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Parappanangadi CDS a model by securing own office for all ADSs

Parappanangadi CDS, the urban CDS in Malappuram district is becoming a model for all other Kudumbashree CDSs in Kerala. Parappanangadi CDS has fulfilled the dream of having its own office building for all ADSs (Area Development Society or ward-level organizational structure of Kudumbashree) under the CDS. Parappanangadi CDS is also the first urban CDS in Kerala to achieve this feat.

Offices were set up for all 45 ADSs with the approval of the Municipal Council. Out of these, only five are working in rented buildings. The collective efforts of the people's representatives and ADS office bearers of each ward led the CDS to this feat. Parappanangadi is the CDS selected from the district to implement the ongoing activities of the Chalanam Mentorship Programme implemented by Kudumbashree at the urban level. It is also noteworthy that the CDS achieved this achievement as part of this.

Mr. P.P. Shahul Hameed, Chairman, Parappanangadi Municipality made the official announcement of the setting up of offices for all the ADSs at a function organized on 17 December 2024. Ms. Shaharbanu, Vice Chairperson, Parappanangadi Municipality, Mr. Suresh Kumar, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission, Ms. P.P. Suharabi, Chairperson, Parappanangadi CDS, Ms. Rahiyanath, Vice Chairperson, Parappanangadi CDS, Mr. Reneef, City Mission Manager, Mr. Anil Kumar. S, Kudumbashree Core Mentor, Ms. Sheela. S, Mentor, Councilors, CDS Conveners, Block Coordinator etc. participated in the programme.

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Parappanangadi CDS a model by securing own office for all ADSs ds

Little Millet Cultivation starts at Uchakkulam Hamlet as part of Nilambur Tribal Special Project

As part of the Kudumbashree Malappuram Nilambur Tribal Special Project, the indigenous people have started Little Millet Cultivation on 2.5 acres of land in Uchakkulam Hamlet. These hamlet residents, who belong to the Kattunayakan community, an ancient tribal group, are hoping to harvest a good yield from the cultivation carried out in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare as part of the 2024-25 Millet Farming Project of the Moothedam Krishi Bhavan.

In previous years, turmeric, ginger, ragi and sesame were cultivated through 7 Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) of Kudumbashree. The project aims to develop and promote millet farming, which has nutritional value and is capable of preventing lifestyle diseases.

Shri. P Usman, President, Moothedam Grama Panchayath inaugurated the millet farming during a function organized at Uchakkulam Hamlet on 6 December 2024. Ms. T.P. Safiya, Vice President, Moothedam Grama Panchayat presided over the function. Shri. B. Suresh Kumar, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission was the Chief Guest of the function.

Ms. Neethu Thankam, Agriculture Officer, Moothedam welcomed the gathering and Shri. K.K. Muhammed Sanu, Coordinator, Nilambur Tribal Special Project delivered the vote of thanks. Shri. Veeran, Head of the Hamlet, People's Representatives, CDS Representatives, JLG Members, Kudumbashree Block Coordinators, Animators, etc. participated in the programme.

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Little Millet Cultivation starts at Uchakkulam Hamlet as part of Nilambur Tribal Special Project

Kudumbashree 'Saree' bags to make the Mandala Season Eco-Friendly

As part of the Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam Campaign, the Kudumbashree Pathanamthitta District Mission has prepared and made available 'Saree' bags with the aim of making this Mandala Season eco-friendly. The Kudumbashree members prepared the saree carry bags as part of the 'Saree Challenge' organized by the Kudumbashree Pathanamthitta district team in connection with the Sabarimala pilgrimage.

The first batch of these bags was handed over to the District Suchithwa Mission by Kudumbashree members at the 'Karuthalum Kaithangum' Grievance Redressal Adalat in Ranni in the presence of Ms. Veena George, Minister for Health and Woman and Child Development, Government of Kerala and Mr. P. Rajeev, Minister for Law, Industries and Coir, Government of Kerala on 13 December 2024. The cloth bags are being distributed to pilgrims and shop owners at the Suchithwa Mission counters in Chengannur and Nilakkal.

