Four states in India are replicating the Kudumbashree Balasabha model through Kudumbashree National Research Organisation. The activity of the formation of Balasabhas in other states as part of the functioning of Kudumbashree NRO is progressing well. At present, formation of Balsabhas has been started at Tripura, Assam, Jharkhand and Manipur. In Tripura,1529 children are members of 125 Balasabha, whereas in Assam, 17,250 children are members of 1150 Balasabha. In Jharkhand there are 2900 Balasabha which have 41,290 children as members whereas in Manipur,  there are 20 Balasabha which have 300 children as members.

It was while going forward with the NRO activities, Kudumbashree NRO team noticed the issues faced by the children in different states. The issues they faced included dropping out from schools, child marriages, becoming victims of human trafficking, drug addiction etc. As a solution to this, Kudumbashree thought of forming Balasabhas at those locations (blocks/ panchayats) where NRO is supporting the states. And the same have been implemented in 4 states.

Preventing intergenerational transmission of poverty, acquiring knowledge through entertainment, developing leadership qualities, nurturing co-operative attitude, raising aptitude towards science, helping 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. Kudumbashree NRO formed Balasabhas focusing on these aims.

Initially, there were no favourable situations for implementing such an activity in other states as this was a novel concept. But now the formation of Balasabhas is progressing in four states in the best possible manner. Children who are members of these Balsabhas are organising various activities. Resource Persons from within the villagers were selected and are entrusted for coordinating the functioning of the Balasabhas.

It was during 2012, the Government of India (Ministry of Rural Development) recognised Kudumbashree as a National Resource Organisation (NRO). As per the request of the different states, NRO functions in various areas of the country, working on various projects.  The activities of NRO focus on supporting the states for forming SHG networks, supporting women (SHG members) to start micro enterprises and to make convergences possible with the Local Self Government Institutions. Also the overall thrust is to help women earn their rights through various initiatives. As of now, 20 states and one Union Territory have signed MoU with Kudumbashree NRO.

 Kudumbashree National Resource Organisation (NRO) functions aiming at providing supports to other states, based on the experience from Kudumbashree model of Kerala. Balasabha, the 'Kudumbashree of Children', was started as a fraternity of children who accompany their mothers during the Kudumbashree neighbourhood group meetings. 

The Kudumbashree NRO team and the mentors adapted and framed the concept of Balasabha suiting the same to the requirement and situation of various states. They had started implementing the concept quickly, guiding the younger generation of all these partner states of Kudumbashree.

Kudumbashree is about to start imparting skill training in more BUDS Institutions. It is the new project that Kudumbashree intends to start for BUDS Institutions. Kudumbashree had already been imparting skill training in most of the BUDS Rehabilitation Centres (BRC) in Kerala on various skills like paper binding, spiral binding, paper cover making, paper pen production, mattress making, soap and hand wash production, farming etc for the children in BUDS Institutions. Now, Kudumbashree aims at imparting skill training to more institutions in this financial year as a part of the special livelihood initiative. The plan is to scale up and implement the skill training programme to 150 more BUDS Institutions this year.

In the first phase, the teachers, children and parents of each BUDS Institutions would identify the skills which the students wish to acquire. Based on the identified skill need, Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared by each institution. The activities for preparing DPR for each BUDS school had already been started. August 15 is the last date to submit the DPRs. Once the DPR is received from all institutions, approval would be given for each BUDS school. Special financial assistance would be provided to each institution for this special livelihood assistance. Rs 4 crores has been earmarked for 150 institutions for setting up basic infrastructure and for buying machineries. Also find will be provided for arranging working capital. There is financial support for monitoring, evaluation and for branding and marketing.

After the completion of training, Kudumbashree has also planned the branding of the products manufactured by the students of BUDS Institutions. Marketing support will also be provided in a centralised manner. As per the schedule, skill training courses will be started by September/ October 2020 and the branding and marketing activities will be started by December 2020.

Kudumbashree is all set to produce 'Shayya' bedrolls.The production of Shayya bedrolls is the new activity that Ernakulam District Administration plans to implement through Kudumbashree. Shayya bedrolls are made out of the tailoring scraps of Personal Protection Kits from the tailoring units (tailoring scraps available after stitching the gowns). Bedrolls produced in this manner could be made available for the Covid First Line Treatment Centres (CFLTC) at reasonable rates. This was the thought behind Shayya. Ms.Lakshmi Menon, a social entrepreneur from Kerala presented the concept of Shayya to Kudumbashree. ‘Shayya’ Model Bed rolls were handed over to Mr. S. Suhas IAS, District Collector, Ernakulam.

