Featured Topics

Kudumbashree, the state level nodal agency for many housing projects for the past 20 years and HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation), the premier institute in housing sector are partnering together in rebuilding Kerala. Kudumbashree is joining hands with HUDCO for building 36 houses towards the rehabilitation of the flood affected victims. As per the request of Kudumbashree Mission for providing assistance, HUDCO had granted CSR assistance worth Rs 20.02 crores for the construction of 36 houses in Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts. 12 houses each would be constructed in Venmani Grama Panchayath, Chenganoor Grama Panchayath of Alappuzha district and North Paravoor municipality of Ernakulam district. Therefore, Rs 67 lakhs each would be allotted for Venmani Grama Panchayath, Chenganoor Grama Panchayath and North Paravoor municipality for building the houses.

The beneficiaries would be selected by Kudumbashree Mission, in consultation with the District Administration and the District Administration would be selecting the beneficiaries in consultation with the Local Self  Government Institutions. Basic infrastructural facilities  such as electricity, water supply and access would be provided by the concerned Local Self Government Institutions. HUDCO will handover the financial assistance to Kudmbashree  Mission and Kudmbashree Mission will transfer the funds to implementing agencies. The monitoring will be done by the Local Self Government Institutions (LSGIs) and Kudumbashree Mission. The utilization certificates would be furnished by Kudumabashree  Mission after the utilization of each installment of CSR grants released by HUDCO. In Alappuzha, the construction works would be undertaken by Kudumbashree women construction groups and Nirmithi Kendra and in Ernakulam, the construction would be managed by Kudumbashree women construction groups themselves.

Kudumbashree is the State level nodal agency for the implementation of housing schemes implemented by the Union Ministry for the past 20 years viz., Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana, National Slum Development  Programme, Integrated Housing and Slum Development Scheme, Basic Services for the Urban Poor, Rajiv Awas Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

The construction of 20 PMAY houses undertaken by Kudumbashree Construction Groups is progressing at Kollam Corporation. As 50 days passes by since the initiation of the construction, foundation works of 16 houses had been completed. Brick works of 7 houses has been started and the work of 5 houses had reached upto the lintel beam. The  lintel and shade had been concreted for 2 houses and the brickwork above lintel had been completed for one house.

Kudumbashree Construction Groups of Kollam take up the construction of PMAY houses at Kollam Corporation, by adding yet another feather to their cap. It is as part of rehabilitating the residents at the Alakkukuzhy slum in the cantonment division of Kollam that the houses are being constructed. The houses are being constructed at Mundakkal, Kollam. A total of 20 houses of 500 sqft area will be built in each 3 cents of land.The expenses of the construction would be met from the PMAY fund and the additional amount  from the fund of Kollam Corporation. The contract regarding the same had been signed between Kudumbashree and Kollam Corporation on 17 November 2018. As per the contract, Kollam Corporation handed over the land to Kudumbashree Construction groups on 15 December 2018. The foundation stone of the houses were laid by Adv. V. Rajendra Babu, Mayor, Kollam corporation on 31 December 2018.

Two Kudumbashree construction groups from Kollam Corporation will be in charge of the construction of the houses. In addition, constrcution team members from Sasthamkotta, Shooranad, Kottarakkara and those who got trained through NULM, DDUGKY etc would become part of the programme. It is planned to complete the construction works within 1 year time.

Kudumbashree Bazar Village Souk, the first of its kind Kudumbashree Bazar is opened at Thiruvalla,Pathanamthitta. The same was inaugurated by Shri. Mathew.T.Thomas, MLA on 24 January 2019. Kudumbashree Bazar Village Souk is the one stop shop where all the products of Kudumbashree micro enterprises in the district would be made available. Apart from making available the Kudumbashree products under one umbrella, Kudumbashree Bazar Village Souk also aims at promoting organic food thereby ensuring clean and healthy food for the public. Kudumbashree Bazar Village Souk is located near the Municipal Stadium at Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta.

