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Kudumbashree Gender Transformative Model to be implemented in Odisha in partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Posted on Saturday, August 3, 2019

Kudumbashree Gender Transformative Model would be implemented in Odisha associating with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Project Concern International. The gender activities implemented by Kudumbashree in Kerala would therefore be replicated in Odisha, with the assistance of National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM). State Level Workshop on 'Gender Integration and establishing Kudumbashree Gender Transformative Model' within Odisha Livelihoods Mission was held at Hotel New Marrion, Bhuvaneswar, Odisha on 29 & 30 July 2019. The project was officially launched at the function.

Kudumbashree had got an opportunity to present  the gender activities implemented in Kerala, at a conference held during March 2018, organised by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Following that, the representatives of the foundation visited Kudumbashree Mission to perceive the activities. Based on further discussions and presentations, it was decided to replicate the gender activities of Kerala in Odisha, under Odisha State Livelihoods Mission with the support of National Rural Livelihoods Mission. The project was officially kick started on 30 July 2019 and would be implemented at Deogarh and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha.The tenure of the project would be three years. The project would be implemented under the leadership of resource persons who had received special training in capacity building and the resource persons who act was mentors. Kudumbashree Mission would be paid, travel allowance and honorarium for the resource persons and officials.

Project Concern International (PCI) is a non-profit, humanitarian NGO based in San Diego, California, which address a broad range of topics including food security, gender equity, water and sanitation, economic development, climate change, agriculture, education, health, and emergency response. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is a private foundation founded by Bill and Melinda Gates, and is reported to be the largest private foundation in the world

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Kudumbashree had got an opportunity to present the gender activities implemented in Kerala, at a conference held during March 2018, organised by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Kudumbashree Idukki District Mission launches BUDS Micro Enterprise units

Posted on Saturday, July 27, 2019

Kudumbashree Idukki District Mission has launched BUDS Micro Enterprise units in BUDS School at Kumily, Idukki. The sales of the products made by the students of BUDS schools was held at BUDS School, Kumily on 24 July 2019. The seed pens made by the BUDS students were sold to the DDUGKY study centre in Idukki. Shri. Ajesh T.G, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Idukki District Misison inaugurated the sales of the products by buying the seed pens made by the BUDS students on behalf of the DDUGKY study centre. Kudumbashree Idukki District Mission had formed a micro enterprise of specially abled children of the BUDS School at Kumily. The initiative aims at the self sufficiency of these students.

   A total of three micro enterprises were formed by including them in Prathyasha Micro Enterprise scheme. They were also given training in umbrella making as well. The BUDS Micro enterprise units are also making paper pen, umbrellas, mats, phenoyl and soaps. The profit earned from the BUDS Micro Enterprise units would be shared equally among the children.

BUDS Schools are free and open special schools for mentally challenged children of poor families, owned and managed by the Local Self Government Institutions under the support and guidance of Kudumbashree Mission and the community structure.

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A total of three micro enterprises were formed by including them in Prathyasha Micro Enterprise scheme.

Destitute Free Kerala Programme Beneficiary from Malappuram gets job placement through DDU-GKY

Posted on Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Destitute Free Kerala Programme Beneficiary from Malappuram gets job placement through DDU-GKY. It is Ms. Annamma M.A hailing from Karuvarakundu CDS of Malappuram district of Kerala, who secured job placement through DDU-GKY. Annamma is placed in the Edakkara branch of ESAF Small Finance Bank as  Sales Officer Trainee with a monthly salary of Rs 16000. It is as per the special inclusion of DFK families, that Annamma was mobilized for the programme. She did the Banking Finance Service Insurance (BFSI) course at ESAF.

Kudumbashree SRLM has done special mobilization programmes for the family members of the destitute in the state, by visiting each destitute family and identifying the beneficiaries.To make the inclusion of the real needy a reality, Kudumbashree has done special mobilization programmes for the family members of the destitute in the state, by visiting each destitute family and identifying the beneficiaries. As a small yet significant initiative from DDU-GKY Kerala, it was decided to include 2,000 DFK beneficiaries or family members in DDU-GKY programme, through which an income generation can be assured at least to one member of the family. 

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Kudumbashree SRLM has done special mobilization programmes for the family members of the destitute in the state, by visiting each destitute family and identifying the beneficiaries

Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission distributes Menstural Cups

Posted on Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission distributed Menstural Cups under the leadership of the Gender team in the district. Awareness class on how to use menstural cups was also organised along with the programme. The menstural cups were distributed as part of the Thinkal Programme, the joint venture of Alappuzha District Administration and HLL Lifecare Limited (formerly Hindustan Latex Limited). Dr. Karthika, Community Medicine Department, Medical College, Vandanam, Alappuzha and Ms. Kavya Menon, Project Coordinator, HLL Lifecare Limited lead the awareness classes.

