As part of collecting suggestions from the public in connection with the Nava Kerala, Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan, Hon. Chief Minister, Government of Kerala had interacted with Kudumbashree members on 17 January 2021. CDS Chairpersons, representing 14 districts had interacted with the Chief Minister. When the note regarding such a meeting was received, ideas were sought from all the CDS Chairpersons from the 14 districts. One CDS Chairperson each from every district was entrusted for representing their districts. Those chairpersons interacted with the Chief Minister, representing all the Kudumbashree members in their districts. The interactive meeting, which was started at 3.45 PM lasted till 6 PM.

Ms Prasanna Kumari (Kottukal-Thiruvananthapuram), Ms Rajani Manoj (Kalluvathukal-Kollam), Ms Sreeja Aji (Vallikkode-Pathanamthitta), Ms Reena Santhosh (Ambalapuzha-Alappuzha), Ms Sreeja Santhosh (Kidangoor-Kottayam), Ms Asha Santhosh (Manakkad-Idukki), Ms Vishalam Babu (Vadavukode Puthencruz- Ernakulam), MsRamla Anwar (Puthenchira-Thrissur), Ms K. Ushakumari (Polpully-Palakkad) Ms Bindu Babu (Poothadi-Wayanad), Ms Krishna Jyothi (Poroor-Malappuram), Ms Sajina (Maniyoor-Kozhikode), Ms Rekha. P (Mattannur-Kannur) and Ms Mumtaz (Chambanad-Kasaragod) are the NHG members who intereacted with the Chief Minister and shared their suggestions and ideas.

The needs and ideas shared by the Chairpersons from the 14 districts are given below.

General Suggestions

1. Ensure permanent income of Harithakarmasena members by including their work in MGNREGS Programme.
2. Need permanent programmes in Scheduled Tribes Sector for rehabilitating the nomadic communities.
3. Start Art Training Centres in every panchayath under the leadership of CDSs by making use of the artists who have received Golden Jubilee Fellowship.
4. Ensure regular wages without any gender discrimination in the livelihood sector.
5. Include Gender Sensitisation classes and sex education in School Education Syllabus.
6. Make Vanitha Gramasabha, Bala Gramasabha and Elderly Gramasabha mandatory.
7. For ensuring food security, turn the fallow lands into cultivable lands. For the same, the programmes should be formulated and be implemented by MGNREGS, LSGIs, Agriculture Department and Kudumbashree.
8. The bus stops should be equipped with toilets.
9. Job Portals should be started in Panchayath level to find jobs for those who lost their jobs.
10. The ration card categorization should be reanalyzed.
11. Plastic should be removed from the water bodies to increase the fish abundance.
12. The Pakalveed for the elderly should be ensured in all LSGIs.
13. Drainage System should be ensured in the coastal areas.
14. Start 'Shelter Homes' for ensuring the protection of differently abled children.
15. Make arrangements for emergency help in the tribal sector and take necessary actions to resolve the issue of havocs in farming sector.
16. Special Health checkup centres for women and children in blocks. Block level Gender Parks.
17. Government Order be issued that only if the LSGIs earmark funds for ABC, GRC and Harithakarmasena, the DPC Programme will be approved.
18 The LSGIs should earmark funds for fulfilling the various needs of those who are included in the Destitute Free Kerala Programme. Timely changes should be brought to the criterion.
19. There should be centralised waste management plants in every district.
20. The BPL List should be restructured considering the year 2020 as the base.
21. Nutritious food should also be given to the elderly through the Anganawadis.
22. The women development programmes should be used for livelihood needs.
23. Yoga-Kalari Training centres for Women should be started in block level.
24. Ensure livelihood opportunities for tribal youth in their respective locations, afrer extending them skill training.
25. Special package for Sickle Cell Anemia patients.
26. Actions to get rid of the menace of wild animals.
27. More sources of livelihood should be identified in the tribal sector.
28. The eligible who are not included in the LIFE Programme should be included.
29. Hostel and toilet services for travellers.
30. Waste Management should be included in the syllabus of primary classes.
31. Children should be given training in hand craft from school level.
32. Arrange public grounds, swimming pools and fitness centres in all panchayths that could be used by men and women. Encourage fraternities.
33. Make arrangements for transport under the leadership of the Goverment, where there are transport difficulties.
34. Conserve conventional drinking water resources.
35. Produce Kuttanad branded duck meat.