A Kudumbashree cafe which sells cooked organic food is arranged at Kudumbashree Bazar Village Souk. Arrangements for converting paddy into rice is also set up at Kudumbashree Bazar Village Souk. The Kudumbashree members at the LSGs will be in charge of the functioning of Kudumbashree Bazar Village Souk is set up in 2000 sqft. Kudumbashree Bazar Village Souk comprises of juice parlour, puttukada, ready to cook, ready to serve, stocking/ delivery counter, space for organic food items, curry powder, rice powder, vegetable items, garments, bags, tailoring, beauty parlour, organic items, bakery, rice shops, fish stall, cafeteria and billing. Kudumbashree Bazar Village Souk will extend an opportunity for the micro entrepreneurs in the district to market their products. Kudumbashree Bazars will soon be opened in other districts as well.

Pink Ladder, the women-only construction unit of Kozhikode Corporation completed the construction of the first two houses. Shri. A. K Saseendran, Minister for Transport, Government of Kerala handed over the key of the first house constructed by Pink Ladder on 6 January 2019. Smt. Nandini, a destitute woman from Karuvasseri, Kozhikode is the beneficiary of the project. Smt. Nandini’s house is the first house constructed by women in the State’s urban belt.

The Pink Ladder has constructed the houses under the PMAY(Prathan Mantri Awas Yojana) Scheme at a cost of Rs 4 lakh each.The women construction group completed the construction of the house in 53 days. The construction group members were trained by the Eksat Training Institute and they completed the construction within 53 days. The houses are also fitted with solar panels under sponsorship.

The Pink Ladder was founded on 1 November 2018. The foundation for the two houses were laid on the same day itself. Both houses are 400 square feet in size, with a bedroom, hall, kitchen, and an attached bathroom. The two Pink Ladder units have 15 members each. The Pink Ladder team is now gearing up to take up more projects

As part of supporting women for self-employment and women empowerment, the NULM City Mission Management Unit took the initiative of forming women construction unit in Kunnamkulam. The NULM City Mission Management Unit conducted a mobilization campaign for Kudumbashree members and formed a Construction unit which consisted 10 members. Training for the construction team was commenced during October 2018 and the training was imparted by Thrissur District Labour Contract Co- Operative Society, an accredited construction agency.

The construction unit had acquired the skill training for various trades in the construction industry like stone bonding, tile works, plumbing, electrical works, well construction, bathroom construction, arch construction, brick level testing, side wall construction, compound wall construction, mason works, painting etc. A loan amount of Rs. 2 lakhs has been sanctioned from the Kerala Gramin Bank, Kunnamkulam branch. During October 2018 itself, the unit started the construction of a PMAY house. Smt.Kani Thulasi is the beneficiary of the house. The construction of the house is carried out under the supervision of Thrissur District Labour Contract Co- Operative Society. The team have the confidence that they can complete work and that they will be able to handover the key soon

The Balagothra Sabha Kalolsavam-Aatam 2018, organised by the Attappady Comprehensive Tribal Development and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group Development Project, National Rural Livelihoods Mission, Attappady attracted many.  A total of 2000 students from 136 Balagothra Sabhas became part of the three day Balagothra Sabha Kalolsavam held at Attappady.

Competitions were conducted in 70 various items  including tribal dance, drama, elocution in tribal language etc. The youth festival was organised giving prominence to such art forms which were denied in other youth festival. The youth festival was inaugurated by Smt. Leela Santhosh, upcoming movie director from the tribal category. Kallakkara tribal hamlet became the overall champions of Aatam 2018. Pottikkal hamlet and Varagampaadi hamlet came in the second and third place respectively. Gajendran Kulkur won the 'Kalaprathibha' title and Vishnu Priya and Deepa won the 'Kalathilakam' title. The youth festival was indeed a new experience for children as well as the audience.