A two member group under National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) has recently started cut vegetable unit in Kochi Corporation. The unit markets the product labelled as 'Fresh Vegetables'. Cut vegetables for Avial, Sambar, Thoran etc are cleaned, cut and hygienically packed and are being sold. Peeled garlic and small onion are also sold in this manner. The unit also used to sell jack fruit and jack fruit seeds during its season.The cut vegetable unit was inaugurated by Smt. Soumini Jain, Mayor Kochi Municipal Corporation on 9 July 2018. Smt. Jensy Saji and Smt. Omana Johny are the women behind the ' Fresh Vegetables' cut vegetable unit.

The unit is selling their product in LULU Mall Hypermarket and Centre Sqaure Mall at Ernakulam. Half kilogram of cut vegetables cost Rs 50. More than 100 boxes are sold on Saturdays and Sundays and more than 80 boxes are being sold during other working days. The unit also sells cut fruits and grated coconut at Centre Square Mall, Ernakulam. The unit uses garlic peelers, driers, wash tubs and cutting tables for cutting the vegetables. The unit is also intending to start a shop for the purpose.

In the model of Paravoor urban service team, 4 U, new urban service team was started in Kochi Corporation. Shri. A.B.Sabu, Welfare Standing Committee Chairperson, Kochi Corporation inaugurated the urban service team on 30 July 2018. The teams are set up with the help of the centrally designed programme National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM). A total of 20 persons are identified for the group. The group includes Plumber, Electricians, Painters, drivers, masons, beauticians etc. Public may avail the service through a phone call and the service providers will provide it at their door step.To avail the service the customer may call in the no. 9995608203. By launching urban service team, Kochi Corporation has managed to make their mark.

A group of five transgenders from Kozhikode District is all set to enter into group farming after this Monsoon season. A Joint Liability Group named 'Punarjani' had been formed under Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission. The transgenders will bring their cultivated crops to the market very soon. It is envisaged to ensure the supply of pure organic vegetables to the public thereby helping the sidelined communities like transgenders earn their livelihood through group farming.They launched the programme by sowing the seeds in a grow bag at Kudumbashree District Mission Kozhikode. The group will do their farming at the 25 cents of land of Mahilamandiram, located at Vellimadukunnu, Kozhikode. Sisily George, Kareena, Aleena, Prayaga and Thasni are the five members of the group. Prayaga is the Secretary and Sisily is the President of the Group.

The loans for buying the seeds and fertilizers would be made availed by Kudumbashree. The Punarjani group members had already received training from Krishi Vigyan Kendra for mushroom cultivation and coconut tree climbing. Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission has framed the programme in connection with the Kudumbashree- Mahila Kisan Sashakthikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) programme. Through Mahila Kisan Sashakthikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) programme of the Government of India aims to improve the status of women in agriculture and bridge the gender gap that still exists in the Indian agrarian world to bring about systemic change in the sector. Kudumbashree Mission had been implementing various programmes for bringing the sidelined communities like transgenders to the forefront of the society and it is for the first time that a Joint Liability Group is formed for helping them enter into group farming.

Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission is all set to launch 'Shree Taxi' associating with the National Health Mission, Malappuram. It is a convergence programme of Kudumbashree Mission and the National Health Mission. As per the programme, the 'Shree Taxi' would take the pregnant women to the hospital and also take the mothers and newborn babies after delivery from the Tirur Government Hospital to their homes. Smt. Rahmath, mother of a mentally challenged kid, who was struggling to make her livelihood would be the driver of the Shree Taxi. She had already secured her Driving Licence and Badge for the same. According to the National Health Mission this is the first of its kind project in India. The District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission and the District Programme Manager, National Health Mission, Malappuram had already signed the MoU regarding the same.

The service is framed as per the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) Scheme which was launched by Government of India during June 2011 to motivate those pregnant women who still choose to deliver at their homes to opt for institutional deliveries. The Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) Scheme has the provisions to provide several entitlements to the mothers and the newborns which include Free Transport from Home to Health Institutions, Free Transport between facilities in case of referral and Free drop Back from Institutions to home. It is also planned to extend the programme to the other government hospitals in the district as well. By the convergence, the Kudumbashree women and the pregnant women would be benefited.The ' Shree Taxi' service would be officially inaugurated on 11 August 2018.

