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DDUGKY (Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameeen Kaushalya Yojana) the skilling and placement programme for which Kudumbashree Mission is the nodal agency for the implementation in Kerala, along with TiE has hosted 'DDUGKY, Kudumbashree TiE Kerala Summit' at The Gateway Hotel, Kochi on 27 October 2018. Shri. Harikishore IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission spoke on the 'Scope of DDUGKY- Industry Convergence'. An open forum of Idea Sharing, Q&A Session and way forward was also followed by the presentation.

Delivering the keynote address, he stressed on the points of convergence between DDUGKY and the industry. The industry shall contribute by identifying the skill gap in various sectors, so that DDUGKY could train the students specifically in those sectors. Harikishore said.The industry may also take advantage of recruiting from among more than 35,000 well trained candidates and may also customize training to suit the needs of the organisation and place them in their organisation, thus ensuring captive placement for candidates and lessening the training cost of the organisation. Mr. Neelakantan G Nair, Senior Associate Member of TiE Kerala who spoke on the occasion stressed the need of continuous engagement between the industry and the flagship DDUGKY skilling programme, so that candidates and the industry would benefit.

TiE Global is a nonprofit organization devoted to entrepreneurs in all industries, at all stages, from incubation, throughout the entrepreneurial life cycle. With a global reach and a local focus, the heart of TiE efforts lies in its five foundational programs, – Mentoring, Networking, Education, Funding, and Incubation.The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), was founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals with roots in the Indus region. Shri. T.P Geevargheese, District Mission Co-ordinator, c welcomed the gathering. Ms. Vijayam.K, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator,District Mission Co-ordinator delivered vote of thanks.

Kudumbashree Women were proactively selling the Navakerala Lottery which was launched by the Directorate of Kerala Lotteries, Government of Kerala in an aim to collect additional fund towards the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) for flood rehabilitation activities and for Rebuilding Kerala. Kudumbashree Women had sold lottery tickets worth Rs 9.23 crore. As part of the lottery selling, 1054 CDS out of 1064 CDS had took up the casual agency. Through this 18,252 Kudumbashree women sold the Navakerala Lottery tickets across the state. More than 3.69 lakhs of lottery tickets were sold by the Kudumbashree members. In connection with this, Rangashree, the community theater group of Kudumbashree Mission had also performed street plays for the publicity of the sales of the Navakerala lotteries throughout the state. Kudumbashree Accounts and Audit Service Society (KAASS), Micro Enterprises Consultant (MEC) and other training groups had also took up the casual agency for selling Navakerala Lottery tickets and were active in selling the same.

The Government of Kerala launched the Navakerala lottery in a bid to collect additional funds towards the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF),the emergency assistance release mechanism granting immediate relief to families and individuals distressed by calamity, loss of life due to accidents and chronic diseases. Government of Kerala had entrusted Kudumbashree Mission as an agency to sell tickets to increase the sales of the Navakerala Lottery.

Kudmbashree women from Angamaly completed the construction of Life Mission House at Manjapra Grama Panchayath, Ernakulam. It is within 53 days that the Kudumbashree women completed the construction of the 420 sq ft terraced house. Smt. Devaki, a widow from Manjapra Panchayath is the beneficiary of the house. The construction of the house was started on 6 June 2018 and was finished on 8 October 2018. It's amidst the unprecedented floods and the calamities that the women completed the construction of the house. Eksath Training Agency from Alappuzha is entrusted for extending the construction training at Ernakulam. The construction for Life Mission and the construction training for the women together are clubbed together to reduce the cost of construction. On the Job Training style is implemented here. It is the sheer hard work of 28 Kudumbashree women of 3 construction units which resulted in the completion of the house within 53 days. The construction of 12 Life Mission houses are also progressing in Ernakulam District in the same manner.

It was on anticipating the huge shortage of labour force in the near future because of various determined Government campaigns of mass housing,that training was extended to women in construction sector. So that groups of micro contractors could be formed, who can take up the construction of houses of poor and needy, in addition to taking up of bigger projects. As a part of LIFE mission more than 2.5 lakh houses are being constructed in the state in this financial year. This provides huge employment opportunity for women construction groups. Further, once the construction groups completes 3/4 houses, it is aimed to upgrade them to become micro contractors for taking up various works of local self governments. Training is given by taking up the construction of the beneficiaries of various government schemes like PMAY(U), LIFE etc.