Suggestions Regarding Kudumbashree

1. Change Anganawadis into the working centre of ADSs. Through this, improve the activities by converging with the Social Justice Department.
2. Launch vegetable procuring, sales outlets under the leadership of CDSs in Horticorp model. Three or four centres in the state should function as procurement-distributing centres.
3. Form Kudumbashree Vanitha Bank.
4. Loans upto Rs 3 lakhs is given interest subsidy. The loan is issued at 4% interest. Increase the limit of this loan to Rs 10 lakhs.
5.Give a small subsidy from the state share in Jeevandeepam Insurance Programme.
6. Make better office system for CDSs.
7. Ensure insurance for Kudumbashree micro enterprises.
8. Start Kudumbashree-Homestay, Tour Guide programmes in the tourism sector.
9. Make interventions for catering the needs of Snehitha Calling Bell Programme beneficiaries excluding the mental support.
10. Special Financial Package for Kudumbashree Micro Enterprises.
11. Permanent buildings for Snehitha Centres.
12. LSGIs should give more importance for Kudumbashree.
13. Marketing opportunities should be arranged for Kudumbashree enterprises in all LSGIs.
14. The functioning of Vigilant Groups should be made more active. Meetups at regular intervals.
15. The buildings under the ownership of the LSGIs and the Government should be given to Kudumbashree units to turn it into marketing outlets for free.
16. Kudumbashree should be given more importance in the implementation of Women Component Plan.
17. Coastal Projects should be implemented through Kudumbashree.
18. Kudumbashree should be given more importance and opportunity for more participation along with other Departments for the development in coastal- tribal sectors.
19. The works of LIFE Programmes should be given to Kudumbashree Construction Groups. Also the printing works of the Government should be given to Kudumbashree printing press units.
20. Ensure Kudumbashree's participation in Palliative Care Sector.
21. Make two members from a house part of an NHG.
21. Give the charge of running the canteens in Governement- Public Sector institutions, comfort stations at LSGIs etc to Kudumbashree units.
22. Include the products of Kudumbashree enterprises in Government food kits.
23. Give the approval to buy the electronic products produced by Kudumbashree units like LED lights, without any tender processes.
24. Give approval for Kudumbashree outlets at Comsumerfed, Maveli Stores and Neethi Stores.
25. Restrict LSGIs from spending the fund for Kudumbashree for other matters.
26. The LSGIs should give Revolving Fund to ADSs and Micro Enterprises.
27. The direction that the appointment of part time sweeper/ temporary appointments at Governmental- Public Sector Institutions should be met from the Kudumbashree members.
28. Support price for Kudumbashree Agricultural products.
29. For taking the Kudumbashree activities to the public, organise 1 hour long programmes in the news channels.
30. Representation of CDS Chairpersons in Kudumbashree Governing Body. Two wheeler arrangement and driving classes for CDS Chairpersons.
31.Market the products of Kudumbashree entrepreneurs at the procurement- marketing outlets of Forest Eco Development Committee. Permission to sell the non-timber forest products through Kudumbashree units.
32. Form a state level chain including Kudumbashree-KSRTC for extending courier services for parcel delivery as part of e-commerce services.
33. Allot space for retail outlets for marketing Kudumbashree products and for starting food cafe at the areas under Highway Authority.
34. Ensure maximum women representation in the Planning Commission of LSGIs. Make the inclusion of CDS Chairperson mandatory.
35. The arrangememt to distribute the welfare pensions through Kudumbashree system.
Appreciations to all CDS Chairpersons who came forward to interact with the Chief Minister. We are extending our gratitude to Hon Chief Minister who allotted his time for such am interactive session.

