A 23 member foreign delegation visited Kerala to study about the poverty alleviation activities being implemented by Kudumbashree Mission in Kerala. The delegation would attend the training programme on 'The Entrepreneurial Development of women in rural areas' under Feed The Future India Triangular Training (FTF ITT) - International Training Programmeo organised by Kudumbashree Mission in association with National Institute of Agriculture Extension Management, Hyderabad (MANAGE) at Samudra, Kovalam from 9-23 May 2018.

The delegation include senior officials of agriculture, irrigation, animal husbandry, job, fisheries and gender development departments of Liberia, Uganda, Mongolia, Malawi and Kenya. The delegation would make field visits to selected NHGs, ADSs, CDSs, Nutrimix unit, Cafe Kudumbashree, amenity centres, rice collective at Eraviperoor, BUDS at Pallickal and plastic shredding unit at Eraviperoor. Through the field visits, the delegation would be able to study about the role played by NHGs in strengthening the three tier system of Kudumbashree Mission. The delegation would also interact with the successful Kudumbashree women who

ad made noteworthy achievements in their respective sectors. The officials from State- District Missions would also accompany the delegation.

Kudumbashree had extended training for a 28 member team different african countries during last year as part of the training organised by National Institute of Agriculture Extension Management, Hyderabad. Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) was entrusted for giving training to this team. On getting motivated by the training received at Kerala, Kudumbashree was invited to Uganda and a team from Kudumbashree Mission had visited Uganda and gave training for their officials.

Smt. P. Ramlath, Director, Kudumbashree Mission inaugurated the training programme. Shri.Ajith Chacko, Chief Operating Officer, NRLM welcomed the gathering. Dr. Uma, Director, MANAGE, Smt. Amruda.G.S, Programme Officer, Shri. Nikesh Kiran, Programme Officer, Dr. Ravikumar, Animal Birth Control Project Expert, Shri. Rahul Krishna, Thematic Anchor, Kudumbashree NRO, Shri. Arun P. Rajan, State Assistant Programme Manager and Smt. Chinnu Joseph, Project Executive also attended the programme. The training programme will come to an end on 23 May 2018.

Kudumbashree District Mission of Kozhikode made a path breaking gesture by launching Children's Band set-'21 Pilots' by joining together the Balasabha students in the district.The band formed of children from the Balasabhas under Kozhikode Corporation Kudumbasree CDS was launched by Shri. Thottathil Raveendran, Mayor, Kozhikode Corporation launched the band by handing over the baton to Ms. M.P Ardra, band captain, 21 Pilots Band at the programme held at Kozhikode beach on 7 May 2018. The team consists of 21 children of the age group under 18, mostly from financially backward families.

The '21 Pilots' band set are being trained by Shri. K.M. Kuriakose, a known band trainer in the district. After the inaugural function, the band made their debut performance at Kozhikode Beach. The band owns 5 trumpets, 2 bugles, 4 drums, 4 side drums, 3 cymbals, 2 euphonium and 1 major stick. The band would also perform at the programme which would be held in connection with the Second anniversary celebrations of Government of Kerala and 20th Anniversary celebrations of Kudumbashree Mission which would be held at Kozhikode during 17-19 May 2018.

Smt. Anita Rajan, Welfare standing committee chairperson of the corporation handed over the badges to the band members. Smt. Meera Darshak,Deputy Mayor, Kozhikode Corporation, Smt T.V. Lalithaprabha, K.V. Baburaj, M.C. Anil Kumar Standing Committee Chairpersons, Smt P.C. Kavitha, Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission Coordinator and other dignitaries also attended the function. '21 Pilots' is the first band set formed under Balasabha of Kudumbashree fold in the State.

The story of Thripthi Shetty can be depicted as the best example in describing how Kudumbashree Mission has touched the lives of the weaker and marginalized sections in the society. Thripthi Shetty is a transgender, hailing from Manjeshwaram of Kasargod district, who had faced many difficulties in undertaking different jobs for livelihood. She received a dignified life after becoming the part of the special NHG under Kochi East CDS.

