വാര്‍ത്തകള്‍

A two-day workshop on Social Inclusion - Annual Action Plan was organized in Thiruvananthapuram to finalize the outline of the project activities to be carried out by Kudumbashree in the Scheduled Tribes sector for the financial year 2025-26. H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree inaugurated the workshop organized at the Agricultural Cooperative Staff Training Institute (ACSTI) in Manvila, Thiruvananthapuram on 18-19 June 2025.

Kudumbashree's 2025-26 Annual Action Plan has allocated Rs. 25 crores for activities in the local area, including its own fund and the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) fund. Kudumbashree will focus more on NHG formation, converting existing NHGs into self-sufficient NHGs, and economic and social empowerment activities in the local area this year.

It will also strengthen enterprise formation in agriculture, animal husbandry, and traditional employment sectors to provide more livelihood opportunities. Project activities such as reorganization of the Bridge Course, formation of Child Creativity Centre, Communicore, Kanas Jaga 2.0, K-TIC (Kudumbashree Tribal Enterprises and Innovation Centre), Jan Gatsa will also be carried out. Kudumbashree will also carry out special activities in the indigenous sector this financial year as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the formation of the Scheduled Tribes Development Department.

45 people including Assistant District Mission Coordinators in charge of Social Inclusion Section, District Programme Managers, District Animator Coordinators, Special Project Coordinators and Assistant Coordinators also participated in the workshop. Dr. B. Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree,  Prabhakaran Melath, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree, Daniel Libni, State Assistant Programme Manager, and Preetha. G, State Assistant Programme Manager led the workshop.

As part of the efforts to make paper pens, bags, files and handicrafts prepared by trainees at Kudumbashree BUDS Institutions available across the country, Kudumbashree and Amigosia Private Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. In the BUDS Institutions run by Kudumbashree in collaboration with local self-government institutions for those facing intellectual challenges, trainees prepare a number of products such as paper pens, bags, files and handicrafts.

Kudumbashree aims to find new markets for BUDS Products, ensure income for trainees and achieve financial self-reliance. Amigosia will carry out activities including branding and marketing to make BUDS Products available online and offline across the country. In the first phase, the products prepared by BUDS trainees will be made available on the Kudumbashree Pocket Mart Mobile Application. Currently, the products of BUDS Institutions are mainly sold through marketing fairs and training programmes.

As per the MoU, Amigosia Private Limited will purchase the products produced by BUDS Students in bulk and later make them available across the country through various marketing channels. H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree and Arun N, Director, Amigosia Private Limited signed the MoU in the presence of M.B. Rajesh, Minister for Local Self-Government, Excise and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala on 17 June 2025. Dr. B. Sreejith,  Programme Officer, Kudumbashree,  Naveen C, Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Dineshan Cheruvath, Panchayat Director (Rural), Ranjini S, Assistant Manager, Amigosia Private Limited, Arun P. Rajan, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree and Jishnu Gopan, State Assistant Programme Manager, Kudumbashree also attended the ceremony organized at the Minister's Chamber. 

Kudumbashree celebrated World Milk Day on 1 June 2025 with various programmes like awareness classes, honoring dairy farmers, competitions, and preparation of various dairy products. The programmes were organized  at the district, CDS, and block levels under the leadership of the Kudumbashree Animal Welfare Department from 1 to 9 June 2025.

The idea of this year's World Milk Day was to celebrate the power of milk together. The objectives of the Milk Day celebration were to promote milk consumption, create awareness about the nutritional benefits of milk among children, adolescent girls, elderly people, and members of the community who face nutritional challenges, honor dairy farmers, and promote dairy production units.

A very different activity was the one in which the Community Resource Persons of the Animal Husbandry Department of the respective CDSs purchased milk from Kudumbashree dairy farmers and prepared and distributed milk and milk porridge to the Buds Institution trainees in connection with the BUDS Institutional Entrance Ceremony organized on 2 June 2025.

Awareness classes for dairy farmers led by veterinarians, free distribution of fodder for cattle and sheep, felicitation of best dairy farmers, drawing competitions on the theme of 'Milk Day' for Kudumbashree Balasabha members, quiz competitions, exhibition and marketing of value-added products, farm visits, distribution of milk in Anganwadis, and awareness classes on the importance of milk for Kudumbashree members were organized at the CDS level. These programmes were organized by involving local people's representatives, CDS members, Pashu Sakhis, veterinarians and other concerned department heads.

Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission organized a district-level Milk Day celebration in collaboration with the Dairy Department. Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission organized a district-level dairy farmers' meeting and seminar on 4 June 2025. Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission, in collaboration with Milma, organized an exposure visit for Community Resource Persons to the  Milma Dairy Unit at Kanhangad, Kasaragod. Awareness classes were also given to them. Kudumbashree Palakkad District Mission organized a Milk Festival programme in collaboration with various departments. An awareness session for farmers, machinery expo, and felicitation of dairy farmers were held as part of this. Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission organized a seminar on the topic of 'Value-Added Products from Milk'. Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission organized special seminars and quiz competitions. 

Kudumbashree's video on Micro Entrepreneurship Programmes is included in the syllabus of Calicut University. The english video on Micro Entrepreneurship Programmes is included in the syllabus of the Multi-Disciplinary Course (MDC)-Commerce and Management of the General Foundation Course of Calicut University- Four-year Undergraduate Programme (CU-FYUGP).

The video is included in the Module 2- 'Vistas of Kerala Entrepreneurship' where the various facets of Kerala's commercial development, economic development, various development projects etc. are discussed, aiding the learners to understand the domain of business from socio- cultural perspectives. Three hours is given in the syllabus for discussing the video.

The video published in the official YouTube Channel of Kudumbashree during November 2022 explains in detail about the micro enterprises programme of Kudumbashree and how it helps the Kudumbashree women achieve economic empowerment. The video also explains the specialized strategy to analyze the need for micro enterprises for the economic empowerment of Kudumbashree NHG women and their families. The on-demand support provided to them including training, financial assistance and other support are well explained in the video. The video also explains about the various funds given to the NHG members, insurance scheme, Nutrimix, Micro Enterprise Consultants, Janakeeya Hotels, Haritha Karma Sena etc.  The video also explains how such micro enterprise activities would act as an income generating source for the NHG members and will benefit the respective local self-government institutions as it paves way for the Local Economic Development. Videos on various programmes of Kudumbashree are also included in the official YouTube Channel.

By including this video in the syllabus of the Calicut University the students will get to know how Kudumbashree is making steady yet significant impact through micro enterprise development.

The tree planting activities as part of the Women for Trees - Green City campaign organized by Kudumbashree in all 93 municipalities of Kerala began on 5 June 2025, World Environment Day. This activity was organized in all 30 municipalities. People's representatives led the activities. As part of the campaign, NHGs in urban areas will plant shade trees and fruit trees until August 2025.

As the first phase of the campaign, survey activities were also organized from 21 to 23 May 2025 to find places for tree planting. This campaign is being organized in the state as part of the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) implemented in Kerala through Kudumbashree. The campaign, planned by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and organized across the country in collaboration with the Amrut Mission, aims to promote urban greening and cleanliness through women.

Saplings are mainly planted near parks and water bodies and on roadsides. The seedlings required for this are available from the Department of Agriculture, Kudumbashree's plant nurseries and local marketing centres. 

The selection phase of the 'Smartshree' Incubator Project, which aims to take Kudumbashree enterprises with growth potential to the next level, expand them and create models for other entrepreneurs to emulate, has been completed. 150 Enterprises from across the state have been selected for the project. The duration of this project, implemented by the Union Ministry of Rural Development through Kudumbashree, is three years. Kudumbashree aims to take these enterprises to the next level within the next year and a half.

The incubator support is given to the enterprises in the manufacturing and service sectors that are facing difficulties in succeeding in the market for various reasons. As part of the project, Kudumbashree had entered into an agreement with IIMK-LIVE (Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode - Laboratory for Innovation, Venturing and Entrepreneurship) to act as an incubator providing all kinds of support to the enterprises. Accordingly, 150 enterprises have now been selected for the 'Smartshree' project through a selection process jointly conducted by Kudumbashree and IIMK-LIVE. These include enterprises from various sectors such as food sector, apparel, curry powder production, cleaning & hygiene, and handicrafts.

The project aims to provide support to build a better environment for enterprises, engage with larger markets, achieve economic sustainability, create local employment opportunities and create models for expansion opportunities.

 Aneesh Kumar M.S and Suchitra S,  State Programme Managers, Kudumbashree represented Kudumbashree as jury members for the selection process conducted at IIMK. Prof. Deva Prasad (IIMK) Prof. Ashok Thomas (IIMK) Lijo P. Jose (Senior General Manager IIMK -LIVE) Muhammad Niyas T (MSME Expert) and Abhijith (MSME Expert) were the other jury members.