Accredited agenicies like State Nirmithi Kendra, District Nirmithi Kendra, Maithri, Habitat, Thrissur Labour Contracting Society, Pinarayi Industrial Cooperative Society, Kerala State Housing Board, Kerala State Construction Corporation, Costford, Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society, Kitco, Eksath etc are extending construction training to the identified groups in the respective districts under the leadership of the the District Mission Coordinators. Training on construction activities for Kudumbashree members aims to extend skill training for women in various trades in the construction industry for enhancing the skill of the women in construction related activities such that a sustainable income is generated.

Kudumbashree received 150 tonnes of organic manure from Tamil Nadu for Kudumbashree Joint Liability Groups (JLGs). The Organic Manure is contributed by Subhashri Bio Energies (P) Ltd. (SBEL), a division of the Subhashri group of companies, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu which had metamorphosed into a knowledge leader in organic regeneration and energy independence arena.The company contributed 150 tonnes of organic manure worth Rs 30 lakhs for the women farmers of Kudumbashree Mission. Shri. S. Dorai Raju,Managing Director, Subhashri Bio Energies (P) Ltd along with Shri. V. Clement Rajesh, Head, Operations and Shri. Peechi Muthu, Advisor handed over the organic manure packet to Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister, Government of Kerala in the presence of Shri. S.Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission and Shri. Dathan C.S, Programme Officer, Agriculture at Thiruvananthapuram on 27 September 2018.

The 35000 women farmers of the affected 7000 JLGs would be benefited out of this. The organic manure would be distributed among the JLGs in Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kozhikode districts. The farming in 29415 acres of land were fully lost during the unprecedented floods. 25056 Joint Liability Groups were badly affected and the loss of around Rs. 197.21 crore has been estimated.

Amidst unprecedented floods and the calamities caused, the teaching and the non teaching staff of Kudumbashree's BUDS Rehabilitation Centres (BRC) contributed Rs 1 lakh to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF), the emergency assistance release mechanism granting immediate relief to families and individuals distressed by calamity, loss of life due to accidents and chronic diseases. It is the 270 members of the association of the teaching and non teaching staff of the 114 BUDS Rehabilitation Centres across the State who made this glorious contribution. The members of this association Smt. Sheeja Beegum, Smt. Ambika Kumari, Smt. Vineetha and Smt. Shanthi handed over the cheque of Rs.1 lakh to Shri. E.P Jayarajan, Minister for Industries, Commerce, Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Kerala on 14 September 2018. 

The staff of BRCs wanted to do something for the society and they collected the amount in no time. The BRCs at Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha Districts were drowned  and the staff were badly affected by the floods. Several staff have children who are mentally and physically challenged and many of them are the inmates of BRC. Even though many BRCs were badly affected by the floods, the staff came forward to contribute their share to the Government.

BUDS Rehabilitation Centres (BRCs) are day care centres for mentally challenged persons which are intended to fill a gap in the State’s existing system for providing care to the mentally challenged that caters only to persons up to 18 years of age. BRCs are meant for those who have already undergone special education through BUDS Schools or other centres. However, centres are also open to mentally challenged children who are unable to attend schools. BRCs are meant to train and support persons with special needs for equipping them with skills that make them employable.The staff of the  BUDS Rehabilitation Centres are contented that they could make their contribution to support the Government in rebuilding Kerala. 

Kudumbashree- Kerala State Poverty Eradication Mission bagged seven Awards including Skoch Award for Corporate Excellence and Skoch Order of Merit Awards. The Skoch Award for Corporate Excellence (Bronze) has been awarded to Kudumbashree Mission for Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY). The Skoch Order of Merit have been awarded for Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY), Kudumbashree School Capacity Building programme for 43 lakh Kudumbashree NHG members, Kudumbashree Facility Management Center, Homeshop, Kudumbashree Women Construction Groups and Amrutham Nutrimix for qualifying amongst the Top Corporate Excellence Projects in India. The Awards were distributed at a function held at Constitution Club of India, New Delhi on 19 September 2018.

DDU-GKY, the skill training and placement programme under the Ministry of Rural Development ( MoRD) occupies a unique position amongst the other skill training programmes due to its focus to the poor rural youth and its emphasis on sustainable employment through the prominence and incentives given to post placement tracking, retention and career progression, which is being implemented in Kerala state through Kudumbashree Mission. Kudumbashree School is the informal education programme which aims at the personality development and social, cultural, educational empowerment of women executed coordinating with the NHGs envisaging to improve the intellectual quality of common women.
Kudumbashree Facility Management Center provides facility management services to major public and private sector companies such as Kochi Metro Rail Limited,Vyttila Mobility Hub, Panampilly Nagar Walkway Maintenance etc and has become an epicenter for providing employment for women by providing thousands of women employed with its clients. The Home shop is a mode of community marketing, which promotes the sale of locally produced products of Kudumbashree micro enterprise units, by employing the women, thereby creating market for the products and source of income generation for the women. It is a model emerged out of the explorations for establishing marketing channels for Kudumbashree's products.