The results of Kudumbashree oru Nerchithram’ Photography Competition Season 3 has been announced. Shri. T.J Vargheese, Thaivelikkakath House, Pachalam, Ernakulam bagged the first prize. Shri. P.P Ratheesh, Photographer, Mathrubhumi Palakkad unit came second and Shri. Dinesh Insight, Adithi Nilayam, Kottakanni, Kasaragod came in third place. The Award for the Best Photographer is Rs 20,000. The second prize and third prize are Rs 10,000 and Rs 5000 respectively. The jury consisted of Shri. G. Pramod, Chief Photographer, Deshabhimani, Shri. V. Vinod, Chief Photographer, Information and Public Relations Department, Smt. U.S. Rakhi, News Photographer, and Smt. Asha Vargheese, Director, Kudumbashree Mission selected the winners.

Kudumbashree Mission which envisions at eradicating poverty through women in Kerala had successfully completed 22 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. Rs 1000 each will be issued for 10 entries as consolation prizes. K.Pramod, Praveen Kumar, Ashok Manaloor, Rakesh Puthur, Sibin Bahuleyan, Akhil. E.S, Tojo P Antony, Shiju Panthalloor, Sumesh Kottiyath, N Elango Gopan are the Consolation Prize winners.

The Photography Competition was envisaged realising that the best photographs depicting the hard work of Kudumbashree members would further boost the women empowerment process. The third season of the competition was held from 1 January 2020 to 29 February 2020. Good quality photographs portraying the strength of Kudumbashree, functioning focusing on women empowerment is considered for the ‘Kudumbashree Oru Nerchithram’ Photography Competition, which is being conducted from 2017 onwards. Like the first two seasons, the third season has also received good responses. The fourth season of the competition would be held during December 2020.

6.7 lakh Kudumbashree members had shown interest to enroll for the KSFE Vidyashree Scheme, which enables the needy NHG members to buy laptops. Vidyashree Scheme is being implemented by Kudumbashree in association with Kerala State Financial Enterprises (KSFE) for supporting students. Till date, 6,70,156 Kudumbashree members came forward to become part of this scheme and out of them, 5,12,561 members opted for receipt of laptops, as during the crisis situation of COVID 19, the educational system is in transition and becoming more dependent on online education.

Vidyashree is a micro chitty of Rs 15,000 with a monthly installment of Rs 500 for 30 months. A NHG member can enroll for only one Vidyashree Chitty. As per this, if a Kudumbashree member becomes part of this scheme, after the payment of the third installment, she may inform the NHG if she needs a laptop. Laptop with the specifications prescribed by the Education Department, procured from the agencies empanelled by IT Department would be made available for them. These laptops would cost less than Rs 15,000.

As per Vidyashree, after the payment of the third installment, all in need can own a laptop as the laptop will be provided by KSFE. When the chitty installment payment would be complete, the members would get the remaining amount in the chitty (if any) including interest, excluding the cost of the laptop. Those who repay the chitty regularly need not pay the installment amount of Rs 500 during the 10th term and 20th term. KSFE would pay this. In addition, for those who regularly repay the chitty starting from 1st term up to the 30th term, KSFE would bear the first installment of Rs 500 for enrolling in a similar scheme that would be started. In short, those who repay without fail may save Rs 1500. Those Kudumbashree members who do not need a laptop may also join this scheme. After paying the 13th monthly instalment, they may draw the full city amount (if needed) without any bid or lot. They would also get the savings interest of KSFE as well. The repayment should be done without any fail. The NHG and CDS would oversee the monthly repayment.

Kudumbashree collected the details of the NHG members who are interested in joining this micro savings programme which aims at making available laptops for the common people as laptops are becoming inevitable for enabling online education.

Kudumbashree is proud to be part of an activity that helps the newer generation to get in tune with the changing time through the Vidyashree Scheme associating with Kerala State Financial Enterprises(KSFE).

Kudumbashree received a mandate to operate canteens at all ITIs established by the Department of Labour and Skills, Government of Kerala. This approval is as per Government order (G.O(MS) No.29/2020/ Labour). The requirement is to operate canteens as per guidelines of the ‘programme for providing nutritious food/ noon meal’ at 96 ITIs in Kerala. Through this, the students in these ITIs would get food at prescribed rates and the Kudumbashree entrepreneurs working in the catering sector would get an opportunity to get a regular income.

