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Office fairs to promote Kudumbashree products

Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2018

To promote the products of Kudumbashree members, Marketing team of Kudumbashree Mission conducts monthly office fairs. The office fairs were conducted at State Mission office located at Thiruvananthapuram and the Kudumbashree District Mission offices across the state.The District Missions were directed to conduct at least one fair in their districts by the Kudumbashree State Mission. A few districts took initiative to conduct the fairs at the CDS level as well. To attain more promotion for the products within the employees was the desired outcome of the programme. The office fairs were a grant success that sales of more than Rs 3 lakhs had been generated altogether.

Around 150 Kudumbashree Micro Enterprise units got benefited by the Office Mela held in the month of July 2018. Smt. Anupama T.V, District collector inaugurated the Office Mela held at Thrissur Collectorate. Thrissur District Mission came first by making maximum sales during Office trade fairs. Sales of Rs 96,870 had been generated from Thrissur. 17 Micro Enterprises Units participated at the trade fair held at Thrissur Collectorate.

A total of 18 office fairs were conducted and 49 Micro Enterprises Units participated at Wayanad. The other districts made one office trade fair each during the month. Total sales of Rs.16,500, Rs.2,950, Rs.9,110, Rs.7,880, Rs.16,600, Rs.14,160, Rs. 14,950, Rs. 96,870, Rs. 6,000, Rs. 11,420, Rs. 3,280, Rs. 67,156, Rs.15,500, Rs. 3,300 were recorded at Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts respectively. A sales of Rs. 16,500 was recorded at Kudumbashree State Mission office. The office fairs undoubtedly bring in more acceptance for the Kudumbashree products.

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The office fairs were a grant success that sales of more than Rs 3 lakhs had been generated altogether

Koottukari: Special Programme for Girls from Scheduled Tribe Community

Posted on Monday, July 23, 2018

Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission conducts 'Koottukari', the special programme organised for the girls from Scheduled Tribe Community in the district. The girls are given training for self defense, health, hygiene etc. Motivational training, capacity building classes are also provided to them to protect themselves from abuses and illness. The programme also extend legal awareness classes as it is envisioned to make the tribal girls, aware about the legal norms and the legal steps to be taken to fight back as more number of unwed mothers are identified in the tribal areas.

The trainings of the Koottukari programme are extended in the CDS level. The training programmes are being conducted with the support of Nirbhaya Police, the project of Kerala Police launched by State Home Department, Government of Kerala to prevent atrocities against women and children.The 10 Community Development Societies which have more number of Tribal Girls are identified and given training in the first phase. So far, two training programmes had been completed and more programmes would be conducted in the upcoming weeks. Kudumbashree District of Kasaragod came up with such an initiative as the increasing cases of atrocities against women and children, especially in tribal areas needs to be identified, addressed and rectified.

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The trainings of the Koottukari programme are extended in the CDS level.

Mazha Polima Campaign from Kasaragod stands out unique

Posted on Friday, July 20, 2018

Mazha Polima is a fallow less village Campaign being conducted by Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission as a part of the Mahila Kisan Sashakthikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) Agri Fest. The MKSP team of Kasargode District Mission propagates the innovative idea of this campaign. The Agri fest is being conducted in 41 Community Development Societies in Kasaragod district from 20 June 2018 to 30 July 2018. A total of 1010 Hectares of land was identified as fallow land in the district.

To convert fallow land into cultivable land, conservation of paddy land and traditional culture of farming, promotion of water literacy and food security, popularizing farming to the new generation, promotion of organic farming practices, to ensure convergence with various line department for to ensure fallow less village, promotion of the traditional farm related folk songs, games, art forms etc are the main objectives of the programme. The products of the Kudumbashree units were also kept for sale as part of the Mazha Polima campaign. As part of Mazha Polima Campaign, Community Development Societies (CDS) has also organised various innovative programmes such as District level photography competition and felicitation for women farmers etc.

The performance of the Community Development Societies participating in the campaign would be analyzed and awards would be distributed to the Best CDSs based on their performances. The CDS which converted maximum area of fallow land into cultivable land, best co-ordination, participation of the public in the campaign, documentation of the campaign, the CDS which cultivated maximum number of indigenous seeds, number of Joint Liability Groups doing cultivation in agriculture sector etc would be analysed for giving away the awards. The ethnic food festival organised as part of the Mazha Polima has been attracting more people to the campaign. The fest is becoming a model project in Kasaragod District.

