വാര്‍ത്തകള്‍

Kudumbashree is launching the ROOTS Campaign with the main objective of strengthening the ADS system in cities. The ROOTS campaign, which stands for 'Rejuvenation of Organization through Ownership, Togetherness and Support', also aims to inculcate a mentoring mindset among Kudumbashree employees. The campaign is being implemented as part of the National Urban Livelihood Mission implemented by Kudumbashree with the aim of eradicating poverty in urban areas.

As part of the campaign, the first phase of training was organized for 138 people selected from among Community Organizers, Multi-Task Employees and City Mission Managers. The campaign aims to assign up to four ADSs to one of the selected Kudumbashree employees and implement empowerment activities through them by providing them with necessary guidelines and advice.

Classes were given as part of the training on various topics such as NHG - The Nucleus of Development, Meeting Procedures in ADSs and NHGs, Documents and Registers to be Maintained, and Duties of a Mentor. In addition, activities in various fields such as Public Speaking, Communication, and Mentoring Skills were also conducted as part of the training programme organized at the Agricultural Cooperative Staff Training Institute, Manvila, Thiruvananthapuram.

Megha Mary Koshy, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Sudheer K.B, Programme Manager, Beena. E, Programme Manager,  Nishad C.C, Programme Manager, Prabhakaran M, Programme Manager, Aneesh Kumar M.S, Programme Manager, Prithviraj, Programme Manager, Meghana. S, Programme Manager, Nishant C.S, Programme Manager, Mathew Johny, Mission Executive, Mithun Jawahar, Mission Executive, Seema Chandran, Chalanam Mentor Core Group member, Jayan Pookad, Chalanam Mentor Core Group member, Sreelatha, Chalanam Mentor Core Group member,  Manu. C, Chalanam Mentor Core Group member, Aniyan Kunju, Chalanam Mentor Core Group member and Anil Kumar, Chalanam Mentor Core Group member handled various sessions.

Kudumbashree is providing opportunities for the NHGs who are actively involved in the agricultural, animal husbandry and entrepreneurship sectors to make the most of the potential of fish farming. Kudumbashree plans and implements several activities to create more employment opportunities in the fish farming sector. In this regard, one-day workshops have been organized in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts to provide a clear understanding of various aspects of fish farming to the NHGs.

To ensure additional income for the NHGs working in this sector by utilizing the potential of fish products, fisheries clusters have also been formed in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode districts. These clusters are working in collaboration with Producer Groups formed in the animal husbandry sector. More than three hundred NHGs have become part of these clusters. Cluster formation is also in progress in Malappuram, Kollam and Alappuzha districts.

As part of the awareness workshop on fisheries-based activities, classes were given on various topics such as fish processing, waste disposal in fish markets, fish marketing potential, value-added fish products and their marketing, factors to be considered while bringing fish products to the market, potential for value-added products, methods of selecting and processing quality fish to generate more profit in the market, temperature control, processing equipment, storage systems, and innovative technologies such as aquaponics and bio floc. The workshop was led by M. Shaji, National Resource Person, National Rural Livelihood Mission and former Joint Director, Marine Products Export Development Authority. More than 600 NHG members participated in the workshops organized in six districts. 

With the slogan 'One lakh jobs by Onam', Kudumbashree has launched a campaign in collaboration with Vijnana Keralam to provide local jobs by providing skill training to women. The campaign was given its final shape at a review meeting of the Chairmen and Secretaries of Local Self-Government Institutions organized at Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) Headquarters Thrissur  \from 3-5 July 2025  under the chairmanship of M.B. Rajesh, Minister,  Local Self-Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala.  

Dr. T.M. Thomas Isaac, Principal Advisor, Vijnana Keralam, T.V. Anupama IAS, Special Secretary, Local Self-Government Department, H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree and key department officials also attended the meetings. M.B. Rajesh, Minister,  Local Self-Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala, Dr. T.M. Thomas Isaac, Principal Advisor, Vijnana Keralam, Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree, U.V. Jose IAS (Retd), Executive Director, Suchithwa Mission also participated in the Press Conference organized at KILA, Thrissur on 5 July 2025.

