ഫീച്ചറുകള്‍

The Superwomen of Harithakarmasena in Karulayi Panchayath are keep on changing the life of a village altogether! With commitment and confidence in themselves they are making Karulayi Panchayath a better place to live in. A group of few women came forward to keep their place clean believing that it’s something more than a job. The main aim of the programme was to make Karulayi, a waste free panchayath. To minimize the use of plastic and to make people aware of the hazardous effects of plastic, collect and send them for recycling and to decompose the biodegradable waste etc were the main aim of the programme.

15 people were identified as green technicians in the village. The service of Mr. Ibrahim, an expert in a waste segregation was made used for collecting the waste and sending them to the recycling units. 12 tonnes of non biodegradable waste was sent for recycling. An amount of Rs 20 was collected from the households and Rs 50 was collected from shops as user fee. Special notices were distributed among the households and shops. Publicity was also given to spread the message to everyone. A carry bag was given to store the wastes. A vacant space in a remote place in Karulayi was chosen to segregate the wastes. A tie up was done with Green Worms Eco Solutions, a social impact enterprise based in Calicut, for collecting the non biodegradable waste and to process it further. Kudumbashree women collected the waste store in each households and shops and took it to segregate and sent it to the Green Worms for further processing. The waste is segregated into different sections based on its features. H.M White, P.P, H.M, LDPrint, Bajar, Ganny, Bulb, PVC, steel, tubes, bottle, E- waste, LD(Glucose), Bottle caps, Spray bottle etc.

Uniform, shoes, gloves, baskets, face masks, knives etc were given to the green technicians for performing segregation activities. The waste is being collected from the households in monthly basis and from shops in weekly basis. A card was distributed among the people to record the user fee collected. The card includes the date waste was collected, the quantity of waste collected, the amount collected from the households/ shops and signature. This was made compulsory to maintain a transparent and fruitful association between those who collect waste and the house owners. For disposing the rejects (Glass wastes, bags, umbrellas, foot wears) Rs 27,000 would be paid for the company from Panchayath Fund. Separate register was kept for weighing the amount of the different category of wastes. While sending the waste to Green worm Eco Solutions, presence of Panchayath President, Secretary / concerned official and health inspector is ensured. A review meeting is also held once in 2 months including all the ward members.

Following the success in the first phase of implementation, the second phase was launched in August 2017. Around 43 ton of waste had been sent so far, out of which 6500 Kg of recyclable plastic and 36000 Kg were rejects. In the first phase, panchayath hadn’t paid any money. The agency used to took away the waste; only user fee was collected. It was in the second phase tat bags were distributed among the households/ shops for storing the waste. Rs.50 is collected from medium shops and Rs.100 is collected from big shops as user fee in weekly basis. Rs.20 is collected from households as user fee in monthly basis.

Haritha Karma sena is a professional team consisting of Green Technicians and Green Supervisors mainly Kudumbashree Women who will be assigned with the responsibility of collection, transportation, processing, recycling / disposal, and management of waste materials in association with respective LSGs and Suchithwa Mission. Green Technicians are trained man power recruited to provide technical services and solutions on waste management projects. One Green Technician has to visit 250 households in a ward. In one Ward two Green Technicians will be positioned and one supervisor for managing 15 Wards. The Collection of user fee will be the responsibility of Green Supervisor. Haritha Sahaya Sthapanams the accredited agencies of Haritha Kerala Mission which will provide technical assistance to the Haritha Karma Sena.

There are 15 wards in Karulayi, with an area of 135 Sq.kilometres. The Population of Karulayi is around 26000 with around 6000 families. The programme have a huge relevance that such an initiative had altered the attitude of the people in and around Karulayi that they think twice before throwing a plastic cover away. In fact, the inhabitants of Karulayi has minimised the usage of using plastic and a better civic sense had been evolved among the people regarding the usage of plastic and other waste. Knowing the success story of Karulayi Panchayath in waste management, many other panchayaths have consulted them to study the Karulayi model of waste management. Harithakarmasena of Karulayi is committed to bring about a positive change in the sector of waste management. Envisioning a healthier, clean and green world that complements a human generation living in harmony with nature.

