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'Namath Theevanaga' Flagged Off at Thiruvananthapuram. Shri. Geromic George IAS, District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram flagged off the 'Millet Sandesha Yatra' organized by Kudumbashree through 14 districts from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod at Ayyankali Hall ,Thiruvananthapuram on 18 September 2023. This journey has been arranged in connection with the International Year of Millets as part of the Attappady Tribal Comprehensive Development Project implemented by Kudumbashree.

Sales of Rs. 23.09 crores has been recorded through Kudumbashree Onam Markets organized under the leadership of Kudumbashree across the state. This achievement was made through a total of 1087 Onam Markets, including 1070 CDS Level Onam Markets and 17 District Level Onam Markets. Last year the turnover was Rs. 19 crores. An additional turnover of Rs. 4 crores is achieved this time.

Ernakulam district has achieved the highest turnover through Kudumbashree Onam Markets this year. Entrepreneurs of the district earned Rs. 3.25 crores from 104 Onam Markets. Thrissur district came second with a turnover of Rs. 2.63 crores from 103 Onam Markets and Kannur district came third with Rs. 2.55 crores from 81 Onam Markets.

28,401 micro enterprise units and 20,990 women farmer groups under Kudumbashree have paved the way for the market success this time as well by bringing their produce to the market. In this way, Kudumbashree was also able to support the Government's interventions to prevent price hike in the public market and provide products at a fair price.

By organizing 110 Onam Markets, Malappuram district has taken the lead in the number of fairs. Malappuram district also secured the highest number of entrepreneurs with participation of 4854 units from the agricultural micro enterprise sector. Ernakulam district with participation of 4723 units in 104 Onam Markets, Thrissur district with participation of 4550 units in 103 Onam Markets came in second and third place respectively.

Kudumbashree has also been able to establish its presence in the market by realizing the demand for flowers in the Onam market. In order to produce flowers for the Onam celebrations here itself without depending on other states, this year 1870 women farmer groups from across the state have done flower cultivation in 780 acres. Thrissur district came first with 100 groups cultivating in 186.37 acres. In the Kudumbashree Onam Marketing Fairs organized across the state, the flowers grown by the Kudumbashree farmer groups were also marketed. It is hoped that this success will help to spread flower cultivation to more areas in the upcoming years. The success of Kudumbashree Onam Markets lies behind the availability of quality products at fair prices along with excellent organization and efficient coordination.

Kudumbashree's DDU-GKY CXO Meet was held at Hotel Hycinth, Thiruvananthapuram on 24th. Ms. Sarada Muraleedharan IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the programme and delivered the Inaugural Address. Smt. Sharmila Mary Joseph IAS, Principal Secretary, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala delivered the keynote address.

Shri. Harikishore IAS, Managing Director, KSIDC and Ms. Anu Krishna, State Head, CII offered their felicitations. Ms. Preethi Menon, Senior Assistant Director, FICCI Kerala State Council, Shri. Sudhakar Reddy, Director, Monitoring & Evaluation, NIRD & PR also addressed the gathering. Shri. Jafar Malik IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering. He also made a presentation on the Scope of DDU-GKY & Industry Convergence. The presentation was followed by the Open Forum and Discussion on Industry Demands. Shri. Pradeep Kumar R, Chief Operating Officer- DDUGKY delivered the vote of thanks.

Following the inaugural session, a Panel Discussion was held on th topic- 'Skill Ecosystem in Kerala - Past, Present & Future. Dr. Usha Titus IAS (Chairperson & Managing Director, ASAP was the Moderator of the Panel Discussion. The Panel Members included Shri. Jafar Malik IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree,  Shri. Sudhakar Reddy, Director, Monitoring & Evaluation, NIRD & PR, Shri. Unnikrishnan Nair, Head, Maritime Logistics and NSDC, Dr. Jayakumar, CEO, VISL, Shri. Muhammed Riyas, General Manager (Skills), KKEM, Shri. Pradeep. M, General Manager, Lakeshore Hospital.

As part of the 25th Anniversary Celebrations of Kudumbashree,   it has been decided to organize a State Level Mega Job Fair at Thiruvananthapuram during December 2023. Prior to the job fair, the CXO Meet is being organized to address the momentous requirements of the companies and to pool the vacancies across the nation. The CXO Meet serves as a platform for establishing new industry linkages ensuring candidates get suitable employment opportunities at present and in near future.