As per this order, Kudumbashree units will get the opportunity to implement programmes for providing nutritious food at 82 ITIs and to provide food as per noon meal Programme at 14 ITIs. 30,000 student trainees of ITI s would be beneficiaries of the ‘Nutritious Food Programme’ and 6000 trainees would become part of the ‘noon meal’ programme. The Nutritious Food Programme provides for a fund of Rs 15 per student per day. For the noon meal programme, Kudumbashree units would get Rs 340 per trainee for a week at the ITIs where the number of students is less than 500. The rate will be Rs 325 per student for a week in those ITIs where the number of students is greater than 500.

There are about 4500 canteen- catering units functioning under the umbrella of Kudumbashree in Kerala. This new opportunity will bring more livelihood opportunities in the catering sector for Kudumbashree entrepreneurs. As per the order received in 2018, (G.O (Rt) No.2143/2018.LSGD) Kudumbashree got the approval to run canteens in all Local Self Government Institutions.

Sales of umbrellas worth half crore rupees has been recorded through 'Orumayk Oru Kuda Akalam' (Umbrellas for Unity) Campaign, which is being implemented for taking the slogan of 'Social Distancing' to the NHGs. As per the campaign started during the month of May, a total of 20,384 umbrellas were sold through 678 CDSs and sales of more than Rs 55 lakhs was recorded.

'Orumayk Oru Kuda Akalam' (Umbrellas for Unity) campaign is being implemented through Kudumbashree's community network. As per this campaign, umbrellas produced by Kudumbashree enterprise units are marketed through Community Development Societies (CDS). Umbrellas were distributed to CDSs according to the orders received and are being sold to the NHG members though CDSs. When the concept of 'Orumayk Oru Kuda Akalam' was introduced,the CDSs came forward showing greater interest.

The umbrellas produced by the umbrella making units under Kudumbashree were collected through district teams and were brought to CDSs. CDSs sold these umbrellas to the NHG members. Four types of umbrellas viz., 3 fold, 2 fold, kids umbrella and gents umbrella were given to CDSs. The NHG members were provided with an option to pay the cost of the umbrella to the CDS in instalments (12 weeks duration). This amount would be handed over to the state mission and the same would be distributed among the respective units.

Through this campaign, support was given to the entrepreneurs engaged in umbrella production and they were assisted to get a good market. Further, through this campaign, Kudumbashree could make the members aware of the significance of maintaining social distancing for containing the spread of coronavirus.

The first sales outlet of Kerala Chicken under the leadership of Kudumbashree have started functioning at North Paravur of Ernakulam district on 30 June 2020. Shri. A.C Moideen, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the outlet through video message. The enterprise is started jointly by Smt. Renuka Rajan and Smt. Anaswara, who are the NHG members under Ezhikkara CDS. Five chicken farmers were given day old chicks before 40 days to provide broiler chicken to these outlets. They farmers were provided with day old chicks in such intervals so that continuous supply is ensured in the sales outlet.

Kudumbashree implemented the Kerala Chicken Programme in different phases. In the first phase, Integration Farming was done associating with Kerala State Poultry Development Corporation (KEPCO). This was the programme in which the 53 farmers from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts were given one day old chicks by KEPCO and they bought back the chicken after 40 days. Following that, Kudumbashree signed a contract with Meat Products of India (MPI) for Integration Farming in Ernakulam and Kottayam districts. The programme of identifying farmers who are doing broiler farming/ interested in maintaining broiler farms were provided with CEF (Community Enterprise Fund). This financial support to farmers was also started parallel. As of now, CEF was provided to 545 farmers.

The construction of Poultry Processing Plant including Breeder Farm, Poultry Line and Rendering Plant had already been started in Thiruvananthapuram under the banner of a producer company formed by Kudumbashree. These activities were progressing as part of the Kerala Chicken Project. As a next step, Integration Farming (the process in which one day old chicks, medicine and feed would be given and the broiler chicken would be bought back after 40 days) was also started simultaneously under the umbrella of Kudumbashree Broiler Farmers Producer Company. For the last 6 months, 95 broiler farmers were given 4,16,000 chicks in 4 terms, the matured chickens were bought back and were sold in the market.