At Covid Care Centres, one bedroll need to be given to each patient. So these low cost bedrolls is expected to help reduce the expenditure of the Care Centres. Personal Protection Kits (PPE) are excessively being produced as part of the medical treatment for the covid-19 pandemic. Gowns are part of PPE kit; and both small and large scale tailoring units were getting work orders to stitch gowns. In addition, the waste cloth from the tailoring units could be used creatively and the units may make new income from this.

Wisdom Development Foundation, an NGO based out of Kochi came forward offering support for this concepts. They offered assistance and support to source and collect the gown material scraps from major tailoring factories and units. They assured that the scarps collected from large scale units would be collected and brought to the bed roll making units at free of cost. They also offered support for providing training in bed roll production. Assistance in marketing was also offered to Kudumbashree. As per this, Kudumbashree has started piloting this concept. The bedrolls would be produced through Kudumbashree units under the leadership of the Ernakulam District Administration.

Harithakarmasena team members from Eloor Municipality of Ernakulam district have taken up producing these Shayya bedrolls on a pilot basis. After examining the demand and acceptance of this low cost product in the market, and after ascertaining the availability of the raw materials, production of Shayya will be extended to other districts as well. One unit each from all the 14 blocks in Ernakulam district has been identified for Shayya Production. The units near the tailoring units which make gowns of PPE kits are selected for this.

Through ‘Shayya’ Kudumbashree tailoring units are expecting to get a new opportunity for getting additional income during the time of covid-19 pandemic.

Unnathi Programme, a convergence project of DDU-GKY and MGNREGS aiming at extending skill training to the candidates from the family of the beneficiaries of MGNREGS programme will be launched soon. As per ‘Unnathi’, programme, skill training will be extended to the eligible candidates from the family of the beneficiaries of MGNREGS programme, which would help them in moving up the ladder from ‘unskilled’ labours to skilled workers.

As per the guidelines of ‘Unnathi’, skill training will be given to males of 18-35 age group and females belonging to 18-45 age group. Beneficiaries will be from the MGNREGS cardholder / beneficiary families who had completed 100 days of wage employment during the 2018-19 financial year. Only one member would be eligible for ‘Unnathi’ skill training from a MGNREGS cardholder family. Also, those who received skill training from government of India or state government before this, are not eligible for ‘Unnathi’.

The beneficiaries are identified under the leadership of the MGNREGS State Mission, based on the project criteria. They will be provided with skill training through DDU-GKY empaneled training agencies (as a part of DDUGKY program). The trainees may select any course from the available courses according to their educational qualification and aptitude. The training would be according to the DDU-GKY programme standards. Every selected trainee of ‘Unnathi’ would get 100 days of MGNREGS wage, when they are undergoing the skill training program. This is the best benefit of Unnathi, and additional wages along with their skill training will help them migrate to skilled labour without loss of wages during the days of study.

The final round discussions regarding the implementation of the programme with the MGNREGS State Mission had already been completed. The activities for arranging the beneficiary list is progressing. Kudumbashree aims at opening the training centres and will start the programme once the covid-19 crisis would be over and the government gives permission for starting the classes.

'Stories of Compassion and Strength', the E-book prepared on the activities of NHG members across the state during the lockdown period has been launched. The E-book features 30 different stories of a few Kudumbashree members across the state who made great efforts during the time of the spread of covid-19 pandemic. During this time of Covid-19, NHG members coordinated activities as per the instructions from the state level and district level and also as per the need of the people of the respective localities. A few success stories of the activities and sacrifices of Kudumbashree members are featured in this book.

'Stories of Compassion and Strength', the E-book on the activities of NHG members during the lockdown period is jointly prepared by Chaithanya G and Manjary Asok, Communication Specialists of the Public Relations team of Kudumbashree. S.Arun, Graphic Designer, designed this book. The book is available at the 'Books and Brochures' section of the website.

The E-book brings out some stories on effective interventions that Kudumbashree members made in the social sector during different situations. The compassionate face and the social commitment of Kudumbashree NHG members could be seen throughout these stories.

