Kudumbashree had created history by selling cloth bags worth Rs 60 lakhs. An average turn over of Rs 60,01,715 was recorded upto November 2019. A total of 456 cloth bag production units are functioning all across the state. As per the Government Order (G.O(MS) No.7/2019/Cir) plastic has been banned in Kerala starting from 1 January 2020. Kudumbashree is partnering in the fight against plastic and thereby make livelihood possible for women. Under the leadership of the respective District Mission Coordinators of Kudumbashree in the 14 districts of Kerala, Kudumbashree had already started making cloth bags regionally and had started conducting awareness programmes against plastic.

In short, along with fighting back against plastic, Kudumbashree is helping finding more livelihood opportunities for women. Various districts have devised various activities in fighting back against plastic and had even ventured into new activities to promote the use of cloth bags. The cloth bags produced by the districts are purchased by the governmental and non-governmental institutions. In many districts, activities are progressing in association with the respective district administration. A few units are getting regular orders for the cloth bags. The details of the cloth bag production units is available in the link : http://www.kudumbashree.org/pages/816

The products manufactured by the Kudumbashree micro entrepreneurs would be available through the Supplyco Supermarkets across the state in near future. Kudumbashree and Supplyco had signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the same. This contract had made possible the opportunity of making available the products of Kudumbashree micro entrepreneurs through the 1546 marketing outlets of Supplyco.

The contract of Kudumbashree with Supplyco has two parts. As per the first part, Kudumbashree entrepreneurs would pack the puttupodi, appam podi (rice powders), coconut oil, atta, umbrella etc, which the Supplyco need. Kudumbashree would give the needed quantity of these products to Supplyco as per the priorly fixed rates from the Kudumbashree entrepreneurs. As per the second part of the contract, various products of Kudumbashree enterprises would be given to Supplyco.

As per this, the Kudumbashree micro entrepreneurs would be asked to fill the registration forms of Supplyco. In the forms, Kudumbashree's micro entrepreneurs have to write details and quantities of products which they can supply to Supplyco as a ‘Fast Moving Consumer Good’. The forms filled out by the entrepreneurs would be collected before 30 January 2020 and would be given to Supplyco. Following that, approved products would be supplied to the 56 regional depots, under the leadership of Kudumbashree. Thereafter, products would be supplied to various Supplyco outlets from these depots. Next lot will be delivered once the first supply is sold out and Supplyco raises demand note for more products. As a first step, Kudumbashree is planning to bring the products of at least 1000 entrepreneurs to the market through Supplyco. This will in turn help Kudumbashree's micro entrepreneurs get a big market for their products.

The contract between one of the largest public sector undertaking in Kerala (Supplyco) and the largest livelihood mission in Kerala (Kudumbashree) would help as many Kudumbashree micro entrepreneurs find new market for their products and help them earn more income of their own.

The prizes for the winners of 'Kudumbashree Oru Nerchithram’ Photography Competition 2018-19 (Season 2) was distributed by Shri. S. Harikishore IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission, Government of Kerala at the function held at Kudumbashree State Mission Office, Thiruvananthapuram on 6 January 2020. Shri. P.P. Ratheesh, Photographer, Mathrubhumi Palakkad unit had bagged the first prize.The Award comprising of Memento, Certificate and cash prize of Rs 20,000 was presented to him.

Shri. E.Riyas from Malappuram came second and Shri. Deepesh Puthiyapurayil from Kasaragod came in the third place. Award comprising of Memento, Certificate and cash prize of Rs 10,000 was presented to Shri.E Riyas and award comprising of Memento, Certificate and cash prize of Rs 5,000 was presented to Shri. Deepesh Puthiyapurayil. The dignity of labour irrespective of age was well captured in Ratheesh's click, whereas Riyas captured the reflection of the hard work of Kudumbashree women creatively yet beautifully. Photograph depicting the unity and hard work of Kudumbashree women made Deepesh selected for the award.

The jury consisting of Shri. B.S Prasannan, renowned Photographer, Shri.Shiju Basheer, Documentary Photographer and former Head of Production, Asiaville News, Smt. U.S. Rakhi, Photo Journalist and Faculty, C-DIT and Smt. M. Rajani Accounts Officer, Kudumbashree Mission selected the winners.

The photographs submitted by Smt. Sujitha.B Mudhakkal, Shri. Arunjyothi Rishikesh Shri. Rakesh Puthur, Shri. Basheer Kaderi, Shri. K. Surendran, Shri. Muhammed Shihab, Shri. Noble Joseph, Shri. Ashok Manalur, Shri. P.V. Shivanandan and Shri. Ayyappan Pranamam were selected for consolation prizes. The consolation comprise comprised of Rs 1000 and certificate.

