The construction of the houses using Ramoji Fim City's CSR Fund is progressing in Alappuzha District. Construction of 42 houses out of the 116 houses have been completed in the first phase. 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.

   Shri.Raveendran from Ambalappuzha North Panchayath, Smt. Ananda Ammal from Ambalappuzha South Panchayath, Smt. Rethi Bhai from Purakkad Panchayath, Smt. Indulekha from Punnapra Panchayath, Smt. Jayanthi from Punnapra North Panchayath, Smt. Moly from Muhamma Panchayath, Shri. Dasappan from Muhamma Panchayath, Smt. Maheshwari from Thamarakkulam Panchayath, Smt. Rasheeda from Thamarakkulam Panchayath, Smt. Mini Raghu from Palamel Panchayath, Smt. Radhamani Amma from Thamarakkulam Panchayath, Smt. Rajamma from Nedumudi Panchayath, Shri. Mohanan from Nedumudi Panchayath, Smt. Latha from Nedumudi Panchayath, Shri. Muraleedharan from Edathua Panchayath, Smt. Jyothi from Pallippad Panchayath, Smt. Manju from Pallippad Panchayath, Smt. Shyamala from Pallippad Panchayath, Smt. Sharada from Pallippad Panchayath, Smt. Laila from Mararikulam North Panchayath, Smt. Ambujaakshi from Mararikulam North Panchayath Smt. Manju from Mararikulam North Panchayath, Smt. Kamalakshi from Mararikulam North Panchayath, Smt. Maya Sreenivasan from Thaneermukkom Panchayath, Shri. Shaji from Thanneermukkom Panchayath, Shri. Surendran from Thanneermukkom Panchayath, Shri. Raveendran from Thanneermukkom Panchayath, Smt. Ambika from Thanneermukkom Panchayath, Smt. usha Reghu from Thekkekkara Panchayath, Shri. Anil Kumar from Thazhakkara Panchayath, Smt. Santha from Thekkekkara Panchayath, Smt Sindhu from Kandalloor Panchayath, Shri. Shivadasan from Kandalloor Panchayath, Smt. Sarasamma from Pattanakkad Panchayath, Smt. Sindhu from Pattanakkad Panchayath, Smt. Ammini from Venmani Panchayath, Smt. Anila Kumari from Venmani Panchayath, Smt. Ananda Bose from Thaikkattuserry, Smt.Valsamma from Veliyanad Panchayath, Shri. Nalan from Muttar Panchayath, Smt. Kanchana from Muttar Panchayath and Smt. Leela Prabhakar from Pulikunnuu Panchayath are the beneficiaries of the programme in the first phase.The project is being implemented in three phases. Kudumbashree Mission had identified the beneficiaries and forwarded the list to the CSR committee of Ramoji Film City.

The Lok Sabha Elections of 2019, has indeed been a very special occasion for the members of Kudumbashree Mission, the Kerala government’s women’s empowerment programme. Kudumbashree members got a golden yet rare opportunity to showcase their own strengths by becoming part of the electoral process in Kerala.  Kudumbashree Mission had partnered with the office of Kerala Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for providing various services during Lok Sabha Elections 2019.  Through this partnering, Kudumbashree Mission envisaged including these women in the democratic process thereby ensuring absolute women empowerment in all arenas of their lives.  Kudumbashree Mission viewed it as an opportunity to serve the public and also proposed economic empowerment for the women through these activities.

The three-flowered logo of Kudumbashree Mission stands for social empowerment, economic empowerment and women empowerment. As the logo implies, Kudumbashree Mission could ensure social empowerment, economic empowerment and women empowerment by engaging these women in these election related activities. Since its inception, Kudumbashree Mission had been working to eradicate absolute poverty through concerted community action under the leadership of local governments, by facilitating organisation of poor for combining self-help with demand-led convergence of available services and resources to tackle the multiple dimensions and manifestations of poverty holistically.