In addition to the sales outlet started at North Paravur, activities had already been started for opening sales outlets at Thirumarady, Aayavana, Kottappadi and Maradi of Ernakulam district before 15 July. 34 farmers were given one day old chicks for supplying chicken to these outlets. The matured chicks would be bought back and it is expected to bring them for sale when those sales outlets start functioning.Kudumbashree aims at starting 100 Kerala Chicken outlets before September by doing Integration Farming through 124 farmers and 200 outlets before December 2020 by doing Integration Farming through 220 farmers. Kerala Chicken Programme was started envisaging the sustainable change in the broiler chicken market of Kerala.

Kudumbashree and KSFE are about to create new history by launching Micro Chitty to buy Laptops. Micro Chitty Programme is the programme launched jointly by Kudumbashree and KSFE (Kerala State Financial Enterprises) foreseeing the need to arrange laptops for the needy as the education system in Kerala has turned completely online. It is the basic entity needed to strengthen the general education system as it would be needed to arrange education through online ways for a long time. We realised that online education would be the future of our education system other than classroom classes. Shri. S. Harikishore IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree and Shri. V. P. Subramanian, Managing Director, KSFE signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the same. The MoU was exchanged in the presence of Shri. A. C Moideen, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala and Dr. T.M Thomas Issac, Minister, Finance Department, Government of Kerala.

As per this contract, KSFE would start a micro chitty of Rs 15,000 for all those who need a laptop. The installment per month for the chitty is Rs 500 for 30 months. Any Kudumbashree member could join in the chitty. A person can enroll for only one chitty. The chitty installment repayment would be overseen by NHG and CDS. As per this, after the payment of the third installment, a Kudumbashree member may inform the NHG if she needs a laptop. KSFE would purchase and give to them the laptop with the specifications prescribed by the Education Department from the agencies empanelled by IT Department. These laptops would cost less than Rs 15,000. Likewise, after the payment of the third installment, the needy may own a laptop. When the chitty installment payment would be complete, the members would get the remaining amount excluding the cost of the laptop. As per this programme, those who need laptops in Kerala would get one with four years guarantee. We are proud that Kudumbashree could play a role in raising the education system of Kerala to a new digital era. In addition to this, we are also checking whether we would get any subsidies from other departments or sponsors.

Kudumbashree has contributed Rs 1.26 crores to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. The cheque of Rs. 1.26 crores was handed over to Shri. A.C. Moideen, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala by Shri. S. Harikishore IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission towards Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund at Minister's Chamber on 4 June 2020.

The cash was collected from the members of more than 2.5 lakh NHGs and Kudumbashree staff.  Shri. Santhosh Kumar.A, Additional Private Secretary to Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala and Shri. Vipin. V.C, State Assistant Programme Manager, Kudumbashree was also present at the occasion.

Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) is the emergency assistance release mechanism granting immediate relief to families and individuals distressed by calamity, loss of life due to accidents and chronic diseases. 

Kudumbashree has received Government Order entrusting Kudumbashree Construction teams & ARISE Multi task teams for taking up small public works without tender. The Finance Department issued an order enabling the departments to hire services of Kudumbashree construction groups and ARISE multi task teams for small works costing upto Rs 2 lakhs. The order will be valid for the activities which would come under the Public Works Department, Irrigation Department, Local Self Government and Kerala Water Authority. As per the government order, Kudumbashree groups can be entrusted for the services such as filling of potholes in roads, cleaning of choked drains, cutting and moving the branches of the trees on the road sides, small repairs of culverts, and the cleaning and maintenance of public buildings in pre-monsoon period. In addition, it is also mentioned in the order that, the Annual Maintenance Contract of water supply, sanitary and electrical works of repetitive nature can be entrusted with such specialised construction/ ARISE groups registered under Kudumbashree.

It was noticed that due to lack of timely maintenance or repair works to the public structures including roads and buildings causes subsequent incurring of heavy expenditure due to the delay. On identifying this issue, the Government decided to entrust the registered Kudumbashree construction, multi task teams for resolving the same. The decision was made on the suggestion put forward by Kudumbashree through the Local Self Government Department. As of now there are 288 construction groups functioning under Kudumbashree, which has 2376 women as members. 216 multi task teams comprising 734 members who had got specialized training in electrical works, electronics repairing and plumbing sectors are functioning after registering under Kudumbashree. They have got an opportunity to receive a regular, permanent income through this Government order.