Kudumbashree Pathanamthitta District Mission is conducting the 'Plastic Carry Bag Free Pathanamthitta' Campaign in collaboration with the District Administration. Kudumbashree is preparing 50,000 cloth bags in the first phase in collaboration with the State Bank of India to distribute cloth bags instead of plastic bags. At the CDS level, Kudumbashree NHG members and Haritha Karma Sena members visited houses and collected sarees and other suitable fabrics. The cloth bags were prepared through Kudumbashree Stitching Units. More than 80 NHG members from 15 Kudumbashree units are engaged in this work.

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Kudumbashree 'Saree' bags to make the Mandala Season Eco-Friendlym

Sweet potatoes enriched with sweetness now available in farms of Attappady: A grand start to the second phase of Punarjeevanam

Highly productive sweet potatoes will now be grown in the farms of the indigenous people of Attappady, who traditionally cultivate sweet potatoes and make them a part of their diet. The Agriculture Division of Kudumbashree has provided this golden opportunity through the remarkable project 'Punarjeevanam', an agricultural entrepreneurship training series in association with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR - CTCRI). As part of the second phase of the project in Attappady, seeds and planting materials have been distributed to 40 Kudumbashree farmers selected from the Panchayat Samiti of Agali, Puthur, Kurumba and Sholayur.

At a function organized in Agali on 29 November 2024, about two tonnes of enriched high-yielding sweet potato varieties, about 2.5 lakh planting materials, organic fertilizers and organic pesticides required for extensive cultivation were distributed. This activity is a continuation of the three-day training series conducted in connection with the state-level inauguration of the Punarjeevanam project in August.

Kudumbashree aims to address nutritional deficiencies among the indigenous population of Attappady by cultivating enriched sweet potatoes extensively and developing a diet based on it and to ensure economic security by creating new enterprises through value addition of the surplus sweet potatoes. Dr. S. Shanavas, Programme Officer, Farm Livelihood, Kudumbashree inaugurated the function presided over by Shri. B.S. Manoj, Assistant Project Officer, Attappady Special Project implemented by Kudumbashree. Dr. Pradeepika, Dr. Sangeetha, Scientists from the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute trained the farmers on sweet potato cultivation methods, organic fertilizers and organic pesticides.

Ms. Anitha (President, Kurumba Panchayat Samiti), Ms. Selina (President, Sholayur Panchayat Samiti), Ms. Tulasi (President, Puthur Panchayat Samiti), and Ms. Resi (Secretary, Agali Panchayat Samiti) welcomed the farmers and received planting materials. Shri. Akhil Soman (Farm Livelihood Coordinator, Attappady Special Project) welcomed the gathering and Shri. Aliyar (Coordinator, Farm Livelihood Project) delivered the vote of thanks. Farmers, Animators, Community Resource Persons, and Kudumbashree employees participated in the programme.

Through the next phase of the Punarjeevanam project, Kudumbashree aims to distribute planting materials, agricultural equipment and machinery for other tuber crops that have high reproductive potential and are rich in nutrients, developed by the Central Tuber Research Centre.

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Sweet potatoes enriched with sweetness now available in farms of Attappady: A grand start to the second phase of Punarjeevanam

Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission initiates Balasabha 'Kutty Chantha'

Balasabha 'Kutty Chantha' is a project initiated by Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission with the aim of making children understand the importance of work during their education period and imparting small business ideas. Children who are members of Balasabha conduct 'Kutty Chanthas' (Little Markets) once a month in all 42 CDSs of the district on school holidays.

The products produced by the children studying in BUDS Institutions run by Kudumbasree in association with local self-government bodies and their parents, and products from Kudumbasree agriculture and small enterprises are sold through 'Kutty Chantha'. 'Kutty Chantha' also aims at inculcating saving habits in children, imparting livelihood skills and providing opportunities for social interaction.