IEC (Information Education Communication) for CEO

Rangashree, the community theatre group of Kudumbashree Mission had started partnering with the office of the Kerala CEO to conduct the SVEEP (Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation System) activities for the Lok Sabha Elections. A street play campaign was conducted by various Rangashree teams in the tribal areas of the state.

During this election, the Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation System (SVEEP) was implemented for ensuring that maximum number of voters exercise their right to vote. Rangashree teams of Kudumbashree Mission presented street plays on SVEEP in select spots in five districts. Twenty-nine street plays were performed in various spots of Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Palakkad and Wayanad. The street play stressed on the importance of casting a vote, reminding residents that the right to vote is not only a man's right, but also woman's as well. It also raised awareness about how to add one’s name to the voter's list, how to vote, the valid identity proofs for casting a vote and how to correct the errors in the voting list. The street plays also educated the public, not to vote for someone due to pressure. Along with the street play, voting machine and VVPAT was also introduced to the public.

Serving food during the Elections

S Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission had sent letters to all District Collectors requesting them to give opportunities to Kudumbashree women during the elections. Kudumbashree Mission was entrusted by the various District Electoral Offices in Kerala for various activities such as providing food in training centres, arranging food for polling officials, printing, data entry works, Harithakarmasena for maintaining green protocol etc. As per the directions of the respective District Collectors and under the leadership of Kudumbashree District Mission offices, Kudumbashree women set up canteens at the despatch centres and distribution centres for catering food to the officials in charge of conducting elections.

Canteens were opened in 13 out of the 14 districts in Kerala. A total of 98 canteens were opened altogether.  In addition to that, food was served to the officials in the polling stations at certain districts. Kudumbashree units were entrusted for serving food in the distribution centres and despatch centres. Breakfast, lunch, tea, snacks and dinner were served to the officials during then. Almost all the canteens functioned at the distribution centres and despatch centres on 22 and 23 April 2019. Kudumbashree women served food in few collection centres as well. The Cafe Kudumbashree canteens opened had been strictly following Green Protocol. Steel plates and glasses would be used for serving the food. The canteens opened were crowded with officials as Kudumbashree offered homely and delicious food at nominal rates. Kudumbashree Mission’s canteens were a boon to the officials.  Rs 1.27 crores was the total turnover recorded from the canteens.

Cleaning activities

Apart from serving food through the temporary canteens set up at despatch centres and distribution centres, in certain districts, Kudumbashree women were entrusted with the cleaning activities as well. In Kasaragod, Kudumbashree women took up cleaning activities in the polling stations in connection with the Lok Sabha Elections 2019. Kudumbashree women also served drinking water to the election officials and cleaned the polling stations on the completion of the election procedure. Kudumbashree women cleaned a total of 976 polling booths in the district. Two persons each were entrusted with the cleaning activities in all booths in the district.

Other activities

In Palakkad district, Kudumbashree Palakkad District Mission was able to give a total of 1000 cloth bags to the DEO office as per their order. Whereas, in Malappuram district, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission had already secured opportunity for serving food for the officials on the counting day, on 23 May 2019.

About Kudumbashree

Kudumbashree is the women empowerment and poverty eradication program, framed and enforced by the State Poverty Eradication Mission (SPEM) of the Government of Kerala.

Established in 1998, this Mission envisages eradication of absolute poverty by combining Local Economic Development, promoting Micro finance, starting livelihood activities in farming and non-farming sectors and implementing various activities in social development.

Kudumbashree, a community organization of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) of women in Kerala, has been recognized as an effective strategy for the empowerment of women in rural as well as urban areas: bringing women together from all spheres of life to fight for their rights or for empowerment. The overall empowerment of women is closely linked to economic empowerment. Kudumbashree Mission is also the nodal agency of many Government of India schemes like NRLM, NULM, SVEP, DDUGKY, MKSP, PMAY etc.