A major problem faced by entrepreneurs in Kerala is the lack of employable workers. Meanwhile, only 20 percent of working-age women are engaged in work outside the home. Kudumbashree aims to increase this to 50 percent in a few years. Kudumbashree is initiating this through this campaign. The campaign will run from July 2025 to September 2025.

The Kudumbashree Snehitha Extension Centres, which were started in collaboration with the Home Department in 84 DySP/ACP offices in the state, are progressing well. Emergency psychological support and counseling services are being provided to those who come to the police stations under the jurisdiction of these offices for various needs through the Extension Centre. The Snehitha Extension Centre started its operations in March this year. In a short period of time, about 1000 cases have been referred to the Snehitha Extension Centres and services have been provided. Therefore, the State-Level Monitoring Committee, which met at the Kudumbashree State Mission Office, decided to intensify the project activities in the state. Counseling services are provided at the Extension Centres two days a week through Kudumbashree's Community Counselors.

Activities to strengthen the project

To create awareness among police officers about the Friendly Police Extension Centres and the services available through them (At the district level, officers of the rank of SHO and Sub Inspector will be specially called and jointly trained by the Home Department and Kudumbashree.

To include this awareness training in the training syllabus for newly joining Sub Inspectors.

To provide expert training to Community Counselors working in Extension Centres.

In unavoidable situations, Community Counselors will conduct home visits and provide counseling and psychological support.

Providing services locally through the Community Counselor in charge of the respective area and Snehitha Gender Help Desk for cases that do not have references from SHO and DYSP.

Tele Counseling if necessary.

Meeting of the District Level Monitoring Committee every month.

Meetings at the rural and city levels in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur districts to evaluate the work.

The monitoring committee was convened under the leadership of H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree,  Bastin Sabu, Assistant Inspector General, Women and Children. Dr. B. Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Dr. Mercy Joy Sebastian, Assistant Professor, Clinical Psychology, Medical College, Adv. Shinyraj, Justin Mathew, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree and Feby D.A. and Sharika. S, State Assistant Programme Managers also attended the meeting.

Kerala shone at the FNHW Two-Day Regional Seminar organized by the Union Ministry of Rural Development in Shillong, Meghalaya. In the seminar, which was attended by fifteen states and two Union Territories, including Kerala, the excellence of various project activities implemented in Kerala through Kudumbashree in the field of social development and the achievements achieved through it were noteworthy. In the seminar organized over two days, the conference of various states commented that Kerala is a world model in the field of social development.

Kerala won applause at the seminar jointly organized by the National Rural Livelihood Mission and the National Mission Management Unit under the Union Ministry of Rural Development. Smriti Sharan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, said that Kerala should be taken as a model in social development activities. Projects like Ujjeevanam implemented by Kudumbashree in the state to eradicate extreme poverty, Kanas Jaga implemented last year to foster creativity in children in indigenous areas, and K-TICK for youth in indigenous areas have won praise from other states. Various states commented at the seminar that 'Happy Keralam' implemented in the health and mental health sector, BUDS Schools for differently abled children, and BUDS Rehabilitation Centres for the elderly are also exemplary.

Apart from Kerala, the states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Karnataka, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, West Bengal and the Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry participated in the seminar. Representing Kerala, Dr. B. Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree made a presentation on various projects implemented by Kudumbashree in the field of social development. Justin Mathew, State Programme Manager and Krishnakumari R, State Assistant Programme Manager also participated in the programme. Athira, Community Resource Person from Malappuram district shared her successful experiences related to the implementation of the FNHW project. The team also visited various CDSs in Meghalaya.