  Snehitha Community Counsellors, Snehitha staff, women staff of Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission attended the function.  Menstrual cups was distributed to all women who attended the programme. Menstrual cups are very hygienic and convenient that sanitary pads, though are yet to enter the mainstream. Menstrual cups were distributed to Kudumbashree women for make the  menstrual cups familiar among the public.

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Dr. Karthika, Community Medicine Department, Medical College, Vandanam, Alappuzha and Ms. Kavya Menon, Project Coordinator, HLL Lifecare Limited lead the awareness classes.

Triangular convergence to provide livelihood opportunities for differently abled children in Ernakulam district

Posted on Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Three major portfolios of Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission viz.,Social Development, DDU-GKY and Micro Enterprises has been combined together to provide livelihood opportunity to children in Buds Rehablilitation Centre, Kumbalam in Ernakulam district. Students of Buds Rehabilitation Centre, Kumbalam has been provided with professional support by Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission to manufacture books and pens. The books and pens manufactured by the students would therefore be purchased by 23 DDU-GKY Project Implementing Agencies in Ernakulam district.

A notebook is sold for Rs 25 and a pen would be sold for Rs 8. It is estimated that around Rs 2 lakhs would be the annual turnover for the school from selling these products to DDU-GKY Project Implementing Agencies. Kudumbashree Ernakulam District mission will also buy books and pens for all the trainings organized by Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission. Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Panangad, Ernakulam also have agreed to purchase the products. Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission is focusing on providing livelihood opportunities for maximum number of differently abled children this year.

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A notebook is sold for Rs 25 and a pen would be sold for Rs 8. It is estimated that around Rs 2 lakhs would be the annual turnover for the school from selling these products to DDU-GKY Project Implementing Agencies.

Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram District Mission flags off Mobile Vegetable unit

Posted on Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram District Mission flagged off Mobile Vegetable unit. The initiative is launched associating with District Panchayath. Shri.V.K Madhu, President, District Panchayath flagged off the programme. Shri. V.K Prasanth, Mayor, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation made the first sale.

The Oruma JLG (Joint Liability Group) unit of Perumkadavila Panchayath in Thiruvananthapuram district is responsible for the functioning of the mobile vegetable unit. The unit consists of five members.The initiative was launched with an aim to make available organic vegetables in the urban areas of the district.

Ready cum cook-cut vegetables would also be available at the mobile vegetable unit, which would make the household chores of working women much more easier. The initiative is designed in such a way that the main government offices in the city viz.,Government Secretariat, Corporation office etc would be able to avail the services of the mobile vegetable unit. The vegetables are collected directly from different JLGs in the district. Oruma JLG is also using the vegetables they cultivate in their field. Milk, eggs and value added products would also be made available through this mobile unit.

The project cost of the unit was Rs 5 lakhs, out of which Rs 2 lakhs subsidy was availed from District Panchayath against bank loan. Their next aim is to launch a programme to deliver indigenous products to the households as per the orders received.

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Ready cum cook-cut vegetables would also be available at the mobile vegetable unit, which would make the household chores of working women much more easier.

Construction of Houses using Ramoji Film City CSR Fund: Construction of the 85 houses in the First and Second Phases approaching completion

Posted on Tuesday, July 16, 2019

The construction of the 85 houses being built using Ramoji Fim City's CSR Fund is approaching completion in Alappuzha District. Out of the proposed 116 houses, 42 houses were included in the first phase and 43 houses in the second phase. The 75 % construction works of the houses are almost completed and the rest of the construction works would be completed by 15 August 2019. Out of these more than 10 houses are ready to occupy. The construction of the houses in the third phase would be started by 16 July 2019. The houses are built in Ambalappuzha, Aryad, Bharanikkavu, Chambakkulam, Haripad, Kanjikuzhi, Mavelikkara, Muthukulam, Pattanakkad, Chengannur, Thaikkattusserry and Veliyanad blocks of Alappuzha district. Nirmashree', a labour contracting society, formed by Kudumbashree Mission joining 55 Kudumbashree women construction groups which has more than 250 members is undertaking the construction of the 116 houses being built in the district.

Kudumbashree had received Ramoji Film City's CSR fund for constructing 116 houses in Alappuzha. Ramoji film city, the world’s largest integrated film city and India's only thematic holiday destination had offered Rs 7 crores for building houses for the people in the flood hit areas of Alappuzha. It is as per the request of Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister, Government of Kerala that Ramoji Film City came forward with the CSR fund for constructing the houses in Alappuzha. As per the agreement, a total of 116 houses are being constructed in the district. Construction of each house would cost around Rs 6 lakhs. The agreement regarding the same was signed at the function held at Camelot Convention Centre, Pathirappally, Alappuzha on 1 March 2019 in the presence of Shri. A.C Moideen, Minister for Local Self Governments, Government of Kerala and Dr T.M Thomas Issac, Minister of Finance and Coir, Government of Kerala. Shri. Krishna Teja IAS, Sub Collector, Alappuzha is in charge of monitoring the status of the construction of the houses. Kudumbashree Mission had identified the beneficiaries and forwarded the list to the CSR committee of Ramoji Film City. The project is being implemented in three phases.