As part of inclusion of the marginalized and weaker sections, Kudumbashree Mission gave special focus on transgenders and this helped Kochi East CDS to form special NHGs for transgender. Thripthi became a member of this NHG. The general awareness workshops on the National Urban Livelihoods Mission scheme motivated her to start a designer jewellery shop. But working capital and loan availability etc was a big concern and she approached the City Mission Management Unit (CMMU) to understand the various steps to establish an enterprise. The banks were reluctant to provide loan, even though she had an Aadhar card and a training certificate. The bank insisted for additional ID proof. The constant efforts of the Mission unit motivated State Bank of India to sanction loan based on the task force recommendation. As a result, she received loan for an amount of Rs 1 lakh after two months of submission of the application. Later, Thripthi procured the materials for designer jewellery from various states and made different variety ornaments. Initially her marketing was centered on Kudumbashree fests.

Now Thripthi Shetty has developed an online portal ‘Thripthi Handicrafts and Fashion’ (www.thripthi.in) and is engaged in e-marketing as well. If right intervention is made at the right time, many people like Thripthi can be supported and saved. Her story can be considered as the is the best epitome for Kudumbashree Mission's interventions.

തിരുവനന്തപുരം: കുടുംബശ്രീ മുഖേന നടത്തിയ അരക്ഷിതാവസ്ഥാ പഠനം (വള്‍ണറബിലിറ്റി മാപ്പിങ്ങ്)  രണ്ടാം ഘട്ടവും വന്‍വിജയമാകുന്നു. ഇതിന്‍റെ അടിസ്ഥാനത്തില്‍ സ്ത്രീകളുടെയും കുട്ടികളുടെയും സുരക്ഷയും സാമ്പത്തിക സാമൂഹ്യ വികസനവും ലക്ഷ്യമിട്ട് സി.ഡി.എസുകള്‍ സമര്‍പ്പിച്ച 77 കോടി രൂപയുടെ വിവിധ പദ്ധതികള്‍ക്ക് തദ്ദേശ സ്വയംഭരണ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങള്‍ അംഗീകാരം നല്‍കി.   2016 നവംബറിലാണ് പദ്ധതിക്ക് തുടക്കമിട്ടത്. ആദ്യഘട്ടത്തില്‍ 28 പഞ്ചായത്തുകളില്‍ നടത്തിയ വള്‍ണറബിലിറ്റി മാപ്പിങ്ങിന്‍റെ അടിസ്ഥാനത്തില്‍ തദ്ദേശ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങള്‍ സമര്‍പ്പിച്ച 12 കോടി രൂപയുടെ പദ്ധതികള്‍ക്ക് അംഗീകാരം ലഭിച്ചിരുന്നു. ഇതേ തുടര്‍ന്നാണ് 140 പഞ്ചായത്തുകളിലേക്ക് പദ്ധതി വ്യാപിപ്പിക്കാന്‍ തീരുമാനിച്ചത്.

   തദ്ദേശ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുടെ പിന്തുണയോടെ പ്രത്യേക പരിശീലനം ലഭിച്ച കുടുംബശ്രീ കമ്യൂണിറ്റി റിസോഴ്സ് പേഴ്സണ്‍മാര്‍,  ജെന്‍ഡര്‍ റിസോഴ്സ് പേഴ്സണ്‍മാര്‍ എന്നിവരാണ് മാപ്പിങ്ങിനാവശ്യമായ  വിവരശേഖരണം നടത്തിയത്. വീടുകള്‍, വിദ്യാലയങ്ങള്‍, തദ്ദേശ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുടെ പരിധിയില്‍ വരുന്ന വിവിധ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങള്‍, അയല്‍സഭ, അയല്‍ക്കൂട്ടങ്ങള്‍ എന്നിവിടങ്ങളിലായി സംഘടിപ്പിച്ച സര്‍വേയില്‍  ഓരോ പ്രദേശത്തും പ്രദേശ വാസികള്‍ നേരിടുന്ന പ്രശ്നങ്ങളും അടിസ്ഥാന സൗകര്യ വികസനത്തിന്‍റെ അപര്യാപ്തതകള്‍ കാരണം അനുഭവിക്കേണ്ടി വരുന്ന പ്രയാസങ്ങളും വ്യക്തമായിരുന്നു. ഇപ്രകാരം പദ്ധതി നടപ്പാക്കിയ ഓരോ പഞ്ചായത്തില്‍ നിന്നും ലഭിച്ച വിവരങ്ങള്‍ ക്രോഡീകരിച്ച റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ട് തയ്യാറാക്കിയിരുന്നു. ഇതിലെ കണ്ടെത്തലുകളുടെ അടിസ്ഥാനത്തില്‍ കുടുംബശ്രീ സി.ഡി.എസ് ചെയര്‍പേഴ്സണ്‍ മുഖേന അതത് തദ്ദേശ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളില്‍ സമര്‍പ്പിച്ച 77 കോടി രൂപയുടെ പദ്ധതികള്‍ക്കാണ് ഇപ്പോള്‍ തദ്ദേശ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുടെ അംഗീകാരം ലഭിച്ചത്.