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As part of Mazha Polima Campaign, Community Development Societies (CDS) has also organised various innovative programmes such as District level photography competition and felicitation for women farmers

Success Story of a woman who is radiating light to others lives through Candle making unit

Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2018

This is the success story of a woman who is radiating light onto the lives of others through her candle making unit. Kayamkulam is one of the home towns famous for processing coir in Alappuzha district. The City Mission Management unit of the Urban Local Body has supported many urban poor to find various means of livelihood. Smt. Sheelamma is one among them.

The City Mission Management Unit (CMMU) had received many applications after the General Awareness campaign conducted in the Urban Local Body which provided information on the Self Employment Programme (SEP) Component of NULM and the support provided to establish a micro enterprise unit. Many persons came forward with diverse enterprise ideas and Sheelamma came with the idea to start a candle making unit. She already had a little bit experience in candle making as was engaged in the business from 2016 onwards. The initial times were not at all profitable for her. She started selling the candles in the nearby shops located near the churches. The effort to sell the candles by providing commissions was not profitable and therefore she started selling the products directly to the shops. Her packing was not that attractive. But the quality of the product helped her to sell the products on a lesser scale. But due to shortage of working capital and lack of knowledge on marketing, quality and variety products she was not able to proceed further. The banks were not willing to provide her loan.

When she came to know about the NULM scheme, she approached the City Mission Management Unit (CMMU) and discussed the possibilities of starting a candle making unit. She shared her anxieties as her initial experience was not positive. With the support of the City Mission Management Unit (CMMU) and Syndicate Bank, Kayamkulam she availed loan under the NULM Self Employment Programme (SEP) Component. The initial experience helped her to buy whatever is required and can be marketed. She started making 16 different types of candles and now she has wide customers. Today she is providing employment to two more women from the network. The marketing initiatives extended from the Kayamkulam to the nearby Urban Local Bodies and Districts now. She is now able to support her family in a good manner.

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Success Story of a woman who is radiating light to others lives through Candle making unit

From the outcast to the accepted: Kudumbashree's Inclusion of Transgender Community

Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Transgenders, who were considered outcast by the society till recently, is now coming to the forefront with the confidence in themselves. Kudumbashree Mission have been implementing various programmes for bringing them to the forefront of the society. Kudumbashree had formed special NHGs and helped the transgenders find livelihood for themselves.

So far, there are 21 transgender NHGs working in the state which have 274 members. Any person in the transgender community who have completed 18 years of age could be the members of NHG. As per the bylaw, an NHG should consist of 10-20 members. But a concession had been given in the case of trangenders. Even though there are only less than 10 members , transgender NHGs could be formed as the District Mission Coordinator may use their discretion in forming the traansgender NHGs. The so formed transgender NHGs would be given Rs 10,000 as corpus fund. The formation of such NHGs are progressing in different districts across the state. There are 3 transgenders each working in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, 2 each at Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Malappuram and one each at Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargode.

There are 12 transgender Micro Enterprises working across the state. Nicy Chips, a first of its kind Micro Enterprise unit was launched by a group of transgenders from Aanakulam of Kannur district. Sandhya is the president and Sona is the Secretary of the Micro Enterprise unit. Sneha, Maya, Saumini, Aparna, Jasmine, Reema Satheeshan, Sanana and Laisa are the other members of the unit. An average of 2,000 kg of Chips are sold in a month, even though the business is mainly done focusing on trade fairs inside and outside Kerala. Punarjani Juice Corner from Kozhikode is the group initiative of Monisha, Aleena, Shamna and Varsha.They had been taking part in various trade fairs and now they are about to start a permanent juice shop at the civil station premises. They have a sales of Rs 80,000 per month and each of them is earning Rs 10,000 each a month. They had earned upto Rs 30,000 per person.

Amritha, Anamika, Sabitha are the team behind Lakshys Fruits and Juice Corner at Ernakulam Collectorate Premises at Kakkanad. Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission is also situated at the Ernakulam Collectorate premises. The juice shop set up at the kiosk is making a sales of Rs 70,000 per month. Another juice shop and jewellery making unit is also working at NGO Quarters, Ernakulam. Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission is planning to start an outlet as a livelihood activity for transgenders associating with Brahmagiri Society. The vegetables and other products from various units of Kudumbashree would be sold through this proposed outlet.

There are 2 transgender NHGs in Pathanamthitta and they are located at pandalam and Kodumon. Each NHG is running 2 Micro Enterprise units. The five membered group from Kodumon started a dance school. Shyama Prasad, Rahul Raj, Prasad, Sunil Kumar, Aravind are giving leadership to their dance school. 4 students are studying in this school. The other Micro Enterprise units at Pandalam lends the costumes and jewellery for dance programmes. There are 3 Micro Enterprise units at Alappuzha and one Micro Enterprise unit in Malappuram as well.