The CXO Meet will deliberate on the current Industry demands, emerging opportunities and key trends in some of the booming sectors like Healthcare, Logistics, Retail, Construction, BSFI, and IT-ITes. Tourism & Hospitality etc. The meet intends to highlight the skilled manpower available under DDU-GKY and the opportunities for the empanelment of new PIAs to explore the potential of the scheme. It is expected that the outcome of the CXO Meet would not only enhance the better livelihood options for the rural youth of Kerala but also facilitate the industry to get the quality manpower they are looking for. It also intends to serve as a platform for the convergence of key stakeholders from the Government, Private Sector and Industries for brainstorming and exchange of ideas.

DDU-GKY (Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana) is a Central & State sponsored skilling and placement scheme under the Ministry of Rural Development Government of India. In Kerala, Kudumbashree Mission (State Rural Livelihood Mission, under Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala) is the nodal agency for implementing the scheme

The Kudumbashree Noorang team of Thirunelly of Wayanad district of Kerala won the State Government Award constituted by Department of Agriculture for cultivating a variety of tubers that many people have not even heard of, such as Narakizhang, Noora, Thun Kachil, Sugandha Kachil, Payasa Kachil, Makkaleppotti, Karinthal, Velunthal and Karimanjal.

 

The 1085 Onam Market Fairs conducted by Kudumbashree throughout Kerala are important among the interventions made by the State Government to contain the price hike during Onam, said Shri M. B Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department and Excise Department, Government of Kerala while performing the State Level Inauguration of the Onam Market Fairs of Kudumbashree at Police Training Ground, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram.  Shri. Antony Raju, Minister for Transport, Government of Kerala presided over the function.

Kudumbashree's greatest asset and capital is the credibility it has gained among the people through its activities spanning a quarter of a century. These marketing fairs build on that credibility. The minister said that every new step Kerala takes has the stamp of Kudumbashree on it and the sky is the limit for Kudumbashree. The minister also inaugurated the marketing stalls at the Onanilav-Onam Marketing Fair.

Even if Maveli does not come, Onam will be held, but if there is no Kudumbashree, there is no Onam in Kerala, commented Shri. Antony Raju, Minister for Transport, Government of Kerala. He also said that the reason why the Kudumbashree movement, formed in Kerala, has become a model for the world, is the recognition of the selfless service of the NHG members.

Adv. D. Suresh Kumar, President Thiruvananthapuram District Panchayat conducted the first sale at the fair by receiving the same from Ms. Jazeera, JLG Member. Shri. Jafar Malik IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree explained the project.

The Onam Markets organized under the leadership of Kudumbashree are started across the state. The aim of the Onam Markets is to provide pure and unadulterated unique products at fair prices. Kudumbashree's unique products will be available at the fair, from Kudumbashree's own flowers for flower arrangements to fruits and vegetables for preparing the feast. Kudumbashree and local self-government bodies are organizing 1085 fairs across the state with the aim of providing pure and unadulterated products to consumers at fair prices.

The state-level fair, which will be held till 28 August 2023, will have special Onam counters and a food court besides 50 stalls selling products of Kudumbashree entrepreneurs and Kudumbashree Joint Liability Groups. The flower market will have flowers grown by Kudumbashree farmers in the countryside in large quantities. Stalls for flowers are specially set up in the state fair. A variety of arts and cultural events will also take place every day.

Ms. Geetha Nazir, Kudumbashree Governing Body Member and District Panchayath Member, Elected Representatives and CDS office bearers were also present at the function. Artistic performances by the children of BUDS School, Pothencode were also staged during the function.

BUDS Institutions are one of the best and humane social services among the many alternatives that Kerala has created so that India can emulate them, said Shri. M. B Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala while performing the Day Announcement and State-Level Inauguration of BUDS Day at the function held at  Kerala Arts and Craft Village, Vellar, Kovalam. He added that 16 August 2023, which is celebrated as the first BUDS Day will be a memorable day in the history of BUDS Institutions run by Kudumbashree in association with Local Self-Government Institutions, a model that can be extended all over India. From this year onwards, 16 August will be observed as a day for Intellectually Challenged Children in the name 'BUDS Day' under the auspices of Kudumbashree. 