The street cobblers of the town, who are the part and parcel of the daily lives of the public were invisible as like the road side dwellers till then. They used to stitch,glue and polish the damaged footwear and made it good as new. Even in the midst of summer, they had to sit on the road side to earn their daily bread. Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission and Mananthavady Municipality has now arranged them a proper and comfortable work space.

The twelve cobblers had been working near the Mananthavady block office road side for many years and had suffered several hardships due to the inconsistency of their damaged shelter. Even though they had raised their voice for about a decade, nothing had happened. They have had identity cards, but weren't able to work properly. But now, Mananthavady Municipality as part of National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) rehabilitated the cobblers with the support of Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission.The National Urban Livelihood Mission aims at solving the concerns of urban street vendors and gives them suitable spaces for a good work environment.

The rehabilitation was done in three phases. In the first phase, the group of twelve cobblers was organised by Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission through the Prathyasha Scheme and were given economic assistance. The activities to ensure suitable hygienic space for them was also started. They were given unified shelter to work properly. Rs 3 lakhs was provided to each group, which they do not have to pay back. Kudumbashree Mission is the nodal agency for implementing the activities of NULM activities in Kerala.

Kudumbashree received HUDCO Award for Best Practices-PMAY-LIFE House Construction through Kudumbashree Women Construction Groups. The award was presented by Shri.G.Parthasarathy IFS (Retd.), President, India Habitat Centre to Smt. Roshni Pillai, State Programme Manager, PMAY at the programme held at Stain Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi on 25 April 2019. Hudco Awards for Best Practices are given in 6 various themes viz., urban governance, housing, urban poverty and infrastructure, urban transport, environmental management, energy conservation and green building, sanitation, urban design and regional planning, inner city revitalization and conservation. Kudumbashree Mission has been awarded for PMAY-LIFE House Construction through Kudumbashree Women Construction Groups under the theme housing, urban poverty and infrastructure.

Kudumbashree women has been rewriting history by undertaking works in the construction sector. 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 lakhs houses are being constructed in the state which provide 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 Kudumbashree 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.

Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission conducted, 'Orukkam', the drama camp of Balasabha students in connection with Thakazhi Sahithyolsavam at Thakazhy Smarakam, Thakazhy, Alappuzha on 17 April 2019. The drama camp was of 8 days duration. During the camp, the Balasabha children were trained by the eminent personalities from the drama industry. 'Vellappokkathil' drama, based on the short story written by Shri.Thakazhi Shivasankara Pillai was performed by the Balasabha students at the camp. Twenty seven Balasabha students became part of the drama. Shri. Pramod Payyanur, Shri. C.J.Kuttappan, eminent drama-movie directors interacted with the Balasabha children.

The Drama Camp was organised by Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission associating with Thakazhy CDS. Thakazhi Sahithyolsavam is organised every year to commemorate Shri.Thakazhi Shivasankara Pillai, the eminent novelist and short story writer of Malayalam literature, who wrote over 30 novels and novellas and over 600 short stories focusing on the lives of the oppressed classes.The drama camp was indeed a new experience for the Balasabha students.

As part of the Gender development programmes of Kudumbashree Idukki District Mission, a new initiative named ‘ Grameena Vijnana Kendram is started at Vattavada with the ownership of Vattavada panchayath. The centre was inaugurated on 9 March 2019. The aim of the project is to start knowledge centres in the rural areas of the district. The uniqueness of the program is that the centre has the facility to conduct live online classes where teachers from any part of the world can take classes and interact with the students in the centre with the help of ‘tele classroom’ facility'.

The project is implemented as a common venture of Kudumbashree Gender Self Learning Programme under the ownership of Vattavada panchayath. Edyonet is the technology and teaching resource provider of the center. They provided the infrastructure, technical support and software for the functioning of the program. Kudumbashree Idukki District Mission, CDS, LSGD, EDYONET – Infopark, Grameen vidhya foundation are the stakeholders of the centre.