Nicy Chips of Kannur and Punarjani Juice unit of Kozhikode had took part in Saras fairs and other food festivals. Nicy Chips had also took part at the Saras Fair held at Delhi, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Kudumbashree had also made a path breaking gesture by employing trangenders in Kochi Metro through Kudumbashree Facility Management Centre. Presently 14 transgenders are working in Kochi Metro. Kudumbashree is thereby bringing the transgender community from the state of outcast to the accepted.

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So far, there are 21 transgender NHGs working in the state which have 274 members.

204 new Kudumbashree Construction Teams getting ready

Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2018

A total of 204 construction teams are getting ready to rephrase the history by undertaking the works in construction sector. A total of 204 new Kudumbashree construction groups are identified across the state. This is in addition to the 70 Kudumbashree trained groups in the state. So, altogether it makes 274. Out of 204 new teams, training in house construction have been started for 63 teams, and it will be started in a couple of weeks for the remaining teams. The team is undergoing training by constructing one house of a LIFE mission beneficiary. 29 such houses are being constructed as a part of training of the 63 groups, and construction of about 70 houses will be undertaken when the training for all 204 group commences. The construction of one house of the same kind was completed within record time of 40 days. Out of the 204 groups identified, 9 are urban groups and 195 are rural groups.

It was on anticipating the huge shortage of labour force in the near future because of various determined Government campaigns of mass housing,that training was extended to women in construction sector. So that groups of micro contractors could be formed, who can take up the construction of houses of poor and needy, in addition to taking up of bigger projects. As a part of LIFE mission more than 2.5 lakh houses are being constructed in the state in this financial year. This provides huge employment opportunity for women construction groups. Further, once the construction groups completes 3/4 houses, it is aimed to upgrade them to become micro contractors for taking up various works of local self governments. Training is given by taking up the construction of the beneficiaries of various government schemes like PMAY(U), LIFE etc.

Accredited agenicies like State Nirmithi Kendra, District Nirmithi Kendra, Maithri, Habitat, Thrissur Labour Contracting Society, Pinarayi Industrial Cooperative Society, Kerala State Housing Board, Kerala State Construction Corporation, Costford, Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society, Kitco, Eksath etc are extending construction training to the identified groups in the respective districts under the leadership of the the District Mission Coordinators. Training on construction activities for Kudumbashree members aims to extend skill training for women in various trades in the construction industry for enhancing the skill of the women in construction related activities such that a sustainable income is generated.

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The construction of one house of the same kind was completed within record time of 40 days. Out of the 204 groups identified, 9 are urban groups and 195 are rural groups

Job Placement for 25 Kudumbashree members in KELTRON

Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Twenty five Kudumbashree Members will be offered job in Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KELTRON), which has been the catalysis for the development of electronics industry in Kerala. The placement is offered for the post of 24 computer operators and one cleaning staff. The selected would be placed at Keltron's Automated Enforcement Control Room at Kakkanad, Kochi. The interview for the posts would take place soon and the placements would be complete by 1 August 2018.

KELTRON had communicated the requirement for the posts during June 2018 and Kudumbashree informed the willingness to arrange the required man power. SSLC (Pass), typewriting and minimum 6 months experience in data entry network are the preferred qualifications for the data entry operator. Kudumbashree had submitted a list of 39 incumbents who are having required qualification and are willing to work as per permissible emoluments to Keltron for the further selection process. Keltron would select the candidates through a personal interview which would take place soon. The operators are offered job in two shifts from 6 AM to 2 PM and 2 PM to 10 PM. Rs 13,979 and Rs 12,318 are offered to the computer operators and cleaning staff respectively. It also has put in place mandatory compliance like Employee's State Insurance (ESI) and Provident Fund (PF) provisions.

It is connection with the deployment of man power of KELTRON's one of their major projects that they communicated their interest in associating with Kudumbashree for engaging suitable man power for the successful completion of the project. The MoU regarding the same would be signed soon. Kudumbashree has trained manpower in IT for data entry works who are sought after for similar works in NORKA, Insuarance sector, Registration Department, Motor Vehicle Department.