It was on anticipating the huge shortage of the labour force in the near future because of various determined Government campaigns of mass housing,that training was extended to women in construction sector which resulted in the formation of the construction groups in the state who can take up construction of houses, buildings and roads. Presently, Kudumbashree women construction units are constructing the LIFE Mission houses in various places across the state. Amrutham Nutrimix is a nutritional food supplement suitable for six months to three year old children as Take-Home-Ration (THR), prepared by the Kudumbashree micro enterprise units with the patronage and guidance of Kudumbashree. using wheat, soya chunks, bengal gram, groundnut and sugar as basic ingredients.

Skoch Order of Merit constituted by Skoch Group, a think tank dealing with the socio economic issues with a focus on inclusive growth since 1997. By bagging the Skoch Award for Corporate Excellence (Bronze) and six Skoch Order of Merit Awards for various programmes, Kudumbashree Mission has achieved National recognition.

Renowned Journalist and Ramon Magsaysay Award laureate Shri. P. Sainath, visited Kudumbashree Mission on 13 September 2018. He also addressed the staff of Kudumbashree Mission and discussed about the calamities caused to the Kudumbashree Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) due to the unprecedented floods. He had also visited the flood affected agricultural fields of Kudumbashree JLGs.

Shri. P. Sainath said that the self confidence of the women of Kudumbashree JLGs are really appreciable. The growth of the Kudumbashree JLGs is based on regionalism. It is the biggest agricultural revolution that Kerala had witnessed after land reforms. On visiting the flood affected land it is understood that the lose caused to the JLGs is much more. But it is notable that the women managed to overcome the trauma caused due to the floods and the loss. They are confident that they could get back their livelihood through agriculture itself. They had attained thus self confidence and courage by getting united through Kudumbashree's activities. Sainath said.

He also added that its urgently needed to extend assistance in finding livelihood in agriculture sector. It is needed to frame new agricultural programmes for them based on modern scientific technologies. The production techniques of the corporate in agricultural sector are ruining the fertility of the soil and the products cultivated so are injurious to health. A time should come where we can consume food grains and agricultural products that are produced within 100 mile area from our homes.

Shri. Dathan. C.S. welcomed the gathering. Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission. extended Vote of Thanks. Smt.Vishakha George, Banglore Correspondent, people Archive of India, Shri. S. Sabir Hussain, District Mission Coordinator, Pathanamthitta, Smt. Suja Eapen, District Mission Coordinator, Alappuzha also attended the programme.

Training for Kudumbashree Members to become lottery ticket sellers was inaugurated at Lottery Agents and Sellers Welfare Board, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram on 12 September 2018. Shri. S. Harikishore IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission inaugurated the training programme. He also purchased a ticket of Navakerala Lottery from a Kudumbashree member. While inaugurating the training for Kudumbashree members to become Lottery Ticket sellers, the Executive Director informed them that he will purchase one ticket from the first person who will come to his office. It was Smt. Rahyanath from Alappuzha who sold the ticket to the Executive Director. She had traveled all the way from Alappuzha to Thiruvananthapuram, as she wanted to be the Kudumbashree member who sell off the ticket to the Executive Director.

When the Executive Director tried to motivate her by saying about the income she may get by selling maximum number of tickets, she replied that her focus is not on her income. For her, by selling Navakerala lottery, the Kudumbashree fraternity will be able to help the government to get more funds to reconstruct Kerala. Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission had shared this experience in his official facebook page. According to him, millions of people with this attitude are surely the strength of Kerala. He also believes that by involving in this activity of selling lotteries, Kudumbashree Mission will be able to contribute further to the rebuilding process of Kerala.

The Government of Kerala launched the Navakerala lottery in a bid to collect additional funds towards the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). The Government hopes to collect close to Rs 100 crore through the lotteries to be used for reconstructing the flood-battered state. The state government is printing 96 lakh tickets in nine series as part of the lottery. “The target of this special lottery is to raise Rs 100 crore, which will be the net profit for the state government after meeting all expenses of this special lottery, if all the 96 lakh tickets are sold. Government of Kerala entrusted Kudumbashree Mission as an agency to sell tickets to increase sales. Rs 250 is the cost per ticket. By selling one book of 10 tickets, the Kudumbashree member may receive Rs 553 as income.