Kudumbashree has about 3 lakh neighbourhood groups (NHGs) with 45 lakh women as members and this network is the strength of this women empowerment and poverty eradication programme. Kudumbashree has always lent helping hands to all whenever they are in trouble, disasters, challenges, whatever the crisis be. We had explained about the various activities Kudumbashree had implemented during the floods of 2018, 2019 and the activities implemented to overcome the challenges caused by covid-19 pandemic.

Click to read the E-book: http://www.kudumbashree.org/storage//files/vuoun_kanivinteyum_karuthinteyum_kadhakal%202.pdf

'Naam Munnot', the special weekly television discussion programme featured Kudumbashree Mission and the various programmes Kudumbashree had been implementing in Kerala. The 108th episode of 'Naam Munnot' programme was a quick documentation of Kudumbashree’s success story. A concise review on the growth of Kudumbashree and the activities Kudumbashree have been implementing in Kerala could be seen through this programme. In addition, the achievements and progress of Kudumbashree in the last four years (through new programmes) was also highlighted.

'Naam Munnot', is a program conducted in the presence of the Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala, generally aimed to get an assessment of governments programs, to take feedback from the public and to solve issues, if any. The 108th episode was on Kudumbashree, the State Poverty Eradication Mission of the Government of Kerala. Usually the programme was planned as a discussion and interaction of experts and the Honourable Chief Minister. After the lockdown of COVID - 19 pandemic started, the discussion mode of the programme was altered by the production team and it was restructured as a documentary.

To watch the episode of 'Naam Munnot' programme on Kudumbashree,click this link: http://www.kudumbashree.org/videos/6.

As it would take more time for the functioning of the BUDS institutions in the normal state like in the pre covid days, Kudumbashree is implementing the concept of extending training and services for the students of these institutions through an online platform. The videos would be prepared and would be brought to the parents of the BUDS Institutions through various online mediums. The videos prepared include videos of activities on daily life, knowledge of nature, mathematics skills, primary health skills, primary domestic skills and social skills. Also, videos of activities on livelihood activities such as paper bag making, paper pen making, handicraft making etc. are also prepared.

As of now, 289 BUDS institutions function under the leadership of Kudumbashree. 9002 children studies at the 138 BUDS Schools and 151 BUDS Rehabilitation Centers altogether. 430 specially trained teachers and 351 other staff coordinate the functioning of these BUDS Institutions. Institutions provide all support to students through these teachers and staff. Before launching this concept a discussion was made with the teachers of the BUDS Institutions regarding video classes. The direction was to prepare videos on the important activities that could be done through the parents. BUDS teachers have prepared many such videos. These videos would be brought to the parents through Youtube Channel, WhatsApp, Facebook etc. BUDS teachers would ensure that all the students watch these videos regularly and do their activities with the help of parents. The District Programme Managers of Kudumbashree would monitor these activities.

Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/STATE-BUDS-BRC-116333783392685/) and Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJzWrG-myT3fJ-0UdIvbMtQ) had been started for sharing these videos. As the next phase, Kudumbashree aims at preparing videos of health exercises for children with the help of therapists and aims at taking them to the children and parents. BUDS teachers are making relentless efforts to ensure that such academic-training activities of the BUDS Institutions are ongoing without any fail.

BUDS Institutions of Kudumbashree, work in convergence with the LSGIs for the specially abled children. As part of containing the spread of covid-19 pandemic, just like all other educational institutions, BUDS Schools were also closed. Kudumbashree had been providing support to the children of BUDS Institutions and their parents during the lockdown period as well.

Kudumbashree got the opportunity to take up some construction activities of Smart City, Thiruvananthapuram. Kudumbashree construction units got the chance to construct three different works of the Thiruvananthapuram Smart City project. The Smart City officials provided the work to Kudumbashree Construction groups, once the work could not be awarded to bidders as no one took the work. Kudumbashree construction teams units received this responsibility wholeheartedly and are working on it.

The three works undertaken by Kudumbashree include the construction of the Interactive Information Kiosks at Corporation premises and Gandhi Park (Rs 6.66 lakhs), the renovation of the toilets at KSRTC Bus Station, Thampanoor (Rs 7.3 lakhs) and the construction of rain water harvesting system at Corporation premises and Women's College, Thiruvananthapuram (Rs 61 lakhs). Kudumbashree received these construction activities two months ago. Kudumbashree construction units could successfully complete the first task i.e., the construction of the interactive information kiosk. The construction activities of the renovation of the toilets at KSRTC Bus Station, Thampanoor is progressing. The design and schedules of work for the rain water harvesting system is ready now.