Kudumbashree Micro Enterprise Consultants, Agriculture and Social Development Community Resource Persons under the leadership of their respective CDSs deliver the produces to 'Kutty Chantha'. The proceeds from the markets will be deposited in the CDS Account and are used for the academic and extra-curricular activities of the children. The District Level Inauguration of the project was held at Chemmanad CDS on 13 September 2024 .

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Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission initiates Balasabha 'Kutty Chantha'

Kudumbashree to strengthen Online Marketing: Training Organized

Kudumbashree is moving ahead with strong efforts to deliver Kudumbashree products to homes with a single click. As part of this, Kudumbashree organized a two-day expert training programme for the members of the District Level Master Training Group with the aim of guiding the entrepreneurs to use online marketing channels effectively. Kudumbashree is carrying out these activities under the 100 Days Programme of the State Government. 90 people selected as master trainers from the districts participated in the training program organized at Government Guest House, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram on 30-31 August 2024.

The District Level Master Training Groups will consist of six persons namely District Programme Manager, 2 Block Coordinators each and Micro Enterprise Consultants and staff from Kudumbashree Fulfillment Centres to assist entrepreneurs. They will provide training to Micro Enterprise Consultants and Block Coordinators in their respective districts. Those who have received this training will also provide training to entrepreneurs at the field level.

Training was given on various topics such as methods of marketing products, courier packaging, shipping, logistics, handling of returned products etc on e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) and Kudumbashree's Pocketmart. Representatives of Time Co Training Agency, ONDC, Ship Rocket, Pocketmart and Shri. A. S Sreekanth, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Shri, Muhammed Shan S.S, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree, Shri. Shaiju R.S, State Assistant Programme Manager, Ms. Aswathi L, State Assistant Programme Manager and Ms. Anjima Surendran, State Assistant Programme Manager gave leadership to the training.

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Kudumbashree to strengthen Online Marketing: Training Organized

Office opened for Curry Powder Consortium in Thrissur

The consortium formed in Thrissur as part of the Branding Project to make powder products including curry powders produced by Kudumbashree entrepreneurs available in the public market under one brand has opened its own office. Adv. K. Rajan, Minister for Revenue and Housing, Government of Kerala inaugurated the new office at Vanitha Handwork Centre at Poochetty of Nadathara Panchayath, Thrissur during the function organized on 27 August 2024.

The 'Branding Project' is to unify the Kudumbashree enterprises producing various products like chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, sambar powder, chicken masala, fish masala, meat masala, garam masala, steamed puttu powder, wheat flour and appam powder and make them available in the public market under the brand 'Kudumbashree' in the same quality and packaging. Branding was done in Kannur district on a pilot basis in the financial year 2019-20. Later, the scheme was extended to the districts of Malappuram, Kottayam, Thrissur, Kollam and Pathanamthitta.

Consortiums are formed comprising the selected units at the district level and through those consortium the branding activities of the products prepared by the entrepreneurs are coordinated in a decentralized manner. This consortium is responsible for the marketing of branded products and procurement of raw materials. 34 people from 15 units selected in Thrissur district are members of the consortium.

Ms. Sreevidya Rajesh, President, Nadathara Grama Panchayath presided over the function. Adv. Rajith P.R, Vice President, Shri. Abhilash P.K, Chairman, Welfare Standing Committee, Shri. Ashok Kumar MS, Shri. Siju Kumar. A and Ms. Jeeja Jayan, Chairperson, Nadathara CDS conveyed their greetings. Shri. K. Radhakrishnan, Assistant District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission welcomed the gathering and Ms. Omana K.N, President, Curry Powder Consortium delivered the vote of thanks.

