Idukki block of Idukki district has came first in the SVEP ranking, done based on the performance for the last year, reviewing the activities of the 14 blocks in the 14 districts of Kerala. On analyzing the data of the programme for the last two years, the programme is giving excellent results and the blocks were ranked on the basis of performance. Idukki block of Idukki district came in first place in ranking. Nilambur block of Malappuram district, Vaikom block of Kottayam district, Neeleshwaram block of Kasaragode block and Vadavukode block of Ernakulam district came in the remaining four places respectively. The districts were analysed based on 10 factors like the completion of the targets (formation of the enterprises), giving legal status to enterprises, inclusion of the vulnerable communities for enterprise formation, data updation (entry in MIS) etc.

Startup Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), is being implemented through Kudumbashree in the selected 14 development blocks of Kerala, which encourages the Kudumbashree members to start enterprises. These enterprises are started in those sectors where there’s potential for sales in that area. Also, effort is taken to make use of the local resources to the maximum. It was aimed to start 26,032 enterprises within 4 years through this programme which was launched in the 14 blocks of Kerala during 2017. A total of 11,211 enterprises were started in the 14 blocks in the state within these two years.

As a first step, Block Nodal Society for Enterprise Promotion (BNSEP) is started in the blocks selected for SVEP project. Then, Micro Enterprise Consultants (MEC) from Kudumbashree are selected. The Executive Committee of BNSEP comprises the CDS Chairpersons of all the CDSs in the Blocks and micro enterprise (ME) Sub Committee Conveners. Those who are interested in self employment through new enterprises are identified and are supported. They are provided with all supports through the MECs, who function under the leadership of BNSEP Executive Committee. It had been two years since this programme has been commenced in Kerala.

Through the Chief Minister's Helping Hand Loan Scheme, which is being implemented through Kudumbashree was started from 23 April, Rs 1782.82 crores bank loan has already been provided to Kudumbashree members until now. Also loan applications of Rs 1958.12 crores have been submitted to banks. As per the statistics till 17 August, Rs 1782.82 crores is already received by NHGs as bank loan.1,92,172 NHGs have received loans and a total of 22,37,588 NHG members have received the loan amount.

Chief Minister's Helping Hand Loan Scheme (CMHLS) is the interest free loan scheme launched to extend temporary assistance to those who lost their income during the crisis of covid-19. After the floods of 2018, the Resurgent Kerala Loan Scheme (RKLS) was successfully implemented through Kudumbashree. It is the success of that which led the Government of Kerala to decide to implement the Chief Minister's Helping Hand Loan Scheme (CMHLS) programme through Kudumbashree. The plan was to provide Rs 2000 crores as Interest Free bank Loan.

In the first phase of implementation, discussion was held with the banks and the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) expressed their willingness to give loans at 9 % interest. Government agreed to provide interest subsidies to the NHGs. As it is an interest free loan, it was decided to limit the loan to Rs 2000 crores as per the Government decision and the loan limit for CDSs and NHGs were fixed.

Approval has been received for constructing 10,465 individual houses at 52 Local Self Government Institutions. Consent has also been received for constructing housing complexes at Punalur, Pandalam, Alappuzha, Chittur- Thathamangalam Urban Local Bodies for the urban homeless who don't have their own land. There would be 286 houses in these 4 housing complexes (flats) altogether. After getting the approval of the State Level Appraisal Committee (SLAC) chaired by Principal Secretary, Local Self Government Department and the State Level Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee chaired by Chief Secretary, approval of Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) was received on 7 August 2020.

In PMAY (U) - LIFE, which is part of LIFE Mission Project, an individual beneficiary would get Rs 4 lakhs for house construction. Out of this, Rs 1.5 lakhs would be the central share, Rs 50,000 would be State share and Rs 2 lakhs would be the ULB share. In addition to the approval received, approval had already been received for constructing 3181 houses at 17 ULBs during the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee held during December. Hence, in addition to the 88,583 houses mentioned above, approval has been received for constructing 13,646 houses during December and August. It is expected to complete the construction of these houses during this financial year itself.

Until now, final approval has been received for constructing 88,583 houses. Construction of 48,445 houses (54.6%) has already been completed. The construction of 28,447 houses (32%) are in different phases. First installment of the financial assistance has been provided to 76,892 houses (86.8%).

Kudumbashree NRO is providing assistance for the formulation and implementation of Vulnerability Reduction Plan in Tripura.