വള്‍ണറബിലിറ്റി മാപ്പിങ്ങ് നടപ്പാക്കിയ 140 പഞ്ചായത്തുകളില്‍ വനിതാ വികസനം (10.65 കോടി രൂപ), ഉപജീവനവും തൊഴില്‍ പരിശീലനവും (രണ്ടു കോടി രൂപ), ജെന്‍ഡര്‍  വികസനം (5.98 കോടി രൂപ), പട്ടികജാതി പട്ടികവര്‍ഗ വികസനം (1.71 കോടി രൂപ), അടിസ്ഥാന സൗകര്യ വികസനം ( 21 കോടി രൂപ), വെള്ളം, ആരോഗ്യം, ശുചിത്വം (11.61 കോടി രൂപ), കൃഷി- മൃഗസംരക്ഷണം (15.53 കോടി രൂപ ) ഭിന്നശേഷിക്കാര്‍ (3.76 ) ശിശുവികസനം(1.64), വയോജന പരിചരണം(2.95 കോടി) എന്നിങ്ങനെ വിവിധ മേഖകളിലായി സമര്‍പ്പിച്ച പദ്ധതികള്‍ക്കാണ് തദ്ദേശ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങള്‍ അംഗീകാരം നല്‍കിയത്.

   ആദ്യഘട്ടത്തില്‍ മാപ്പിങ്ങിലൂടെ കണ്ടെത്തിയ വിവരങ്ങളുടെ അടിസ്ഥാനത്തില്‍  അപ്പാരല്‍ യൂണിറ്റ്, വനിതാ മെഡിക്കല്‍ ലാബ്, പ്ളാസ്റ്റിക് സംസ്കരണം തുടങ്ങി നിരവധി തൊഴില്‍ പദ്ധതികള്‍ക്കൊപ്പം ജെന്‍ഡര്‍ റിസോഴ്സ്  സെന്‍ററുകള്‍, വയോജനങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് പകല്‍വീട,് വിധവ ഉപജീവനം, ഭിന്നശേഷിക്കാര്‍ക്ക് ട്രൈസൈക്കിള്‍, നിര്‍ഭയയുടെ തുടര്‍പ്രവര്‍ത്തനങ്ങള്‍, പെണ്‍ സൗഹൃദ ടോയ്ലെറ്റുകള്‍, ബഡ്സ് സ്കൂളുകളിലെ അടിസ്ഥാന സൗകര്യങ്ങള്‍ എന്നിവ ഉള്‍പ്പെടെ സാമൂഹ്യസുരക്ഷ എന്നിവ ഉറപ്പുവരുത്തുന്ന 12 കോടി രൂപയുടെ വ്യത്യസ്തങ്ങളായ പദ്ധതികള്‍ക്ക് പഞ്ചായത്തുകള്‍ തുക വകയിരുത്തി അംഗീകാരം നല്‍കിയിരുന്നു.

For the first time in India, an Urban Local Body launched 3 innovative enterprises marking the May Day observance. It was Paravoor Municipality of Ernakulam district of Kerala, that launched 3 innovative enterprises.The Mother's Kitchen Unit, House Keeping Unit and the Urban Service Team are the three innovative enterprises launched by the Paravoor Municipality. The 3 enterprises started working on the May Day itself. The teams are set up with the help of the centrally designed programme National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM). Shri. Ramesh D. Kurup, Chairman, North Paravoor Municipality inaugurated the three enterprises at Paravoor Municipality premises on 1 May 2018.