A visit to Vattavada by the District Programme Manager who is in charge of Gender and the Snehitha staff noticed that as many issues are prevailing in the area. Vattavada, being a remote village, faces the issues of lack of transport facilities, lack of educational facilities and financial difficulties. Education opens the door to the multiple possibilities/ opportunities across the world. The enquiry on how it would be possible to make services of experts available to different parts of the state resulted in the community education program through tele classroom. Kudumbashree in collaboration with EDYONET IT started a free online PSC coaching as the first step of the program. Around 60 students from Vattavada and 30 students from Devikulam Panchayath gets benefited through this coaching service. Weekly 3 hour online classes are provided to the students. This PSC coaching and spoken English class was started under the Vattavada GRC. Eminent teachers are giving classes through video conference. Now the students can receive classes from eminent faculties from anywhere without spending money for it. As it is live online classes, they can conduct discussions and clear their doubts as well. This technology is useful in multiple ways for the center in future.

The centre aims at organizing various programmes utilizing the possibilities of information technology and reach out diverse education opportunities to the socio economical and geographically marginalised spaces. The class are being conducted from the public teaching facility at Ernakulam. The subject experts will conduct the classes according to the convenience of students via specially arranged tele classroom that includes a projector, camera and speaker system. The students will be able to watch the classes in 50 “ television and interact through the system specifically designed for the purpose. The sessions for the registered students will be made available in the software and the classes will be provided according to the need. The gender resource person of the Kudumbashree Gender resource center in the Vattavada panchayath has the responsibility of co coordinating the program. It will emerge as a revolution in distance education.

Kudumbashree Mission is partnering with DEO's of Kerala to provide various services during Lok Sabha Elections during April 2019. Kudumbashree Mission has been entrusted by the various DEO's in Kerala for various activities such as providing food in training centres, for arranging food for polling officials, printing and data entry works, Harithakarmasena for maintaining green protocol etc. Rangashree, the community theatre group of Kudumbashree Mission had already started working partnering with the office of Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala for conducting the SVEEP (Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation System) activities for Election to Lok Sabha.

The Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation System (SVEEP) was implemented for ensuring that maximum number of voters are using their right to vote. Under this programme, Street plays are conducted by the Rangashree teams of Kudumbashree Mission in selected spots in the districts. The street play stressed on the importance of casting vote, It also reminds that voting right is not only men's right, but also women's as well. It also give awareness on how to add name in the voter's list, how to vote, the identity proofs for casting vote, how to correct the errors in the voting list and how to add name to the voting list online through Akshaya centres. The street plays also educate the public, not to cast vote to someone upon anyone's pressure. Along with the street play, voting machine and VVPAT is also being introduced to the public.

Workshop on Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) for Kudumbashree was held at Hotel Fortune South Park and Kudumbashree State Mission office on 26-27 March 2019. The Emergency Preparedness Plan Workshop was organised associating with 'Save the Children', a global non-profit organisation which was founded in 1919 and is India's leading independent child rights NGO, which run programmes in the remotest corners of India and urban areas to provide quality education and healthcare, protection from harm and abuse and life-saving aid during emergencies to children. 

Concept of hazard, risk, vulnerability and disaster, understanding humanitarian crises and its response frame used, understanding risk monitoring and risk analysis process, different standards (Core Humanitarian Standard, Sphere standards etc.) of emergency response, conceptual framework and understanding of organizational emergency preparedness and conceptualization of a stander planning template of organizational preparedness were discussed  during the 1.5 day's workshop. Assistant District Mission Coordinators, Resource Persons, District Programme Managers from Social Development  team and  the State Mission team actively participated in the programme.

EPP would an integral part of Kudumbashree Mission because of its reach and the capacities with the organisation where women and children can be the first respondents at the time of crisis and also contribute largely to reducing the magnitude and scale of disasters. Kudumbashree Mission and 'Save the Children' NGO had signed an agreement to reach out to 10,000 families from the most marginalized sections, to recover the losses due to the unprecedented floods and landslides across Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Wayanad districts during the Kerala floods in August 2018.