The Saras Mela 2018 being held at Pattambi stand out unique.The Saras Mela 2018 follows green protocol, which means that means no plastic is being used at the mela. It is with the help of green protocol committee and Suchithwa Mission that green protocol is being observed at the Saras Fair. The boards, banners, decorations, the arch set up at the entrance etc. are made up of either paper or cloth. The decorations are done with paper, bamboo and sack only. The take away kits being distributed at the mela are made up of cloth and paper. Disposable plates and glasses are completely avoided at the mela. Fibre, ceramic plates and steel glasses replaced the disposable plastic plates and glasses. Even the waste buckets placed at various locations at the mela are made up of bamboo. The biodegradable wastes and non degradable wastes are sorted out by the Harithakarma sena members. The biodegradable wastes are being sent to pig farms.

The volunteers are giving away leaflets to the visitors to remind them about the green protocol being observed at the Saras Mela premises. The wastes are disposed in daily basis. The Harithakarma sena members are cleaning the mela premises in regular intervals. Therefore, the 'eco-friendly' mela being held at Pattambi is attracting more and more people and are adding more colour to the festive days of Kerala. The lost and found section of the mela is so active that the visitors are finding the mela more trustworthy.The Saras mela 2018 is being wholeheartedly received by the neighbouring districts as well which results in the grand success of the programme. The Mela will come to an end on 8 April 2018.

Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram District Mission is to launch Mobile Operation Theatre unit for executing the Animal Birth Control activities in the district. It is the Winners ABC Mobile unit, that is affiliated to the District Mission of Thiruvananthapuram which would be launched soon as a path breaking step in the sector of Animal Birth Control. The group comprises of 2 women and 3 men. The unit would travel to the panchayaths which need the service of the mobile operation unit for executing the animal birth control activities. The unit would also ensure the service of the veterinary doctor empanelled by the District Mission Coordinator.

12 veterinary hospitals in the district have the amenities for executing the birth control activities. But it is not possible to complete the birth control activities arise in the district using those facilities only. By the launch of the mobile Animal Birth Control unit, this issue could be easily resolved. By taking the mobile unit to the veterinary hospitals, the service of both hospital and the unit can be utilised. Thereby, the service of the veterinary hospitals, which don't have the amenities for executing the animal birth control activities could be made use of. This would help in using the service of the 75 % of veterinary hospitals in the district.

The mobile unit mobilise all the amenities that an Animal Birth Control Operation theatre would have. The unit had received Rs 3 lakhs fund from District Panchayath. RS 3.50 was received as innovation fund and Rs 50,000 as start up fund. It is the responsibility of the unit to arrange the finance for the vehicle. The maintenance, insurance and service of the vehicle would also be met by the group from their profits. The attender of the vehicle himself would act as the driver of the vehicle. The other ABC units may also hire the mobile unit if needed, which would in turn be a source of revenue for the mobile unit.

The District Mission Coordinator himself would schedule the work orders of the mobile ABC unit, prioritising as per the funds availed from various panchayaths.Smt. Rajani T.G, Smt. Jeevashree.M. Shri Satheesh Kumar M.G., Shri Jithesh K.G, and Shri. Mukesh M.S comprises the Winner ABC mobile unit.The unit has already been registered and will soon be inaugurated and start functioning soon.

The Kudumbashree Women of Thrissur holds the pride in supplying Kadali Banana to the Devaswom of Guruvayur, Kadali banana being the favorite offering to the deity of Guruvayur Temple. The bananas cultivated by the Kudumbashree women of Thrissur district in purely organic way are therefore taken for poojas and are given away to the people as prasadam and are also used in preparing ‘panchamrutham’ (a sweet desert) as well. The JLGs of Thrissur had been supplying the Kadali Bananas to the Guruvayur Temple for the last 8 years since 9 June 2009. The JLGS had been supplying the bananas with the help of Mattathur Labour Co-operative Society.