Kudumbashree's video on Micro Entrepreneurship Programmes is included in the syllabus of Calicut University. The english video on Micro Entrepreneurship Programmes is included in the syllabus of the Multi-Disciplinary Course (MDC)-Commerce and Management of the General Foundation Course of Calicut University- Four-year Undergraduate Programme (CU-FYUGP).

The video is included in the Module 2- 'Vistas of Kerala Entrepreneurship' where the various facets of Kerala's commercial development, economic development, various development projects etc. are discussed, aiding the learners to understand the domain of business from socio- cultural perspectives. Three hours is given in the syllabus for discussing the video.

The video published in the official YouTube Channel of Kudumbashree during November 2022 explains in detail about the micro enterprises programme of Kudumbashree and how it helps the Kudumbashree women achieve economic empowerment. The video also explains the specialized strategy to analyze the need for micro enterprises for the economic empowerment of Kudumbashree NHG women and their families. The on-demand support provided to them including training, financial assistance and other support are well explained in the video. The video also explains about the various funds given to the NHG members, insurance scheme, Nutrimix, Micro Enterprise Consultants, Janakeeya Hotels, Haritha Karma Sena etc.  The video also explains how such micro enterprise activities would act as an income generating source for the NHG members and will benefit the respective local self-government institutions as it paves way for the Local Economic Development. Videos on various programmes of Kudumbashree are also included in the official YouTube Channel. 

By including this video in the syllabus of the Calicut University the students will get to know how Kudumbashree is making steady yet significant impact through micro enterprise development.

Kudumbashree has come up with 'Onakani' to help Keralites prepare Onam Feast with non-toxic vegetables and fruits this coming Onam. The state-level inauguration of the project was performed by M. B  Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala at  Maruthurkonam ward in Kottukal Panchayat, Thiruvananthapuram on 4 June 2025. 

As part of the Onakani project, Kudumbashree Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) will cultivate 25,680 acres of land this year. The required hybrid vegetable seedlings with high productivity will be prepared through Kudumbashree Organic Plant Nurseries. Each CDS has been allocated a maximum of Rs. 25,000 as a Revolving Fund for the implementation of the project. Farmers will also be provided with technical training. With the slogan 'Onam with Kudumbashree', this time Kudumbashree aims to prepare and make available to the people an Onam kit including pickles, chips, payasam mix and curry powder in addition to all the vegetables required to prepare the meal.

Adv. D. Suresh Kumar,  President, District Panchayat presided over the function and Dr. S. Shanavas, Program Officer, Kudumbashree explained the project. Vimala. K, President, Kottukal CDS  presented the products to the Minister. Adv. Vinod Kottukal, Member, District Panchayat, L. Rani, President, Athiyannoor Block Panchayat, Vishnu Prashanth, President, Block Panchayat Standing Committee, Athiyannoor Block, M.V. Manmohan, Member, Athiyannoor Block Panchayat, Geetha. S, Vice President, Kottukal Grama Panchayat,  B. Sulochana, President, Grama Panchayat Standing Committee, Kottukal Grama Panchayath,  Beena V.T, Praveen, Geetha. G, Ambili A.S, Girija. T, Suresh, Members, Kottukal Grama Panchayat and Anil Kumar R, Assistant Secretary, Kottukal Grama Panchayat spoke at the function. Chandralekha. K, President, Kottukal Grama Panchayat welcomed the gathering and Ramesh. G, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram District Mission delivered the vote of thanks. 

The Kudumbashree Technology Advancement Programme (K-TAP), implemented by Kudumbashree with the aim of modernization in the agricultural sector and sustainable income generation for women farmers, has been launched in the state. M. B Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala performed the State Level Inauguration of the project at the The Kudumbashree Mission Technology Conclave 2025 held at Jain Deemed-to-be University, Kakkanad, Ernakulam on 2 June 2025. 

Kudumbashree will achieve the face of modernity in the agricultural sector by adopting innovative technologies as part of the Kudumbashree Technology Advancement Programme. The Minister said. The Minister was speaking after inaugurating the State-Level Technology Conclave Project organized at the Kakkanad Jain Deemed-to-be University and exchanging technologies and MoUs with institutions that have signed agreements with Kudumbashree.