Kerala became the first state in the country to ensure the proper inclusion of street vendors in the society, by issuing Identity cards to them. For rehabilitating the street vendors in a proper and effective way, it was decided to extend skill training to selected 1000 street food vendors. The training programme was conducted as part of the Recognition of Prior Learning(RPL). It has been designed to provide RPL training to 1000 street vendors this year.During the first phase, 200 street vendors from 10 Urban local Bodies were trained. The first phase training had almost been completed.

The training of the first batch was conducted at Kottayam District from 20-23 June 2018. The RPL Trainings at Alappuzha, Thodupuzha, Moovattupuzha, Thrikkakara, Kodungalloor, Wadakkanchery, Chalakkudy and Malappuram Urban Local Bodies had already been completed. The training at Koyilandy Urban Local Body would be conducted from 25-28 July 2018.

Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), the pioneer institute for tourism and hospitality in Kerala had been extending 12 hour training to street vendors in Urban Local Bodies of the state under National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) Scheme. The trainers of the KITTS were extending training sessions in all urban Local Bodies. During the training programme the participants were exposed to the aspects such as food safety & hygiene, procurement of quality raw material, food contamination (physical, chemical and microbial), high risk foods, cross contamination, importance of safe food, quality of water/ice to be used, cleaning sanitation of utensils, effective waste/garbage disposal, table manners and etiquette, customer relation practices and basics of food safety laws. Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) would issue certificate to the participants who had successfully completed the training programme. A hand book is also issued for quick reference along with participation certificate.

A large number of street food outlets are functioning across 93 urban pockets in the state. Local flavors are being served at such roadside outlets at cheapest prices. Food borne illnesses of microbial origin are major health problem associated with such street foods and its major causes are lack of proper knowledge in safe food handling, lack of clean environment, sanitation and hygiene, mode of food display, food service, hand washing, sources of raw materials, and use of potable water. If adequate measures are followed it can be prevented. It is highly imperative to give basic exposure to street food vendors about food safety & hygiene, effective waste disposal, table manners & etiquette, customer relation practices and laws, rules & regulations for food safety. It was on the realization of the prevailing situation that the training was planned.

Prevent outbreaks of food/water-borne diseases from street food vending units, reduce the chances of spoilage of food, ensure quality of street food and health of the customers, effective waste management system for food vending units, understand basic table etiquette, customer handling techniques and enhance business potential of street food vending units, create basic understanding about the food safety laws, rules and regulations among street food vendors, brand the street food vendors in Kerala under a single brand- Kudumbashree etc are the benefits of the training programme. In the next phase trainings would be extended to more street food vendors. It is envisaged to create a clean and hygenic food culture through these trainings.

The winners of the Photography competition and logo designing competition organised in connection with the Animal Birth Control programme of Kudumbashree Mission is announced. ' Stray Dog Issue' was the theme for Photography Competition. Shri. Sumesh Kodiyath, Photographer, Deshabhimani Thiruvannathapuram unit bagged the first prize and Shri. Sudharmadas, Chief Photographer, Kerala Kaumudi Ernakulam unit bagged the second prize for the Photography Competition. The Award for the First Prize and Second prize would be Rs.10,000 and Rs.5,000 respectively. Shri. Pradeep Kumar,Senior Photographer, Malayala Manorama, Malappuram Unit received special Jury Mention.

Shri. K.S. Ananthakrishnan bagged the first prize for the logo designing competition. The Award for First prize is Rs.10,000. Shri. R. Gopalakrishnan, renowned Photographer was the External Expert of the Jury who selected the winners. Smt. R. Ramlath Director, Kudumbashree Mission, Smt.Jayanthi Narendranath, Public Relations Officer, Kudumbashree Mission and Dr. L. Ravi Kumar, ABC Expert, Kudumbashree Mission were the other Jury members.

  The Awards would be distributed to the winners at the programme which would be held as part of the conclusion of the 'Suraksha-2018' Awareness Campaign organised connection with the Animal Birth Control programme of Kudumbashree Mission at Thiruvananthapuram on 31 July 2018.