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Office opened for Curry Powder Consortium in Thrissur

'We are With You': Job Fair organized in Meppadi for the disaster affected people of Wayanad

The District Administration of Wayanad and Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission jointly organized the 'Njangalund Koode' (We are With You) Job fair with the objective of creating gainful employment opportunities for the job seekers in the disaster affected area of Meppadi Gram Panchayat in Wayanad, which was hit by landslide disaster. Adv K. Rajan, Minister for Revenue and Housing, Government of Kerala inaugurated the Job Mela organized under the leadership of the Deendayal Upadhyaya Grameena Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), the skill training programme of Kudumbashree and Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission organized at Meppadi Gram Panchayat, Wayanad on 23 August 2024.

The minister handed over the offer letter to ten candidates selected by employers ESAF Small Finance Bank, Markaz Knowledge City and Indus Motors at the inauguration ceremony. 21 employers from inside and outside the district participated in the fair. Out of about 300 job seekers, 59 were selected for various jobs. And a shortlist of 127 people was prepared.

Shri. P.K. Balasubramanian, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission welcomed the gathering. Ms. Bini Prabhakaran, Chairperson, Meppadi CDS, Ms. Rejeena V.K, Ms. Seleena K. M, Shri. Ameen K, Assistant District Mission Coordinators, Kudumbashree, Shri. Nishad C. C, Shri. Shibu N.P, State Programme Managers, Shri. Jenson M. Joy, Ms. Apsana K, District Programme Managers and others participated in the programme.

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'We are With You': Job Fair organized in Meppadi for the disaster affected people of Wayanad

Modernized Model CDS Office starts functioning at Nilambur

As part of the conversion of Kudumbasree CDSs in urban areas into model CDSs, a renovated Kudumbasree CDS office with modern systems has started functioning in Nilambur Municipality of Malappuram district on 15 August 2024. Ms. P. K Sainaba, Executive Member, Kudumbashree Governing Body inaugurated the Modernized Model CDS Office. Shri. Mattummal Saleem, Municipal Chairman, who is also a member of the Kudumbashree Governing Body, presided over the function. There are 33 ADSs and 448 NHGs under Nilambur CDS. At present there are 168 Model CDSs in urban and rural areas under the Kudumbashree organizational system.

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Modernized Model CDS Office starts functioning at Nilambur

International Day of Indigenous Peoples also celebrated in Attappady

The International Day of Indigenous Peoples was celebrated under the name 'Nam Ekila' as part of the Kudumbashree Attappady Tribal Comprehensive Development Project on 9 August 2024. The Day Observance was jointly organized by Kudumbashree's Agali, Sholayur, Puthur and Kurumba Panchayat Samitis.

Ms. Binumol, President, Palakkad District Panchayat inaugurated the meeting organized at EMS Hall, Agali, Attappady. Ms. Maruti Murugan, Member, Kudumbashree Governing Body and President, Attappady Block Panchayath presided over the function. Dr. Mithun Prem Raj IAS, Sub Collector, Ottappalam and Nodal Officer, Attappady was the Chief Guest of the function. The elder Head of the Hamlets were also honored in the ceremony. Ms. Saraswathi Muthu Kumar welcomed the gathering and Ms. Santhi, Secretary, Puthur Panchayat Samiti delivered the vote of thanks.

Dr. Mithun Prem Raj IAS inaugurated the 'Thaimanam' Project, which is being implemented under the auspices of Snehitha Gender Help Desk, focusing on pregnant women in Attappady. Nutrition Fest and Spinach Fest were also organized in connection with the day celebrations as part of the FNHW Programme being implemented through Kudumbashree. More than 250 dishes prepared with 25 varieties of greens, small grains, pulses and tubers available at Attappady was also exhibited at the programme.

Half Lakh Rupees to Chief Minister's District Relief Fund

Rs.50,000 jointly collected by Kudumbashree Animators, Panchayat Samiti Officials, Members, PMU Officials, Attappady Snehitha Officials for the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund in the wake of the Wayanad Disaster was handed over to the Sub Collector by Shri. B.S Manoj, Kudumbashree Assistant Project Officer. Shri. Suresh Kumar, Project Officer, Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) inaugurated the distribution of study materials to Kudumbashree Bridge Course Centres.

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International Day of Indigenous Peoples also celebrated in Attappady