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Kudumbashree's micro entrepreneurs are getting ready for the production of 'Ayurveda Masks' in addition to the production of reusable cotton masks and face shields that are helpful for health workers, they are engaged in. Kudumbashree stepped in to the production of Ayur Masks associating with the State Ayush Department. The Ayur Masks were devised under the leadership of Dr. S.Anand, Assistant Professor, Government Ayurveda Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram.

The face masks are produced in handloom cloth. The medicines like thulasi, turmeric etc which enhance the respiration process are blended into the cloth just like the colour is mixed. The efforts to bring Ayur Masks to the market through Kudumbashree units has just started. The initial discussions regarding the production of Ayur Masks were done a few weeks back. Following that, 10 Kudumbashree women from Manikandeshwara, Vandana units of Thiruvananthapuram corporation were selected for producing masks on an experimental basis.

The initial orientation process for Ayurveda mask production was held at the Snehitha Centre, Peroorkada, Thiruvananthapuram on 15 June 2020. Three-Day technical training was given to the selected enterprise unit members from 17-19 June 2020. Dr. Anand and Shri. Aju, Pharmacist from Ayurveda college led the training sessions for the production of Ayur Masks. Face masks were made mandatory by the Government of Kerala for everyone to fight against covid-19 pandemic.

Kudumbashree is also playing a notable part in the distribution of textbooks which has been ceased due to covid-19 lockdown. The General Education Department had given approval to Kerala Books and Publication Society (KBPS) for finishing the activities of sorting the books through Kudumbashree for completing the textbook distribution in time. 201 NHG members are engaged in this activity all across the state. 

The books printed at Kerala Books and Publication Society (KBPS), Kakkanad of Ernakulam district are taken to the textbook hubs at every district. The books are sorted and are given to the societies formed by joining 6 or 7 schools as per the need. The books are taken to the respective schools from these societies and the books are distributed to the parents or students. Kudumbashree members have taken up the charge of sorting the books that come to the textbook hubs and are giving to the societies. They categorize the textbooks as per the needs of each society and pack the same. Also, women from Kudumbashree are extending help in taking these book packets to the societies.  

The online classes of the students from the first standard have already been started. The activities for delivering textbooks for these students have started from 14 May 2020. It is planned to complete the distribution of the textbooks by 30 June. The textbooks of this academic year would be distributed in three phases. The textbooks which include portions upto the onam examination is being distributed now.

Since its inception, Kudumbashree has been able to mark their strong presence in Kerala society in all its glory. Kudumbashree members always come forward to extend support to people whenever they are in crisis. During the floods of 2018, 2019 and even during the crisis time of covid-19, Kudumbashree extended relentless support they could.

Kudumbashree is setting up ‘Bhakshyavanam' at Attappady as part of Attappady Comprehensive Tribal Development and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group Development Project. This program is in convergence with the Subiksha Keralam concept initiated by Government of Kerala. ‘Bakshyavanam', which aims at ensuring food security at the 192 hamlets of Attappady and for preserving the organic diversity was launched on 5 June 2020, as part of the environment day observance. The Bhakshyavanam of Attappady would be the first of its kind in the tribal area of Kerala.

One year long activities would be organised as part of this program. The activities include planting and taking care of trees, cultivating food crops and constructing organic fences. This will be a combined effort of by all the families in the hamlets in addition to NHG members and women farmers. Through this, the concept of self sustainability of each hamlets in food production is envisaged. Also creation of more employment opportunities in the area of farm based livelihood is also expected.

The plan is to cultivate paddy, ragi, sama rice, millet, sugarcane, koda millet, other food crops in the Attappady area, vegetables, tubers and spices. 812 farming groups (JLG-Joint Liability Group) are cultivating various crops as part of the activities being implemented in agricultural sector in connection with Attappady Special Project. Various training programmes aiming at the value addition of agricultural products and hand holding support to set up of plant nurseries would also be implemented as part of the Bhakshyavanam programme in Attappady. Bhakshyavanam is being implemented for the rejuvenation of agriculture, creation of livelihood and self sustainability in agriculture, preservation of the tradition, mother earth and plants.