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Rs 13,979 and Rs 12,318 are offered to the computer operators and cleaning staff respectively

'Payasam on Wheels' from Kozhikode ready prior to Onam

Posted on Saturday, July 7, 2018

Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission's 'Payasam on Wheels'-Payasamela van is all set to welcome Onam adding more colours to the festive season of Kerala. The Kudumbashree Payasamela started near Mananchira Library has already started attracting masses. The mobile Payasamela was launched on 29 June 2018. Mulayari payasam (Bamboo Rice Payasam), Palada Payasam, Cherupayar Payasam and Parippu Payasam etc are the Payasams being served through the Payasamela mobile van. Smt. Sibitha Smt. Jaya, Smt. Usha, Smt. Radhika, Smt. Suhara and Smt. Ayisha of Navajyothi Kudumbashree unit are the women who are behind this Mobile payasam Van.

Mulayari Payasam is their special item. As it is a unique payasam, several people are coming in search of the payasamela mobile van for tasting their payasams. The mulayari bought from the 'Uravu' tribal society is being used for preparing payasam. The team had also been participating in several trade fairs as well. They had also been running a restaurant 'Ruchipura' serving delicious food and also selling parcels meals at city and near KSRTC and private bus stands. The Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission and and Kozhikode Corporation is extending full support to the team.

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'Payasam on Wheels' from Kozhikode ready prior to Onam

Kudumbashree's 'Ente Hotel' from Malappuram sets an extraordinary model

Posted on Friday, July 6, 2018

Ente Hotel', launched by Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission in convergence with Malappuram Municipality sets an extra ordinary model. The highlight of ' Ente Hotel' is that the energy conservation is ensured through steamers, the kitchen appliance which is used to prepare various foods with steam heat by means of holding the food in a closed vessel reducing steam escape. Using this appliance, 30 kg rice can be cooked within 30 to 40 minutes. Steamers preheat relatively quickly because of steam's high heat transfer. The units are usually well insulated to reduce heat loss to the kitchen and to require less energy to maintain temperature during slow times. Shri. P. Ubaidulla, MLA inaugurated the hotel on 5 July 2018.

The bond between Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission and Malappuram Municipality is continuing for the last 20 years. The hotel is run by 5 members of Kudumbashree network under the DAY- NULM scheme. The Urban Local Body has provided 400 sqft space in Malappuram Bus stand and has also provided a revolving fund of Rs. 5 lakhs. The Kudumbashree group have also availed loan for Rs.4.25 lakhs from Union Bank of India. Malappuram Municiplaity and Kudumbashree District Mission of Malappuram is strengthening the bond between them once again through ‘Ente Hotel’. The Urban Local Body is also in the process of starting the She Lodge, an exclusive safe stay for women which will again be managed by the Malappuram CDS.

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Kudumbashree's 'Ente Hotel' from Malappuram sets an extraordinary model

Kudumbashree reaches out to Rohingya refugees in Delhi transcending borders

Posted on Thursday, July 5, 2018

Kudumbashree reaches out to Rohingya refugees in Delhi transcending borders. Kudumbashree, the Poverty Eradication Programme of Kerala since its inception has been working a meaningful way touching the lives of millions. It has brought in a huge change in the lives of women in Kerala since its origin two decades back. Later Kudumbashree was recognized as a National Resource Organisation (NRO) by Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) to provide support to other States in their poverty eradication efforts.

Now, a group from Kudumbashree members from Kozhikode reached out the Rohingya refugee camps in Delhi extending support. It was under the leadership of Shri. Ramsi Ismail, Corporation Kudumbashree Member Secretary, a group of 13 member team visited the refugee camp.The team included CDS Chairpersons and members from Eksath Training Centre. The team visited 54 families at Kalindi Kunj, 38 families in Faridabad, 42 families in Majoodigav and 17 families in Mirzapur. Skill training programmes for the Rohingyan refugees will be commenced soon. Kudumbashree Eksat Training Centre will provide the staff to impart skill training in tailoring, soap manufacturing, candle, cloth bag and paper bag making. According to Shri. Ramsi Ismail, the marketing of the products would be done through the Mahila Mall, which would be launched soon by Kozhikode Corporation Kudumbashree, in association with the Kozhikode District Kudumbashree Mission. They also donated dresses and other essential commodities.

The Kudumbashree team also submitted a submission to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding the activities to be implemented in the Rohingyan refugee camps such as setting the basic facilities like drinking water, proper sanitation, medical camps and ensuring education facilities for the children among them. The team donated more than 500 dresses and 30 sacks of food grains to the refugees. The five day visit was conducted from 28 June 2018 - 2 July 2018.

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Kudumbashree reaches out to Rohingya refugees in Delhi transcending borders