Kudumbashree Accounts and Audit Service Society-‘KAASS’ has received a Government Order to increase its audit fees. The government has issued a Government Order (G.O.(Rt) No.1557/2025 dated 23-06-2025). The audit fee increase is based on a letter sent  by the Executive Director of Kudumbashree to the Government on 7  February 2025, recommending a seasonal increase in the audit fee rate of KAASS. The 478 Audit members currently working as part of the KAASS team across the state will benefit from this.

Kudumbashree Accounts and Audit Service Society is a special organization operating under Kudumbashree to conduct annual audits of Kudumbashree CDS, ADS, NHGs and Enterprises. The audit fee for auditing financial transactions up to Rs. 50 lakhs in a financial year in rural and urban CDSs is currently Rs. 7150 including chartered accountant fee. This has been increased to Rs.10,000. The audit fee for auditing financial transactions between Rs. 50 lakhs and Rs. 1 crore is Rs. 8450-10,400. This has been increased to Rs. 13,000. The audit fee for auditing financial transactions between Rs. 1 crore and Rs. 5 crores has been increased from Rs 13,000 to Rs. 20,000.

The audit fee for auditing rural and urban ADSs has been increased from Rs. 200 to Rs. 250. There has also been an increase in the fee for auditing NHGs. The current fee for auditing NHGs, including internal loans, linkage loans and other loans, has been increased to Rs 375 for the financial year being audited. The increased fee as per the new order is for audit team members only. The fee for chartered accountants has to be paid separately by CDSs.

There has also been an increase in the fee for auditing NHGs. The current fee for auditing NHGs, including internal loans, linkage loans and other loans, has been increased to Rs 375 from Rs 325 for the financial year being audited. The increased fee as per the new order is for audit team members only. The fee for Chartered Accountants has to be paid separately by CDSs.

A new fee has also been fixed for auditing Kudumbashree enterprises. The audit fee is Rs 2,500 for enterprises with an annual turnover of up to Rs 10 lakhs and Rs 5,000 for enterprises with a turnover between Rs 10 and 25 lakhs. The audit fee is Rs 8,000 for enterprises with an annual turnover of 25 lakhs to 50 lakhs and Rs 13,000 for enterprises with an annual turnover of above Rs 50 lakhs to Rs 1 crore. The entrepreneurs have to pay Rs 16,000 for enterprises with an annual turnover between Rs 1 crore and Rs 5 crores and Rs 18,000 for enterprises above Rs 5 crores.

This is the second time since this Government came to power that the audit fee of the KAASS Audit Division has been increased. The Audit Fee was previously increased in 2022. In addition, the salary of Kudumbashree MIS Block Coordinators was increased from Rs.15,000 to Rs. 20,000. In addition, the Government had ordered a monthly Travel Allowance of Rs. 500 to CDS members, except CDS Chairpersons.

A training programme was organized through Kudumbashree units working in the Animal Husbandry sector to prepare value-added products, conduct marketing in a better way and process meat. The training, jointly organized by Kudumbashree and Kerala Veterinary University Meat Science and Technology was held at Mannuthi Veterinary College, Thrissur from 19 to 21 June 2025.

A 24-member team comprising Master Resource Persons, CRPs and Farmer Producer Company Promoters from various districts participated in the first batch of training. The training included practical classes on meat processing, preparation of value-added products and marketing. Kudumbashree aims to train a total of 80 people. After the training, the Kudumbashree Animal Husbandry Department will also conduct various activities to promote value-added product manufacturing and entrepreneurship in the meat processing sector.

Dr. V.N. Vasudevan, Associate Professor, Meat Science and Technology presided over the function and Dr. Ally. K, Dean, Veterinary College, Mannuthy, inaugurated the function. Dr. Salil, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission was the Chief Guest of the function. Sathu. T,   Assistant Professor, Meat Science and Technology delivered the felicitation. Brijith Baby, Section Officer, Meat Science and Technology welcomed the gathering and  Dr. Irshad. A, Assistant Professor delivered the vote of thanks. 

A State-Level Workshop for mentors of the 'Liora Fest', was organized to develop scientific awareness and personality development skills among Kudumbashree Balasabha members. A total of 150 children, ten children each, have been selected from each district and Attappady. A team of 16 Mentors has been selected from each district and Attappady to provide training to them.

