The Prathidhwani Talk Show organised in connection with the State Level Gender Campaign Neetham 2018 attracted masses. The Kudumbashree women from various districts across the state shared their experiences on how Kudumbashree Mission touched their lives. It was Kudumbashree Mission which changed their lives altogether and brought them to the forefront of the society. Shri. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister, Devaswom-Tourism-Cooperative Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the function. The talk show showcased the growth that Kudumbashree Mission attained through its 20 years of service. Kudumbashree is the best example of Women's development in Kerala. Minister said.

The best 2 life experience stories selected from each districts were presented during the talk show programme.10 minutes was allotted for everyone. The participants shared their life stories before and after joining Kudumbashree. For everyone, it was Kudumbashree Mission which played a crucial role in their personality development and education as well. Smt. Yasmin, Smt. J. Radhamani Ravi, Smt. Prasanna Kumari, Smt. Aji Basheer, Smt. Bindu Wilson, Smt. Fareena Shahjahan, Smt. M.V. Bhageerathi, Smt. Chandrajanam Radhakrishnan, Smt. Prasanna Kumari, Smt.Sakeena, Smt. Laksmi Rajan, Smt.Usha Uthaman, Smt.Deepa Nair, Smt. Pathmavathi, Smt.Ambili Bhaskaran, Smt.Valsala.M. Smt. Kalamani, Smt.K.Thahira, Smt.Sindhu.S, Smt. Lissy Martin, Smt.Mini.K, Smt. Sonu.S.Nair, Smt.Padmini, Smt.Ambili Nair, Smt.Anitha Soman, Smt.Salomi Roby, Smt.Smitha Mol, Smt. Mercy George and Smt.T.T Ramla shared about the financial and intellectual they had acquired through Kudumbashree.

Kudumbashree Mission, which had made significant interventions in the women empowerment area, should now focus on the health of women, said Smt. E.S. Bijimol, MLA who presided over the function. The subject presentation was done by Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission. Shri. Pramod, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering. Adv. C.S Sujatha, Governing Body Member, Smt. M.K Remya, Governing Body Member, Prof. Geetha Kutty, Head, Centre for Women Studies Kerala Agriculture University, Smt. Mini Sukumar, Head, Centre for Women Studies, Calicut University and Shri. Pramod Payyanur, Member Secretary, Bharath Bhavan were the panelists of the programme. Ms.Sujitha, State Assistant Programme Manager extended vote of thanks.

The State Level Gender Campaign, Neetham 2018 was concluded at Olympia Hall, Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram on 20 March 2018. Shri. V.S Sunil Kumar, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Kerala inaugurated the report presentation held in association with the programme. It is by the launch of Kudumbashree Mission that Kerala began to think about 'gender equality'. The growth of Kudumbashree Mission is that the common women of Kerala realised that they are also the part of the society. Kudumbashree could succeed in persuading the women to take up the challenging jobs sectors, that were considered not suitable for women, till then. Kudumbashree had played a main role in bringing up the women from the mentally backward state to the main stream. Minister said.

It is notable that in the 50 % seats reserved for women at the Local Self Government Departments, a greater percentage had entered into the main stream through Kudumbashree Mission. Neetham Campaign should bring in a big change by ensuring security for women and children from the base level itself. The contribution of Kudumbashree into the agriculture sector is really notable. The village markets set up by the Kudumbashree women are the best examples for these. He added. Minister also said that all support would be extended for ensuring regular markets for the agricultural products produced by the Joint Liability Groups of Kudumbashree.

Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission presided over the function. He said that Kudumbashree had started taking up the gender activities to the international level. After the successful completion of the first phase of Vulnerability Mapping, the panchayaths had submitted various projects worth Rs 11 Crores for the security and finding livelihood for women and children. The vulnerability mapping would be done this year also and the community counselling activities would be more strengthened. It's a greater achievement for Kudumbashree that the activities of Snehitha Gender Help Desk could be extended to all districts across the state. He added.

The representatives from all districts presented the details collected from the districts in fighting back the atrocities against women and the preventive measures identified through NHG get togethers. Dr. K.R Shaiju, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree District Mission, Thiruvananthapuram welcomed the gathering. Smt. Ramlath.P, Director, Kudumbashree Mission, Shri. Pramod K.V, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Shri. Binu Francis, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree and Smt. Soya Thomas, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree also attended the function. Smt. Priya E, State Assistant Programme Manager extended vote of thanks.