Attappady Comprehensive Tribal Development and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group Development Project is being implemented through Kudumbashree at Attappady of Palakkad district, aiming at the sustainable development of the tribal community of Attappady.

Kudumbashree has received yet another work order for making face shield. The order is received from Kerala Medical Services Corporation under Health Department of Kerala for making 2,81,128 face shields at the rate of Rs 20 per shield. Kudumbashree had received work order of Rs.56.22 lakhs towards this. Kudumbashree had already received from Sreechithra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences for 1500 face shields. 

The entrepreneurs from Thiruvananthapuram district are assembling this product now. The face shields are produced through the Akshayam Enterprise unit functioning in Karakulam Panchayath of Thiruvananthapuram district. There are 10 members in this unit. When they started getting more orders, training was extended to 15 more women and now the face shields are produced by a team of 25 people. 4000 face shields are produced through these units every day. A total of 15,000 face shields had already been produced through this unit. It is planned to produce the face shields as per the above order from this unit itself. If needed, the units in other districts would also be equipped for face shield production.

The District Missions of Kudumbashree have been making notable interventions and activities among the public in their respective districts to ensure the welfare of the people as lock down is notified in the state.  Other than mask-sanitizer production, community kitchen services, sharing information through whatsapp and the need analysis of the loan scheme announced by Government of Kerala, the District Missions have launched their own innovative initiatives as well. 

Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuam District Mission have effectively involved the Kudumbashree three tier structure and Animal Birth Control (ABC) units in ensuring food and drinking water for the animals and birds, who were struggling during this lock down period as part of COVID 19 countering activities. The ABC units in Thiruvananthapuram district fed stray dogs and other animals like cats and through the NHGs in the district, food and water for birds was also ensured. In Kollam district, Civil Supplies Department had entrusted the Kudumbashree units in the district for making the cloth bags to arrange the food kits. 38 tailoring units and two apparel parks of Kudumbashree in the district are engaged in making cloth bags for Civil Supplies Department. In the first phase, they received order for 40,00 cloth bags, out of which 15,000 cloth bags would be delivered soon. Kudumbashree Kollam District Mission is getting more orders for cloth bags from Civil Supplies Department. 

In Pathanamthitta,the Joint Liability  Groups of Kudumbashree were entrusted with the task of distributing sufficient vegetables to the Community Kitchens functioning in the district during lock-down days. They were preparing food in these places and in five days, Kudumbashree women in Pathanamthitta had managed to provide 1500 kilograms of vegetables for community kitchens. 39,710 people have so far been benefited out of the Community Kitchen initiative in Pathanamthitta district. In Alappuzha district, a novel initiative of Kudumbashree was helping out people in Kainakary in Alappuzha district by providing them with enough supplies to prepare food. Grocery and vegetables come to their doorsteps through the Kudumbashree-operated ‘supermarket’ ferry. Five women from Kudumbashree bring the essential items to help  the families in the Panchayath during the lock-down days.

Whereas in Kottayam District, Kudumbashree Snehitha staff and community counsellors are active in Covid 19 countering activities in Kottayam. The decision of joining hands with district administration and health department was taken by Kottayam District Mission after the discussion with the district collector about involving Kudumbashree network for these activities. In Idukki, over 17,000 Balasabha kids in the district are utilising the lock-down time in a creative way. They are participating in 'Akam Puram Nannayi', a programme being organised by Kudumbashree from March 28 to April 14. Personality development and skill development are also part of the programme and it aims to deal with the idleness in kids and make them active, when they are not able to go outside and interact with others due to lock-down. In Ernakulam district, an additional 10 community kitchens started functioning in Ernakulam district alone to provide sufficient food for guest laborers and others during lock-down days. The units led by Kudumbashree are operating full-fledged in the Kochi Municipal Corporation office. Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission has organized a special campaign for the members of the elderly NHGs in the district to effectively make use of this time. The campaign named as 'Innalekalilekk oru yatra' (A journey to the past), enables the members of the elderly NHGs to write their life stories, autobiographies, memoirs etc and send the same to the whatsapp group of ADS  through the office bearers of the elderly NHGs with the help of their children or grandchildren on or before 15 April 2020. Through campaigns like these, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission aims at reducing the mental pressure of the elderly people.