These mentors will provide one-year training to Balasabha members during the holidays. Modules for this have been prepared as part of the workshop. The mentors are members of the state-level academic group formed by Kudumbashree, including educationists, researchers, retired teachers, and retirees from various research institutions.

During the training period, the children will formulate development ideas that can be implemented in various fields, including science and technology. They will then be given the opportunity to present these to the general public and at the Innovation Conclave proposed to be organized by Kudumbashree in January 2026. With an emphasis on achieving academic excellence, study camps, discussions, seminars, artistic programmes, investigative projects, cultural gatherings, etc. will be organized as part of the fest this year.

Dr. B. Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Arun P. Rajan, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree, Swathi Krishnan, State Assistant Programme Manager, Kudumbashree and Jishnu Gopan, State Assistant Programme Manager, Kudumbashree gave leadership to the workshop organized at the State Agricultural Management And Extension Training Institute (SAMETI), Thiruvananthapuram. 

The District Level Technology Dissemination Clinic (TDC) as part of the Kudumbashree Technology Advancement Program (K-TAP) is progressing in various districts. Kudumbashree had acquired 180 innovative technologies from leading agricultural research institutions in the country as part of K-TAP with the aim of creating changes by utilizing innovative technologies in various activities carried out in the agricultural sector through Kudumbashree.

Dissemination clinics are being organized at the district level to create awareness about these technologies among Kudumbashree CDS Chairpersons, Member secretaries, entrepreneurs, Agri Community Resource Persons and Kudumbashree employees. The first Technology Dissemination Clinic was organized in Thiruvananthapuram district. The second Technology Dissemination Clinic was organized in Kasaragod district. Subsequently, Technology Dissemination Clinics have been organized in Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts. Kudumbashree aims to complete the Technology Dissemination Clinics in the remaining districts by the first week of next month.

As part of K-TAP, Kudumbashree will carry out activities  that will elevate Kudumbashree's agricultural livelihood activities to a new level and thereby increase the income of Kudumbashree members engaged in agricultural activities.

Kudumbashree has acquired technologies from leading institutions such as ICAR - Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, ICAR - Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, and Kerala Agricultural University as part of K-TAP. Products in ten categories, including Functional Foods, Health and Specialty Foods, Diabetic-Friendly Products, and Functional Confectionery, will be prepared with the help of these technologies.

A two-day workshop on Social Inclusion - Annual Action Plan was organized in Thiruvananthapuram to finalize the outline of the project activities to be carried out by Kudumbashree in the Scheduled Tribes sector for the financial year 2025-26. H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree inaugurated the workshop organized at the Agricultural Cooperative Staff Training Institute (ACSTI) in Manvila, Thiruvananthapuram on 18-19 June 2025.

Kudumbashree's 2025-26 Annual Action Plan has allocated Rs. 25 crores for activities in the local area, including its own fund and the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) fund. Kudumbashree will focus more on NHG formation, converting existing NHGs into self-sufficient NHGs, and economic and social empowerment activities in the local area this year.

It will also strengthen enterprise formation in agriculture, animal husbandry, and traditional employment sectors to provide more livelihood opportunities. Project activities such as reorganization of the Bridge Course, formation of Child Creativity Centre, Communicore, Kanas Jaga 2.0, K-TIC (Kudumbashree Tribal Enterprises and Innovation Centre), Jan Gatsa will also be carried out. Kudumbashree will also carry out special activities in the indigenous sector this financial year as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the formation of the Scheduled Tribes Development Department.

45 people including Assistant District Mission Coordinators in charge of Social Inclusion Section, District Programme Managers, District Animator Coordinators, Special Project Coordinators and Assistant Coordinators also participated in the workshop. Dr. B. Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree,  Prabhakaran Melath, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree, Daniel Libni, State Assistant Programme Manager, and Preetha. G, State Assistant Programme Manager led the workshop.