The first in the row, Vinayaka Mother's Kitchen team would deliver home made food on call. Whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner, the Mother's Kitchen team would deliver it in no time. Smt. Geetha Parameswaran, Smt. Sindhu Sunil Kumar, Smt. Vimala Appu, Smt. Sasikala Subhanayakan and Smt. Jaya Narayanan are the women behind Vinayaka Mother's Kitchen. Whereas, Sadgamaya House Keeping Unit would undertake all the cleaning works of houses, institutions, auditoriums etc. Smt. Praseetha, Smt. Deepa, Smt. Aneesha, Smt.Rajani and Smt. Habsath are the members of the Sadgamaya House Keeping Unit. Paravoor Urban Service team is set up to do the electrical, plumbing, masonry, painting and gardening works in households. Shri. Babu, Shri. Bijoy, Shri. Baiju, Shri. Sudheesh and Shri. David are the members of the Urban Service Team.

The teams would be working based on Paravoor Municipal office. the Urban Local Body had already published the contact numbers the member of these three innovative enterprises. By launching three innovative enterprises, Paravoor ULB has managed to make their mark.

Kudumbashree Mission is about  to launch Common Facility Centres across the State, where a consortium of Kudumbshree Entrepreneurs come together to make same kind of products. As part of this, 19  Common Facility Centres would be started in 12 districts in Kerala very soon. It is envisioned to form a consortium of enterprises by clustering them in the basis of the kind of the products they make. Mainly the production of apparels, food products and cement brick sectors are aimed at by launching the Common Facility Centres. The  Common Facility Centres would act as a working area where the entrepreneurs from an area could make their products, pack it and ensure its quality. Kudumbashree aims to identify all enterprises in the district level working in similar way and to start  Common Facility Centres ensuring them enough support they need. 4525 Kudumbashree women would be benefited out of thelaunch of  Common Facility Centres.

It would then be possible to produce branded products from a particular locality itself, if the entrepreneurs from that particular locale would be able to produce huge quantity of products. Those entrepreneurs who can't afford buying machinery may make use of the  Common Facility Centres. The production cost could be minimized as the raw materials are procured together by the  Common Facility Centres. The Product Testing facility would also be arranged at the  Common Facility Centres. By ensuring the service and supervision  of  the professionals in this sector, this initiative could secure better marketing of Kudumbashree Products. Common Protocol would be ensured in the sales of the product.  The respective District Mission Coordinators would be in charge of the  Common Facility Centres.

The respective Local Self Government Institutions would arrange the infrastructure for starting the  Common Facility Centres. Kudumbashree Mission would spent around Rs 50 lakh for launching  Common Facility Centres. The 60 % of the amount would be used for buying machinery, 15 % for building renovation and, another 15 % would be use for conducting training programmes and 10 % would be used for designing, packing and better marketing.

Kudumbashree Mission is venturing into Geriatric care envisioning to provide special care for the lonely old age people. The project 'Harsham-Happiness Redefined', would ensure care for the old aged people. The aim of the programme is to form groups of around 100 volunteers in each district to help aged people who live alone or under adverse circumstances with least support, including those who are bedridden. The skill training for the geriatric care executives was inaugurated at Kozhikode on 30 April 2018.

The Harsham programme will be implemented with financial assistance from the Kerala Academy for Skill Excellence, plans to provide jobs for around 1,000 women under Kudumbashree Mission this year. The programme will be implemented with the support of HAP (Health Action by People), an NGO and the Hindustan Latex Family Planning and Promotion Council (HLFPPT). The 15-day The residential programme will start on 15 May 2018. To begin with, the 90 selected women from Kannur and Kozhikode will get trained in geriatric care. The training programme will be extended to other districts in the near future.

The working of the programme would be in the model of Micro enterprises. Those aged below 55 years, with good physical capabilities and an aptitude for serving the society would be considered for the programme. The respective District Mission Co-ordinators would select the Geriatric Care executives in the districts.Training for them will be provided to the selected Geriatric care executives in two 30-member batches.The beneficiaries may avail the services of the Harsham Programme through call centres or online round the clock. The volunteers will collect the details of the people who have requested for services or care will later impart the services. The help of CDS-ADS members would be made used to gather information about the callers .

As part of the state government's welfare programmes, the local bodies have already initiated a palliative care project aiming to turn Kerala into an elderly-friendly state. Many aged people, those who are bedridden, have been receiving care under the project. But shortage of volunteers and employees is still a major hurdle, and many needy people have been denied care in time. The Harsham Programme will be a solution for that issue.