Kudumbashree Palakkad District Mission is working spreading awareness about the spread of Corona virus disease among the vulnerable communities in the district. It is on realizing that, it is needed to spread the news about Corona pandemic among the vulnerable communities, Kudumbashree Palakkad District Mission started focusing on them. Kudumbashree Palakkad District Mission also realized that it is their responsibility to extend services to them. It is in addition to the other services, Palakkad District Mission is extending services to the vulnerable communities. The services are being extended under the leadership of the Snehitha Gender Help Desk staff in the district. In Malappuram, Other than the community kitchens opened in various locations in the district, a community kitchen was opened in the premises of Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission. The food at this community kitchen is cooked by District mission officials themselves. The food is prepared after taking orders from the nearby locality. The community kitchen opened at Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission office serves food to around 300 people every day. In Kozhikode,as part of COVID 19 countering activities, Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission is supplying the sanitizers to government's essential service sectors. Hand sanitizers that are being used in Government hospitals, police stations, KSRTC offices, Treasury offices in the district, etc are produced by Kudumbashree. In Wayanad, Kudumbashree Wayanad district mission had made a mark in this field of community kitchen way before the same started functioning all across Kerala. The catering unit in Wayanad had extended their helping hands to NRIs in unexpected crisis by giving them food during the Janatha curfew day on 22 March 2020.

In Kannur, tele-counselling was offered by the Snehitha Gender Help Desk in Kannur to bring down the mental pressure among the people during the  lock-down days. They focused on providing information regarding the chances of Covid-19 spread apart from offering moral support to those spending time in quarantine and self-isolation.  In Kasaragod, even in the midst of Lock-down,the Kasaragod Snehitha Gender help Desk Team was working providing their services and is  working in 'Work from Home' mode. The 14 member team including counsellor, service providers and community counsellors are catering their tasks, with utmost significance, that too without losing its significance. Like these, each District Mission had devised initiatives of their own to extend support to the people and ensured their welfare during the lock- down. Kudumbashree system is trying its best for the people to make their lives better during the lock-down days.

Kozhikode Corporation Kudumbashree launches 'Fresh Mask'. As Covid 19 was confirmed in Kerala, and the availability of masks became scarce, Kozhikode Corporation Kudumbashree acted on time and started making masks. So, the officials engaged in health activities and the health workers will get the required number masks. The Fresh Mask was launched by Shri. Thottathil Raveendran, Mayor, Kozhikode Corporation on 17 March 2020.

The masks are prepared by the 94 units, who have been registered as a micro enterprise named 'Fresh Bags' in Kozhikode Corporation, engaged in making cloth bags. 706 Kudumbashree members are working in those 94 units. The Fresh Mask is made in 6x4 inch size using surgical cloth. These units itself are capable of making 35,000 masks a day. Kudumbashree aims at making available these masks in the market at Rs 7 per unit. In the first day itself, 3500 masks were ready. As per the request of the District Administration, 20,000 masks would be produced and be handed over to the district administration.

As the need of the masks increased, the 'Fresh Bags' unit temporarily stopped the production of the cloth bags and started making cloth masks. Shri. Binu Francis, Secretary, Kozhikode Corporation, Shri. Prakashan T.K, Kudumbashree Project Officer, Smt. O. Rejitha, Chairperson, Smt. N. Jayaseela, Chairperson, Smt. T.K. Geetha, Chairperson, Shri. Jaison T.J, Manager, NULM were also present at the launch.