The Kudumbashree Technology Advancement Programme (K-TAP) implemented by Kudumbashree will take agricultural livelihood activities to a new level. The government's goal is to provide income increase to women entrepreneurs. For this, 184 technologies are being purchased. By using new technologies, opportunities will be created for modernization and diversification of enterprises. This will also help in achieving qualitative change in products. Kudumbashree has also become active in the online trading sector, such that Kudumbashree's branded products are available anywhere today. Kudumbashree has been able to successfully carry out the mission of poverty eradication through its activities over the past twenty-five years. Out of the 64,006 extremely poor families identified through the Kudumbashree survey, 90 percent of them have been freed from poverty. The Minister said. The Minister also added that Kerala will be declared the first state in the country to be free from extreme poverty on 1 November 2025. He also visited the exhibition stalls of agricultural value-added products organized by the Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission in conjunction with the Technology Conclave.

Kudumbashree has currently acquired more than 180 technologies in collaboration with renowned agricultural technology research institutions in India in connection with the project. Kudumbashree aims to achieve major progress in this field by manufacturing value-added products using modern technology. Farmers will be provided with the technologies required to increase agricultural production. New technologies will be utilized to manufacture various value-added products of export quality. Through this, the project will pave the way for more than four lakh farmers under Kudumbashree to increase their income.

Various licenses and certifications required by entrepreneurs working in the field of value-added product manufacturing, branding, packaging and food product manufacturing will also be available through the project. The project will ensure the certifications and food safety standards required to market Kudumbashree agricultural products in national and international markets.

Kudumbashree and Dr. G. Byju, Director, Indian Council of Agricultural Research- Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Dr K. B Hebbar,  Indian Council of Agricultural Research- Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Dr. N. Venkatachalapathy, Dean, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Dr Aashitosh Inamdar,  Head of Technology Transfer, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- Central Food Technological Research Institute, Dr. Nishi, Chief Scientist,  Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- National Institute For Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Dr. K.R. Anith, Director, Research, Kerala Agricultural University exchanged MoUs.

Kudumbashree also exchanged MoUs with M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Mahatma Gandhi University, Lead College of Management, Jain Deemed-to-be University, Saintgits College of Engineering, Council for Food Research and Development, and Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute to provide training and support as part of the project.

H. Dineshan, Executive Director, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering. Radhamani Pillai, Chairperson, Thrikkakara Municipality presided over the function. Dr. S Shanavas, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree  explained the project.  S. Nagesh, Head of the Agriculture Department, State Planning Board, Dr. Tom Joseph, Director (New Initiative) of Jain Deemed-to-be University, Prof. Venu Rajamani, President of Future Kerala Mission and Principal Advisor of Jain Deemed-to-be University, Dr. J. Latha, Pro Vice Chancellor of Jain Deemed-to-be University, and Abu Shana, Ward Councilor of the Municipality delivered their felicitations. Rajeena T.M, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission, delivered the vote of thanks. 

Dr. Rashmi C.P, Deputy Director of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jain Deemed-to-be University, Dr. Saranya A.P, Assistant Professor of the School of Commerce, and representatives of renowned institutions in the field of agricultural technology research in India were present at the function. 

The State Level Entrance Festival (Admission Ceremony) of BUDS Institutions run by Kudumbashree under the ownership of local self-government institutions for children facing intellectual challenges was held. M. B Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala performed the State Level Inauguration of the Entrance Festival of BUDS Institutions at BUDS Rehabilitation Centre in Puthankurish Grama Panchayat, Vadavukod, Ernakulam on 2 June 2025. The Minister said that necessary steps will be taken to provide livelihood to parents of BUDS children. Speaking at the event, the Minister said that the Government will give priority to finding markets for the products produced by BUDS students.

Adv. P.V. Sreenijin, MLA presided over the function organized at the Puthankurish BUDS Rehabilitation Centre, Vadavukod, Ernakulam. Sonia Murukesan, President, Grama Panchayat presented the operational report of the BUDS Institutions. Lissy Alex, Member, District Panchayat, Juble George, Chairman, Development Affairs Standing Committee, Vadavukod Block Panchayat, Vishwappan, Chairman, Health Education Standing Committee, Vadavukod Block Panchayat, K.K. Ashok Kumar, Vice President, Vadavukod Puthankurish Grama Panchayat, Premalatha C.K, Chairperson, Vadavukod CDS, A.G. Ramya, Assistant General Manager and Regional Manager, Kerala Grameen Bank, Rajeena T.M, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission also attended the programme. 

H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering and Anumol K.C, Assistant District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission delivered the vote of thanks. The district-level entrance ceremonies were inaugurated by Ministers and Public Representatives.

There are BUDS Schools for children under the age of 18 and BUDS Rehabilitation Centres for those over the age of 18. A total of 13,081 persons are receiving training in 378 such BUDS Institutions.