Kudumbashree Mission which envisions at eradicating poverty through women in Kerala had successfully completed 20 revolutionary years, conducted the photography competition for motivating the aspiring photographers and to propagate the activities of Kudumbashree Mission through photographs. The contestants were directed to submit photographs that reflect the various activities of Kudumbashree Mission. The competition was conducted from 5 February 2019 - 31 March 2019. More details of the competition is published in the website www.kudumbashree.org

For motivating the aspiring photographers and to propagate the activities of Kudumbashree Mission through photographs, Kudumbashree Mission launched Season 3 of ‘Kudumbashree or Nerchithram’ Photography Competition on 1 January 2020. The contestants may submit photographs that would reflect the priority projects of Kudumbashree Mission. The photographs should reflect the activities of Kudumbashree such as, Kudumbashree Neighbourhood Group meetings, various enterprises run by Kudumbashree women including Kudumbashree canteens and cafes, the farming activities of Kudumbahsree women, the parking management of Kudumbashree women at railway stations and various other spots, the waiting halls managed by Kudumbashree entrepreneurs, house keeping services and the activities of the BUDS institutions etc.

The entries should reach Kudumbashree Mission office on or before 5 PM, 1 February 2020. The jury comprising of renowned photographers and officials of Kudumbashree Mission will select the winner. The Award for the Best Photographer will be Rs 20,000. The second prize and third prize will be Rs 10,000 and Rs 5000 respectively. Rs 1000 each will be issued for 10 entries as consolation prizes.

Entries may be send to the mail id kudumbashreeprcontest@gmail.com or may be sent in CD Format to the address, The Executive Director, Kudumbashree State Mission Office, Trida Building, Medical college P.O, Thiruvananthapuram-695011. The name, address, mail id and contact number should be mentioned along with. A short note on the photograph should be attached along with. The photographs should not contain any watermarks. More details of the notification is available in the link : www.kudumbashree.org/photography2020

The first season of ‘Kudumbashree or Nerchithram’ was conducted during November- December 2017 and the second season was conducted during February -March 2019 and was a grant success. More than 1200 photographs were received altogether and it is on following the success of the last two seasons of the competitions, that the third season of the Photography Competition is being launched. Kudumbashree Mission which envisions at eradicating poverty through women in Kerala had successfully completed 20 revolutionary years.

The first ever transgender canteen in the state was opened at Palakkad district of Kerala jointly by Kudumbashree, Palakkad District Administration and Social Justice Department, Government of Kerala. This project was included in the annual action plan of Palakkad District Panchayat (year 2018-19). This unique initiative started functioning in the premises of the Civil Station, Palakkad.

Kudumbashree, as a part of its ‘special NHG’ project, has two transgender Neighbourhood groups in Palakkad district. The canteen at Palakkad Civil Station would be run by one of them, viz. the ‘Oruma’ Transgender Neighbourhood group. The 10 members of the group were given skill training for running this canteen. The space for the canteen was provided by the district administration. The project was included in the annual plan of Palakkad District Panchayath. The canteen which functions from morning till evening would serve food items like, dosa, idiyappam, puttu, idli, tea snacks, chattikanji, puzhukku etc. This canteen at Palakad district civil station premises could be considered as an example of expanding initiatives for transgender communities with the convergence of various Governmental departments.

Kudumbashree has bagged National Award for efficiently implementing the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) programme in Kerala. Shri. Jaison T.J and Shri. Sudheer K.B, NULM team members received the award from Shri. Durga Shanker Mishra, Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary, Government of India at the function held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 30 December 2019. Kudumbashree has bagged the second place in the National level.

During last year, Kudumbahsree had bagged third prize for effectively implementing the programme in Kerala. It is a matter of pride that Kudumbashree could improve and rise up to the second place. Kudumbashree had been implementing various projects viz., various livelihood programmes, projects for urban street vendors, programmes for the betterment of Kudumbashree system in the urban areas, setting up shelter homes for the urban homeless, skill training for the people in the urban areas and programmes for the formation of enterprises by identifying self employment opportunities etc through the NULM programme.

Kudumbashree had bagged more than 10 Awards during the last 3 years. What makes this award very special from the other awards is the fact that special financial assistance is also sanctioned along with this award. During last year, when Kudumbashree bagged third prize, other than the annual allocation of Rs 23.98 crores, Kudumbashree had received an additional amount of Rs 6 crores as prize money, which is to be used for NULM projects. In addition, Kudumbashree also received Rs 4.8 crores as additional central assistance. This year, Kudumbashree is in the second place and so, along with the annual allocation of Rs 30.99 crores, Kudumbashree had received an additional amount of Rs 9 crores as special prize. The prize money is given as an additional allocation for NULM project. Kudumbashree Mission is the nodal agency for implementing the activities of NULM programme in Kerala.