As a novel way of celebrating International Women's Day, Kudumbashree members organised NHG meetings at night on 7 March 2020. This ‘night meetings’ brought an opportunity for women to own those public places and spaces which they are denied at night. By owning the public spaces at nights, Kudumbashree members made a new proclamation that all these opportunities are their rights.

There are 3 lakh NHGs in Kerala with 43 lakh women as members. Usually they conduct their NHG meetings on Saturdays or Sundays of every week at the residence of one of the NHG member. As part of the Women's Day Celebrations, it was suggested to conduct NHG meetings on 7 March 2020 any time after 7 PM. And those who could not conduct on that day, meetings were held on 8 March 2020. Most of the NHGs had organised such NHG meetings on 7 March 2020 and converted the Women's Day Celebration as an entirely different experience.

The theme of our NHGs ‘night meeting’ was ‘My Opportunity My Right'. A circular was also given to all NHG s with three points to discuss and think during NHG meetings at night. The three concepts given in the circular were as follows.

“1. Let us think and work for securing new opportunities realizing that the opportunities of women are their rights.

2. In addition to all the activities we did until now, let us decide today to become the harbingers of change.

3. Through the fraternity of women and through new opportunities, let us work hard for equality and development. "

These points were read out and were discussed in the NHG meetings with great enthusiasm and strength. Prior to the night NHG meetings, Kudumbashree members had set up 'My Opportunity is my Right'-Kudumbashree Flags proclaiming women rights all across the state.

'My Opportunity is my Right' - This was the slogan for the Women's Day Celebrations of Kudumbashree, this year. As part of the Women's Day Celebrations, the NHGs were directed to make ‘Flags' highlighting slogans about women’s rights and fix it in the public places without causing an inconvenience to the public. The aim was to pass on the message- 'My opportunity My Right' to the society. The NHGs were asked to get an old white cloth, write slogans of Women's Day, make flags and fix it in different places of their locality. NHGs had wholeheartedly welcomed that idea and they made maximum efforts to make aware the need of becoming empowered by identifying more opportunities.

Respective District Missions had organised various programmes in their districts and the International Women's Day was celebrated in its real sense paving way for fruitful discussions.

Janakeeya Hotel was opened in Alappuzha district of Kerala and Hunger Free Canteen was opened in Kunnamkulam of Thrissur. The first of its kind Janakeeya Hotel has been opened in Mannancherry of Alappuzha district of Kerala. Government of Kerala had mentioned about starting a total of 1000 hunger free hotels would be opened which would serve lunch at Rs 25 per meal under the aegis of Kudumbashree Mission, during the Kerala Budget 2020-21.The Janakeeya Hotel at Alappuzha was inaugurated by Dr. T. M. Thomas Issac, Finance Minister, Government of Kerala on 29 February 2020. Those without money may also have food from here by making use of the 'Share Meals' coupon available at the counter. Those who wish to sponsor may buy the Share Meals coupon as well. The Hotel will serve specials as well. The Janakeeya Hotel is located near the Private Bus Stand, Mannancherry, Alappuzha and it functions at the 2 room building of Mannancherry Panchayath. The Janakeeya Hotel may occupy 36 people at a time. Two Kudumbahsree women had been entrusted with the task of serving the food at the Janakeeya Hotel opened at Mannancherry. They are Smt. Thanuja and Smt. Vijayalakshmi.

Meanwhile, Hunger Free Canteen was opened in the Kunnamkulam of Thrissur district. The Hunger Free Canteen was inaugurated by Shri. P. Thilothaman, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Government of Kerala on 28 February 2020. Shri. A.C Moideen, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala presided over the function. The Canteen would serve lunch to 500 people between 12.30 PM and 2.30 PM at Rs 20 per meals. Civil Supplies would give Rs 5 as subsidy for the food of Rs 20. The canteen is run by including in the Vanitha Ghataka Padhathi through Kudumbashree.

