വാര്‍ത്തകള്‍

As part of the PMAY (U) LIFE scheme being implemented in the state through Kudumbashree, the construction of 90,237 houses has been completed.

The central government has approved the construction of 1,27,048 houses across the state. For this, Rs. 2124.68 crores have been sanctioned till date, including central and state share. Out of the approved houses, the construction of 90,237 houses have been completed so far.

The construction of the remaining 36,811 houses will also be completed soon. With this, the dream of owning a house for 1,27,048 homeless beneficiaries will become a reality. 

The project also paves the way for many homeless families to live with dignity in the society by providing them with secure and habitable houses.

This achievement is due to Kudumbashree working as the nodal agency under the joint auspices of the central and state governments and municipalities.

With the aim of 'Housing for All', the project is being implemented in all 93 urban local bodies in the state in collaboration with LIFE Mission. The projects have been approved by including them in the Beneficiary Led Construction Component.

Under the PMAY (Urban) LIFE scheme, homeless families with an annual income of less than Rs three lakhs will get Rs four lakh for the construction of houses through the project. Out of this, Rs 2 lakhs is provided by the municipality and Rs 50,000 is provided by the state government. Therefore, a total of Rs 2,50,000 is provided by the state government. Rs 1.5 lakhs is the central share. 

The Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme, a sub-component of the PMAY (Urban) LIFE Scheme, has also helped the beneficiaries to acquire their own homes. Under this, the beneficiaries will be provided with loans from the bank to construct or purchase their own houses. Till date, 32,651 families have been provided with such loans.

Kudumbashree had also obtained permission to construct 11 housing complexes comprising 970 units for the landless and homeless in collaboration with LIFE Mission. Out of these, the construction of 530 units has been completed. The construction of the remaining units is progressing rapidly.

113 youth from the Scheduled Tribe region got jobs in the government and semi-government sectors with the support of Kudumbashree. These people got jobs as part of the competitive exam training organized with the aim of economic and social empowerment of the youth in this region.

Most of the appointments were made to the posts of LD Clerk, Police, Forest Beat Officer etc. All of them have joined the job. In addition, 364 people have been included in various rank lists. This achievement is from 2,893 people who received expert training through Kudumbashree. They have increased their financial stability and confidence to interact with everyone in the society by getting government jobs.

As part of bringing the youth of this region into the mainstream society, intensive PSC competitive exam training was provided under the leadership of Kudumbashree. For this, PSC had organized a one-time registration camp in the districts where they reside. In the first phase, those with degree and plus two qualifications were included. Later, necessary training was also provided for posts such as Beat Forest Officer. For this, expert faculties in various fields are identified and training is provided through them.
             
Special centres are also functioning under the leadership of the District Mission for training. In addition, training is provided in collaboration with other training centres. The activities are carried out with the support of the respective Kudumbashree CDS.

Kudumbashree has led 3,321 NHGs towards self-sufficiency in the Scheduled Tribes sector in the state. This achievement is achieved by carrying out many activities that enable the NHGs to carry out all activities related to themselves and ensure their own livelihood. The aim is to empower the disadvantaged NHGs in this sector socially and economically by providing financial support and skill training to start livelihood initiatives, including in the agricultural-micro enterprise sector. The activities are carried out in collaboration with local self-government institutions.

Kudumbashree selected 50 percent backward and relatively weak NHGs in various CDSs in the Scheduled Tribes region to achieve self-sufficiency. As part of strengthening NHG activities, various financial supports such as Rs. 15,000 as Corpus Fund and Rs. 15,000 as Revolving Fund were provided to each NHG. In addition, training was provided to NHG members to prepare business plans for starting livelihood enterprises. In the last 9 years, 3,127 farmers groups have been formed in this region. 11,442 members have been provided assistance in livelihood activities related to animal husbandry. In addition, 1196 enterprises have been started. Special training has been provided to the members of selected NHGs under the leadership of Kudumbashree on accounting related to NHG activities, benefits provided by various departments, various livelihood schemes implemented through Kudumbashree, benefits available through Kudumbashree, job skills training and services.

Another achievement was that grading and auditing were conducted as part of improving the performance of NHGs. In addition, financial literacy including bank transactions, efficient use of funds, and availability of linkage loans were also provided to NHGs. The animators from this sector are also responsible for accurately evaluating all activities of the self-sufficient NHGs, including weekly investments, bank linkage loan repayments, and recording them in the Kudumbashree Management Information System.
 

Thiruvananthapuram: The Micro Enterprise Development Scheme implemented in the state through Kudumbashree to support Kudumbashree members and enterprises working in the non-agricultural sector has been a success. The objective of the scheme was to form 2,000 enterprises in ten selected blocks within one and a half years. The scheme was completed by forming 2,273 enterprises, including 358 group enterprises and 1,915 individual enterprises, within the period. Through this, the project also helped 3,357 women find their own employment.

The Micro Enterprise Development Scheme was implemented as part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) implemented in the state through Kudumbashree. As part of this, ten Micro Enterprise Consultants were selected in each block for enterprise formation activities. Through them, women interested in starting enterprises in the self-employment sector were identified and various job skill training and financial support were provided. NRLM funds of Rs. 20 lakhs were also provided to each block selected for the project activities.

Kudumbashree entrepreneurs earned Rs. 104.35 crores by organizing National Saras Melas, one of the main platforms for marketing the products of Kudumbashree entrepreneurs, in Kerala for the last nine years. Out of this, Rs. 17.57 crores were earned from the most recent Saras Mela organized in Chengannur.

A turnover of Rs. 22 crores have also been achieved by participating in Saras Melas organized in other states. Entrepreneurs earned a total of Rs. 126.35 crores through Saras Melas from Kerala and various states.

Kudumbashree aims to increase the income of Kudumbashree entrepreneurs by organizing local and national level marketing fairs, monthly markets, Onam, Vishu and Ramzan marketing fairs. As part of this, 10,815 monthly markets, 916 local district level trade fairs, 426 food fairs and 6,859 Onam marketing fairs were organized in the last nine years. Through this, a turnover of Rs. 185.86 crores were also obtained.

In addition to traditional marketing methods, Kudumbashree is also implementing innovative marketing methods that suit the modern market. The aim is to increase the income of entrepreneurs. As part of this, Kudumbashree is also active in the online marketing sector such as Nano Markets, Marketing Kiosks, and Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, and ONDC.