Plastic would be banned in Kerala from January 2020 onwards. Kudumbashree had already started supporting this initiative with Kudumbashree's micro enterprise units that produce alternative products for plastic. As per the Government Order (G.O(MS) No.7/2019/Cir) plastic would be banned in Kerala from 1 January 2020. Kudumbashree is getting ready to partner in the fight against plastic and thereby make livelihood possible for women. Under the leadership of the respective District Mission Coordinators from the 14 districts of Kerala, Kudumbashree had already started making cloth bags regionally and had started conducting awareness programmes against plastic. The details of the activities of some of the districts are as follows.

Idukki

There are 27 units that are producing cloth bags in Idukki. The details including the address, phone number and production capacity was handed over to Suchithwa Mission and Haritha Keralam Mission. The BUDS institutions in the district are making pen and other products out of paper. There exist a unit in the district that make napkin using cotton and 2 units which produce jute bag and file. At Munnar, an important tourist spot situated in the district, Kudumbashree had set up Haritha Check post. They collect plastic from the tourist vehicles that come to Munnar and give them cloth bags in return. Panchayath would take up the plastic waste then collected. Kudumbashree had also started making cloth bags partnering with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Haritha Keralam Mission and Munnar Grama Panchayath.

Ernakulam

Activities had already been started for making cloth bags through 200 cloth bag making units in the brand name 'Pacha'. The activities are progressing with the partnership of District Administration. 300 units would be ready within one month. 1000+ women would get job opportunity through this. These cloth bags cost from Rs 2 to Rs 50. The cloth bags would be brought to the shops where respective units are located. With the help of the Local Self Government Institutions, these cloth bags would be brought to the outside markets as well.

Kozhikode

There are 22 units in the district that make alternative products for plastic. This includes units that make cloth bags, paper bags and pottery. Following the ban of plastic in the state, activities are progressing to increase the production capacity of these units. Various Local Self Government Institutions are making cloth bags with the help of Kudumbashree women who know stitching and and are distributing the same among the households under the leadership of the respective Community Development Socities (CDSs). The cloth is procured and is given to them. The Local Self Government Institutions are calling for the meetings of the vendors and are producing cloth bags for them as per their needs.

Malappuram

There are 28 micro enterprise units that make paper bag and cloth bags, 2 units that make plates out of palm spathe and 8 units that make carpet and other products from cloth functioning in the district.At 10 BUDS institutions, paper pen, files, notebooks and other products of paper are produced. The catalog was prepared including the details of all these units and was handed over to Suchithwa Mission. Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission had already given instructions to the units which make cloth bags and paper bags to collaborate with maximum number of institutions and make products needed for them. As per the request of the District Administration and Suchithwa Mission, 1.50 lakhs cloth bags would be produced by the units. The 12000 cloth bags needed in the block level would be handed over soon.

Wayanad

On 26 December 2019, an exhibition cum sales mela of different models of cloth bags was conducted along with the Christmas Market at Kalpetta including the apparel units that make cloth bags and also the apparel units that make other products. They had received order from business institutions for cloth bags. Entrepreneurs are visiting various institutions and are giving away the details regarding the units that make cloth bags. Awareness classes were also given about menstrual cups to reduce the usage of sanitary napkins. As part of this activity, 1000 menstrual cups would be distributed associating with Moopainad Panchayath.

Kollam

Associating with the District Administration, Suchithwa Mission and Haritha Keralam Mission, through 140 Kudumbashree Enterprises, Kudumbashree District Mission is trying to make the ban of plastic a great success. These units are capable producing 25,000 bags per day. Loan is made available for these units at 4% interest rate. Arrangements had been made to buy these cloth bags in wholesale rates through District Mission. Cloth bags would be available through Panchayath counters as well.

Thrissur

There are 60 cloth bag producing units in the district. Training is being given to launch more such units.

Palakkad

There are 62 units in the district that make alternative products for plastic. Through these units alternative products for plastic such as cloth bags, paper bags, palm spathe plates, pottery plates, paper pens etc are being produced. Meeting of the office bearers of these units was called in convergence with Haritha Keralam Mission and Suchithwa Mission. 100% plastic free products were selected. The activities for bringing uniformity in the rates of these products is progressing. The exhibition cum sales mela of these production units would be conducted in the upcoming week. Brochure containing the details of these units would be prepared with the help of Suchithwa Mission and would be made available for the vendors and the public.

Kottayam

There are 16 units that make cloth bags in the district. Consortium would be formed by calling the meeting of these units. Through this consortium the needed raw materials for the units would be bought in bulk quantities and would be given to the units. Therefore cloth bags in same model would be produced. In addition to this, Cloth bag units would be formed including the Neighbourhood group members who had received training in cloth bag making. With the help of the block coordinators, the need of cloth bags for all panchayaths would be identified and the orders would be given to the units.

Likewise, various activities are progressing in the remaining districts as well. Through these activities, Kudumbashree is lending a helping hand in fighting back plastic.