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Kudumbashree had received Ramoji Film City's CSR fund for constructing 116 houses in Alappuzha.

Story of a Neighbourhood Group's mini rice revolution - Evolution of Kudumbini Rice

Posted on Friday, July 12, 2019

Minnaminni and Kunjatta, two Joint Liability Groups under Anugraha Neighbourhood Group in Kavalangad Panchayath of Ernakulam district of Kerala used to cultivate paddy on regular basis. The paddy so cultivated was used to be sold to Supplyco (Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation), which serves by assuring the much needed food security in a substantive style by supplying life's essentials and reaching out to the rural-poor and the urban-rich alike. It is as part of this year’s Samrudhi Campaign that Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission and Kavalangad CDS gave the Joint Liability Groups, the idea of value addition.

   In order to increase their income, they were encouraged to convert paddy into rice with the brand name of Kudumbashree Mission as a solid support. This year cultivation was done in 8 acres of land and it produced an yield of around 30 quintal of paddy out of which 4 quintal was used for conversion to rice on commercial basis under the name Kudumbini. Necessary professional support and guidance was provided by Kudumbashree District Mission and Kavalangad CDS.  Kudumbini rice was officially launched by Shri. Antony John, MLA on 7 October 2019. The group plans to take the venture to higher levels in the days to come so that more people will get maximum profit out of paddy cultivation. 

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Necessary professional support and guidance was provided by Kudumbashree District Mission and Kavalangad CDS.

Sakheya- Snehitha Counselling Centres launched at SC Hostels of Kannur District

Posted on Tuesday, July 9, 2019

From now onwards, counselling services of Snehitha Gender Help Desk would be made available to the students staying in the  Government Premetric Hostels of Scheduled Caste Development Department in Kannur District. The programme which extends counselling sevices of Snehitha to the students at SC hostel is named as ' Sakheya', which itself means 'a friend'. The counsellors of Snehitha Gender Help Desk would visit the premetric hostels two days a month and arrange sittings. The inauguration of the programme was held at Government Premetric Hostel, Thaliparamba, Kannur on 6 July 2019.

The programme aims at extending mental support to the students staying at premetric hostels thereby helping them to achieve success in their lives by making right decisions. It is also planned to start Kudumbashree Mission's Balasabhas, which aims at preventing inter-generational transmission of poverty through capability enhancement of children at SC hostels in the district. During the sittings at hostels, personality development classes would also be organised. For women and child related issues, Snehitha Gender Help Desk can be contacted through the toll free number 18004250717. It is for the first time that Kudumbashree Mission is launching such a programme in the state.

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The programme aims at extending mental support to the students staying at premetric hostels thereby helping them to achieve success in their lives by making right decisions.

Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission’s 'Oppam' Scheme provides help to 104 Destitute families

Posted on Saturday, July 6, 2019

The role of Community is inevitable in the rehabilitation process of the destitute families in Kerala. Kudumbashree Mission and Local Self Government Institutions have jointly found out 17,569 destitute families in Ernakulam district through a survey conducted using a Mobile App. The basic needs of these destitute families include food, medicine, hygienic toilet, electrification of houses and maintenance of dilapidated homes. Among the needs mentioned, food and medicine had been provided from the challenge fund allocated to Local Self Government Institutions by Kudumbashree Mission. The other needs mentioned are the responsibility of Local Self Government Institutions. It is a fact that the other needs like hygienic toilet, electrification of houses and Maintenance of dilapidated homes have not been materialized due to the dearth of funds in local bodies. With a view to offer the help to the most needy destitute families, Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission has launched a programme called Oppam.

  The 101 Community Development Societies (CDS) in Ernakulam District collect money from the Neighborhood Group (NHG) members of the district with a minimum target of Rs 10 from each member to materialize the Oppam scheme. Each CDS has already found a most suitable destitute beneficiary to whom the service would be rendered. The services include hygienic toilet, electrification of houses and maintenance of dilapidated homes. 104 beneficiaries have already been selected by CDS for providing various services. A sum of Rs 28.5 lakh has been collected by the Kudumbashree community in Ernakulam so far and the amount is likely to increase.

  Some CDS in the districts have started implementation and the other CDSs would start implementation soon. This scheme is expected to increase the participation of community in Destitute Free Kerala (DFK) project in the district. This year, Kudumbashree Mission aims is to make available all the services proposed in DFK project to the beneficiaries. In Manjapra, Malayattoor, Poothrikka and Kavalangad CDSs the maintenance works will be undertaken by Kudumbashree construction groups. This can be considered as a model of convergence as well.

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The 101 Community Development Societies (CDS) in Ernakulam District collect money from the Neighborhood Group (NHG) members of the district with a minimum target of Rs 10 from each member to materialize the Oppam scheme.