 

Shri. Jafar Malik IAS, Kudumbashree Executive Director, Kudumbashree explained the project. Dr. Sekhar L Kuriakose (Member, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority) released the Sajjam Handbook by giving the same to the Minister. 

 

August 16 is the day when the first BUDS School in the state started functioning in Venganoor Gram Panchayat of Thiruvananthapuram district under the auspices of Kudumbashree in 2004. The Day Announcement and the Week Celebration have been set up with the aim of making BUDS Institutions more popular and raising intellectually challenged children into the mainstream of the society, in the context of the achievements accomplished by Kudumbashree in collaboration with the Local Self-Government Institutions in this field within the last nineteen years. The day also aims to integrate more children into BUDS institutions and to provide mental support to parents. Ahead of the announcement of the day, the BUDS Week celebration was ongoing from 9-16 August 2023. As a part of this, various programmes were organized in all BUDS Institutions across the state.

At present BUDS Institutions are functioning in 359 Local Self-Government Institutions. There are 167 BUDS Schools for children up to 18 years of age and 192 BUDS Rehabilitation Centres for those above 18 years of age. Vocational and livelihood training is given priority in Rehabilitation Centres. 11,642 people are being supported in daily living, rehabilitation and job training through BUDS Institutions. He also said that 495 teachers and 622 caretakers are serving in BUDs Institutions. The main objective of BUDS institutions is to transform intellectually challenged children from dependence to self-reliance.

A special livelihood scheme involving parents of children in BUDS Institutions is also being implemented. Rs. 3.5 crores have been sanctioned by the Government for this purpose. Programmes are designed and implemented to include the mothers of the children studying in BUDS Institutions keeping in mind that they often have to spend time with their children in the institutions. Vocational training is also being provided to the trainees above 18 years of age to ensure a steady income. Various vocational training like paper & pen making, paper file making and umbrella making are provided in this way. Currently 162 enterprises are part of BUDS Institutions.

The products prepared by the children of the BUDS Institutions under Kudumbashree District Mission are being branded under the name 'Ithal' and are brought to the market. Products like notepad, office file, seed pen, cloth bag and paper bag are branded and marketed from 14 BUDS Institutions in the district. All beneficiaries of BUDS Institutions are covered under Niramaya, a comprehensive health and safety scheme. The policy amount of the scheme is fully paid by the state government.

BUDS Institutions also give maximum encouragement to arts and sport activities to support the mental growth of the beneficiaries. BUDS Arts Festivals are organized every year for this purpose. BUDS Arts Festivals are organized at institutional, district and state levels. The curriculum at BUDS Schools includes a wide range of subjects such as music, dance, other arts and sports items and yoga. He also pointed out that Sanjeevani  Agri Therapy activities are also implemented for the physical and mental awakening of children in BUDS Institutions. All BUDS Institutions are conducting agricultural activities aimed at the mental refreshment of the beneficiaries. The State Government has been providing excellent support to BUDS Institutions, including an allocation of Rs 12.5 lakh each to 200 local bodies for infrastructural development in BUDS Institutions. He also said that 28 master trainers and 608 district-level resource persons have been trained as part of Sajjam- Building Resilience Project, which prepares about one lakh Balasabha members to deal with natural calamities.

 

Shri. Chetan Kumar Meena, Director, Social Justice Department, Shri, Bhagath Roofus R.S, Member, District Panchayath Division, Ms. Geetha Nazir, Kudumbashree Governing Body Member and District Panchayath Member, Ms. Jaya Nalinappan, Chairperson, Welfare, Athiyannoor Block Panchayat,  Adv. Smitha Sundaresan, Kudumbashree Governing Body Member and Varkala Block Panchayat President,  Ms. Anitha Y.V, Chairperson, Kudumbashree Venganoor CDS, Shri. Roofus Daniel, Former President, Venganoor Grama Panchayath, Ms. Shobana, Former Chairperson, Venganoor CDS,  were also present at the function.

 

Dr. B Sreejith, Programme Officer, Social Development, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering and Shri. Ashtapalan V.S, Member, Venganoor Grama Panchayath, delivered vote of thanks.