This is a novel project implemented by Kudumbashree NRO. Vulnerability Reduction Plan (VRP) programme aims at mainstreaming the vulnerable families (Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, women headed households, victims of human trafficking, those facing physical- mental disabilities etc) of a selected area. This programme , which is part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), is being implemented by NRO in association with Tripura State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM).

VRP is implemented by Village Organisations (VO), which are formed as a federation of 10-15 Self Help Groups-SHGs in every panchayath. The vulnerable families are identified on the basis of different criteria and the details of these families are enlisted at first. Out of the selected families, the most vulnerable families are earmarked and Vulnerability Reduction Plans are prepared considering their various needs. The aim is to reduce their vulnerability. Out of these needs, some are solved by SRLM through their own projects. Some other needs are addressed through departmental projects (of other departments) and some could be directly done by the Village Organisations. This way, the needs of the vulnerable families are fulfilled. Then, they will be made part of the SHG network and many other activities will be undertaken to mainstream vulnerable families.

The first of its kind activity (support for VRP) was implemented in Kunjaban Gram Panchayat of Matabari Block of Tripura on 28 November 2018. Plans were formulated for many such as Hiran Bala Das, a 65 year old woman with a 21 year old intellectually disabled daughter with no regular source of income apart from the old age pension, and to many like Dhirendra Das, a widowed 71 year old man again with no other source of income apart from the old age pension etc. The mapping was then piloted in Maa Durga VO of Muhiripur Gram Panchayat in Jolaibari Block on 31 July 2019. The details of 216 families were collected then. After the detailed analysis, it was found that 12 families are more vulnerable and are in need of emergency assistance. Special plans were prepared for them. Rs 58,000 was given as Vulnerability Reduction Fund (VRF) through SRLM. In some panchayats, VRP plans were submitted as part of their Annual Action Plans.

NRO extended many supports/ consultancy / assistance to the Village Organisations in the blocks of Tripura where NROs support was requested. NRO provides support in many aspects of implementation of VRP. Kudumbashree NRO had prepared a special module for VRP implementation in Tripura. Also, NRO helped the state to frame strategies for identifying the vulnerable families. Also, support was extended for coordinating training and for preparing the VRP plans. Mentors and coordinators of Kudumbashree NRO are doing these activities based on the work experience they earned while implementing the Ashraya Programme in Kerala. Kudumbashree National Resource Organisation (NRO) the wing of Kudumbashree that provides consultancy and support to various states and union territories in the country as per their requests.

6.7 lakh Kudumbashree members had shown interest to enroll for the KSFE Vidyashree Scheme, which enables the needy NHG members to buy laptops. Vidyashree Scheme is being implemented by Kudumbashree in association with Kerala State Financial Enterprises (KSFE) for supporting students. Till date, 6,70,156 Kudumbashree members came forward to become part of this scheme and out of them, 5,12,561 members opted for receipt of laptops, as during the crisis situation of COVID 19, the educational system is in transition and becoming more dependent on online education.

Vidyashree is a micro chitty of Rs 15,000 with a monthly installment of Rs 500 for 30 months. A NHG member can enroll for only one Vidyashree Chitty. As per this, if a Kudumbashree member becomes part of this scheme, after the payment of the third installment, she may inform the NHG if she needs a laptop. Laptop with the specifications prescribed by the Education Department, procured from the agencies empanelled by IT Department would be made available for them. These laptops would cost less than Rs 15,000.

As per Vidyashree, after the payment of the third installment, all in need can own a laptop as the laptop will be provided by KSFE. When the chitty installment payment would be complete, the members would get the remaining amount in the chitty (if any) including interest, excluding the cost of the laptop. Those who repay the chitty regularly need not pay the installment amount of Rs 500 during the 10th term and 20th term. KSFE would pay this. In addition, for those who regularly repay the chitty starting from 1st term up to the 30th term, KSFE would bear the first installment of Rs 500 for enrolling in a similar scheme that would be started. In short, those who repay without fail may save Rs 1500. Those Kudumbashree members who do not need a laptop may also join this scheme. After paying the 13th monthly instalment, they may draw the full city amount (if needed) without any bid or lot. They would also get the savings interest of KSFE as well. The repayment should be done without any fail. The NHG and CDS would oversee the monthly repayment.

Kudumbashree collected the details of the NHG members who are interested in joining this micro savings programme which aims at making available laptops for the common people as laptops are becoming inevitable for enabling online education.

Kudumbashree is proud to be part of an activity that helps the newer generation to get in tune with the changing time through the Vidyashree Scheme associating with Kerala State Financial Enterprises(KSFE).

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