Kudumbashree women construction groups have already started taking up some big scale house construction works and are getting more opportunities to function extensively. The opportunity received as part of the Thiruvananthapuram Smart City Project is the latest among these. Various works would be finished by Kudumbashree's construction groups in time with utmost quality. Kudumbashree construction groups are aiming at progressing to greater heights by taking up such challenging opportunities.

'Connect to Work', the new concept presented by Kudumbashree as part of Rebuild Kerala Project got approval and is in the implementation phase now and would be launched soon. Connect to Work is conceived as a Programme which identifies the drawbacks of each individual, resolves it and extends the best quality training and makes them highly employable. Kudumbshree have come in contract with ASAP (Additional Skills Acquisition Programme) for extending the training.

Though there are as many qualified youth in our society, the deficiency of soft skills, lack of knowledge on how to attend an interview, the inability to identify jobs through online and other media and the lack of skills in turning such opportunities to jobs etc pose great challenges to them and they fail in getting the right job on time and therefore they find it difficult to find jobs or connect themselves to jobs. Many people in the society are facing such issues and they need support and assistance to get connected to work. This led Kudumbashree to think of implementing 'Connect to Work' as a finishing School programme.

Those people with qualifications such as ITI, Polytechnic Diploma, Graduation, Post Graduation etc could participate in this training programme. Any family member of the trainee should be part a Kudumbashree Neighbourhood Group member or he/she should belong to a BPL (Below Poverty Line) family and the maximum age for getting enrolled for the programme is 35 years. The interested candidates may contact the nearest CDSs.

In the first phase it is planned to select one panchayath each from 152 blocks in the state and 33 people each from every panchayath would be given training which will equip them to get jobs. It is planned to connect 5000 people to jobs in phase 1. The selected youth would be provided with our course of 120 hours duration. They would be taught personal skills, social skills, organisational skills, professional skills, presentation skills, entrepreneurship skills etc. Based on the success of the first phase, the training for more batches will also be started.

At present, 152 CDS s had already been selected. They were given directions to do convergence with local bodies so that panchayats will provide their own existing facilities to implement ‘Connect to Work’ Project. Each CDS had been given Rs 2,10,000 each for arranging computer, projector, board, table, chair, travel allowance for the students, and for arranging the honorarium for the resource persons for coordinating the training centres. The actions for setting up the basic amenities in the panchayats is progressing. Resource Persons had been entrusted in every panchayats to coordinate the activities. The activities to select the first level trainees has also been started. The trainees would be selected before 15 August 2020.

ASAP trainers would lead the classes at 152 centres and the training module is being prepared. The training centres would function under the respective CDSs. When the crisis of covid-19 would be ended, the training would be started on getting the direction of the government. This programme could bring in a big change in society and help many to improve themselves, and find livelihood of their own.

Kudumbashree's Annashree have started delivering tasty food from the Kudumbashree Catering units in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts. AIFRHM (Adebha-Adhithi Devo Bhava- Institute of Food Research and Hospitality Management), the master training agency that extends catering training across the state and one among the best enterprise models of Kudumbashree has devised this new project of their own. They have come up with a mobile application named 'Annashree' which delivers food to the needy.

The Annashree project is presently being piloted in Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. 'Annashree' is developed in the model of other online delivery apps like Zomato, Swiggy etc. The cafe, canteen, catering units under Kudumbashree may register for delivering food through this application and all those who download this application may order and buy food items directly from Kudumbashree entrepreneurs.

As part of piloting the app, activities are being held in Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. In Thrissur, 8 hotels have registered in the application until now. An average of 30 home deliveries are done a day. Two Kudumbashree members from Panancherry Panchayath are delivering the food. The project was started in Ernakulam district on 29 June 2020. In Ernakulam, 9 Units from Kalamassery and Choornikkara have made registrations until now. Sales of Rs 5000- Rs 15,000 is recorded a day. AIFRHM has decided to expand the activity after completing this pilot project for 6 months.

It was understood that, though Kudumbashree hotels have registered in other food delivery applications, they were not getting enough publicity. It was noticed that paid promotions may be required for most of the existing food delivery apps for getting prominence for Kudumbashree's hotels. And that led Kudumbashree to try to experiment with the possibility to move forward with the idea of a new app. This will be an app where the trustworthiness and originality of Kudumbashree food units can be experienced by all customers.