Kudumbashree Bazaar, the third of its kind supermarket for exclusively selling the products of Kudumbashree entrepreneurs in the state had been launched in Ernakulam district of Kerala. Shri. A.C Moideen, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the Kudumbashree Bazar at Ernakulam on 28 February 2020. The

Supermarket is opened at Kolenchery of Aikkaranadu Panchayath in Vadavukodu Puthenkurishu block and is situated in 1350 sq ft area. 485 products of 102 micro entrepreneurs would be available for sale through this supermarket. A daily sales of Rs 30,000 is expected from the newly opened Kudumbashree Bazaar.

Two Kudumbashree Supermarkets were already opened in Wayanad and Pathanamthitta districts. The Supermarket opened in Kaniyambatta Panchayath of Wayanad district of Kerala is situated in 800 sq ft area. 256 products of 85 entrepreneurs are available for sale at this supermarket and they have a monthly sales of Rs 2 lakhs. The Kudumbashree Bazar opened in Thiruvalla Municipality of Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, near By pass road, opposite to public stadium is functioning in the model of village souk. This Bazar, which is situated in 2000 sqft space has 7 shops of 100 sqft area and a food court. 110 products of 20 entrepreneurs are available for sale at this Supermarket. Rs 4 lakhs is the monthly sales recorded there.

Kudumbashree Bazaars envisages to bring to the market, more products of Kudumbashree under one umbrella. More such Kudumbashree Bazaars would be opened all across the state and would arrange better markets for the products of Kudumbashree micro entrepreneurs through such permanent marketing outlets. Kudumbashree has also been making use of various marketing activities like trade fairs, nano markets at super markets, online portals, homeshops etc to market the products of Kudumbashree micro entrepreneurs.

Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission launched Thayyal Gramam (Stitching Village) enterprise as part of Theerashree for the welfare of the coastal residents in the district. Shri. T.Tyson Master, MLA, inaugurated the enterprise at Karinkulam Junction, Eriyad, Thrissur on 24 February 2020.

 This programme is organised by joining together all the Kudumbashree women from the coastal sector in the district. The programme aims at helping the women finding a source of livelihood of their own. The programme envisages making the Panchayaths under the Theerashree Programme, into Model Villages. The programme would be implemented at first in the Ward Number 21 of Eriyad Panchayath. As part of the programme, the 30 members of the  ward were given training in cloth bag making. The unit is set up at the building near the Eriyad Karikkulam Hospital. Rs 2.5 lakhs is the total project cost.

Eriyad, Mathilakam, Sreenarayanapuram, Valappad and Kaippamangalam are the 5 Panchayaths which come under Theerashree programme, and have 25 coastal wards altogether. As part of the Model Village concept, different ideas are conceptualised. Like Thayyal Gramam, Achar Gramam(Pickle Village), Podi Gramam (Flour Village), Pazham-Pachakari Gramam (Fruit and Vegetable Village), Catering Village etc are planned focusing on various sectors. Theerashree is being implemented to solve the issues existing among the coastal people viz., increasing debts, lack of education and skill training, absence of  the habit of savings and help improve their lives.

Kudumbashree launched Theerashree Programme for the welfare of the poor in the coastal areas during July 2019. The programme envisages strengthening the Kudumbashree activities in the 82 coastal panchayaths in the state, thereby improve the quality of life of women and children in the coastal areas and improve their livelihood activities.The programme aims including new families into Kudumbashree neighbourhood group system, rejuvenate inactive NHGs,  extend source of earning income to atleast one member of every family, grade all eligible NHGs and avail linkage loan to them, extend skill training to the poor youth in the coastal areas and assure them jobs. Uncertainties in job, irregularity in getting income, educational backwardness, unavailability of basic amenities, health issues in women and children, scarcity of drinking water, unavailability of livelihood activities other than fishing and related activities etc are the main issues faced by the people of coastal areas. Women and children are usually bound to suffer the negatives of these issues. The increasing debts among the people in these areas, lack of education, skill training, addiction towards alcohol among the youth etc are also the issues existing in the coastal areas. Kudumbashree aims at solving these issues through 'Theerashree', thereby improve the quality of life of the people in the coastal areas.