioning now. They have received 2309 orders until now and have secured income of Rs 51,07,296 through this.

Kudumbashree entrepreneurs could secure a better income during this crisis situation. It is expected that these units will receive various opportunities to disinfect the polling booths in connection with the upcoming Legislative Assembly Elections as well. Those who wish to avail their services may contact them. By forming Disinfection Units in the enterprise model, Kudumbashree was able to make best interventions to resolve an important social issue.

Kudumbashree has bagged the National Award for efficiently implementing the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) programme in Kerala for the assessment year 2019-20. Kudumbashree is receiving this Award constituted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India for the third consecutive year. During 2017-18, Kudumbahsree had secured third prize and during 2018-19, Kudumbashree had bagged the second prize. Now, Kudumbashree has secured the third prize again and has been able to make a hat trick achievement. Kudumbashree could steadily sustain the best performance at the national level. Kudumbashree received the  letter confirming the award from the Government of India. 

The special feature of the Award is that the prize money is given as additional financial allocation for the project implementation. During the last two years, Kudumbashree had additionally received Rs 6 crores and Rs 9 crores respectively as Kudumbashree had bagged the awards.  Kudumbashree has received the intimation from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India that we would additionally receive Rs 6 crores as we had secured the award this year.

During the last four years, Kudumbashree had bagged as many awards in the national level in addition to the award received for the NULM Programme.  During this period, Kudumbashree had secured more than 10 National Awards. National Award for the excellent implementation of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY) skill training programme for three consecutive years,  Best Performance Award constituted by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for the efficient implementation of the bank linkage of the NHGs,  the Best Practice Award constituted by HUDCO for completing the construction of the houses of  Pradhan Manthri Awas Yojana -Urban (PMAY-U)-LIFE through Kudumbashree Women Construction Groups are a few among them.