The Executive Committee of the Department of Women and Child approved the scale-up of the Amrutham Take Home Ration Fortification to all Nutrimix production units in Wayanad district. Fortification of Take Home Rations is the collaborative project between Kudumbashree Mission, Department of Women and Child Development and United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP), which aims to deliver fortified blended foods to children between 6-36 months of age through Integrated Child Development Services Programme in Kerala.

   As per the MoU signed between the Government of Kerala and United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP), with the intention of demonstrating that fortification can be well implemented in government systems and schemes with adequate capacity building of the women’s neighbourhood groups, starting in December 2016, Kudumbashree Mission in collaboration with UNWFP and the Social Justice Department (SJD), had setup a fortification demonstration at the Snehadeepam Amrutham Nutrimix unit in Vellamunda panchayath in Manathavady block of Wayanad district.

    Fortification is a practice of deliberately increasing the micronutrient content of a food, so as to improve the nutritional quality of food supply and provide a public health benefit with minimal risk to health. As per the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau Survey 2012, average intake of children (1-3 years) for recommended micronutrients was found to be much lower than the required, resulting in the consequent malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. According to the World Health Organization, young children between 6-36 months of age catered to by the Integrated Child Development Services Programme and Kudumbashree, should receive foods which provide sufficient energy, protein and micronutrients to cover a child’s energy and nutrient gaps. The pilot project in Mananthavady aimed to address the same as well. Micronutrients may be provided to these children through dietary diversification, supplementation or fortification. Food fortification however is the most cost-effective strategy by which the micronutrients are added to foods leading to rapid improvement in the micronutrient status of various population groups at a reasonable cost without requiring any behavioural change.

    As of date, 163.5 metric tonnes of fortified Amrutham Nutrimix has been produced by the Snehadeepam unit in Wayanad and distributed to all 148 Anganwadi centres in the project area. The pilot project has efficiently demonstrated that, Take Home Ration can be easily fortified by addition of micronutrient premix to the existing recipe of Amrutham Nutrimix while using the same equipment’s available at the Nutrimix production unit. The beneficiary response and acceptability of fortified Amrutham as observed during the pilot project has been highly encouraging. As part of scaling-up the Take Home Ration fortification initiative across Kerala, the project will be initially extended to all Nutrimix production units in Wayanad district followed by other districts in the State. UNWFP will support with capacity building of all the units engaged in nutri-mix production in Wayanad.

The District Mission of Thrissur came up with a new idea for finding markets for their entrepreneurs, associating with Canara Bank. Similar to the mobile unit of Consumer fed, the Canaravahini would reach the customers and the products of Kudumbashree would be bought by the customers. A branded van would act as a mobile shop which would reach out to the customers and sell the products of the  micro entrepreneurs in the district. The programme is being implemented as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities of Canara bank. 

   Alathur Rice produced by the JLGs of Annamanada Panchayath in the district, curry powders, other flours, masalas, jam, squash, coconut oil, handicrafts, toiletries etc are for sale at ‘Canaravahini’.

    Through various activities, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission had been finding maximum market for their products and is monitoring them as well.  Kudumbashree District Mission of Thrissur  understood that only through such out of the box initiatives that market could be assured for the products.  Through different initiatives to market the products, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission is standing out unique.

Kudumbashree Women of Kasaragod will start climbing the electric posts soon! The Grama Kiranam Programme put forward by Kasaragod District Mission would enable the women to repair the street lights leaving behind all the gender discriminations. From now onwards they would climb the electric posts to do the electric works of their panchayaths. Both the theory and practical training for making LED bulbs and repairing the street lights are being given to them. 'Imprint' the accredited agency under District Mission of Kasaragod and Adersh Technical Institute are providing the needed training in Cheruvathoor and Uppala respectively. Those who wished to become the part of the programme were selected through concerned CDSs.

The training is being held at two centres in the district, Cheruvathoor and Uppala. Training is given to 30 people each through both centres. A team of 5 is selected from each panchayath out of which 3 are women and 2 are men. They are also given training in business management, communication leadership, accounting etc. The teams are also trained in making LED, tube, emergency, panel light etc. Those who finished the LED bulb training may start Micro Enterprises. 22 people from Cheruvathoor and 21 from Uppala attended the theory cum practical training. Once operational, these women would therefore be able to break all the stereotypes of gender.