The Mattathur Labour Co-operative society procures the plantains from the farmers at a rate of Rs 3.80 per banana finger. After deducting the labour costs the farmer will get Rs 3.15 per banana. Before giving away the bananas the JLGs paste the stickers on the plantain bunch which has the name and code of the JLG, date and the number of banana fingers. Vegetable Food Promotion Council gives the information about the actual market rate of the banana to the Mattathur Labour Co-operative Society. On receiving the plantain, the Mattathur Labour Co-operative Society pays the money to the farmers. Then, the society will take the banana to the Guruvayur Temple and stores the banana at the place provided by Guruvayur Devaswom for storing the banana. The raw bananas would be then smoked for ripening. The bananas are procured on Tuesdays and Fridays of every week. Out of those bananas the best 400 bananas would be taken for ‘Nivedya’ purpose and 7 boxes containing 300 bananas each are taken for giving away as prasadam.

When the authorities of Guruvayur Devaswom arrived at a predicament situation during when the Kadali Bananas weren’t available for meeting the pooja purposes, Kudumbashree came up with the solution that they would cultivate and provide the kadali bananas upon the deal between the devaswom that it would be completely procured by the Guruvayur Devaswom. And then the women started cultivating the bananas as Joint Liability Groups of 4 to 5 people. The harvested bananas from every group are collected by the Mattathur Labour Co-operative society. The women didn't had to worry about the marketing of the crops that they produce. How much they produce, the society procured it from them paying the money. The women farmers from Kudumbashree are growing these bananas under seven panchayaths of Kodakara block, and supplying them to the temple, ensuring a taste of homegrown plantain for the revered deity. Guruvayur Devaswom buys the kadali banana as per the conditions laid down in the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The seed of the Kadali banana is also procured by the Mattathur Labour Co-operative Society. They would procure the kadali seed from the JLGs at a rate of Rs 21 per seed. Only best quality kadali seeds are procured by the society to maintain the quality of the crop cultivated.

Kadali is a small and sweet fruited variety of banana which is mainly grown for offerings in temple and is known by names like Ambalakadali, Nivedyakadali etc. The average bunch weighs about 8-10 kg. Being taken for poojas, the market for the fruit is always assured. It is also believed that Kadali Banana have contents of gold in it. The fragrant Kadali Banana has got medicinal features as well. It is believed by the followers that, Kadali Banana along with Yellow silk and lotus bud is the favorite offering of the deity. A total of 750 women from 150 Joint Liability Groups had been supplying 1.5 million of Kadali Banana to Guruvayur Temple every year.

Around 4000 to 25,000 Kadali Bananas are needed in Guruvayur temple based on the season. Earlier, to give this daily offering, the temple was dependent on supply from Tamil Nadu, as this special variety was on the verge of extinction in Kerala, which wasn’t following organic method of cultivation, whereas Kudumbashree women follow organic method of cultivation. The project is implemented jointly by Kodakara Block Panchayath, Grama Panchayaths within the Block and the Kudumbashree Mission which aimed to supply pooja kadali required for prayer rituals to the Guruvayur temple daily by utilizing the Kudumbashree network. As a result not only would employment and income be generated but also the rare variety of ‘Pooja kadali‘ banana which is facing extinction would be rejuvenated.

Kudumbashree Idukki District Mission organised tribal study tour 'Gothra Prayanam', study tour via flight for the tribes people of Edamalakkudy from Nedumbassery to Thiruvananthapuram on 27 March 2018. The trip was organised as part of the Tribal Integrated Development Project. The 20 membered team which comprised of 14 Kudumbashree members and tribal chieftains(oorumooppans) was lead by Smt. Ramani, CDS Chairperson, Edamalakkudy and Smt.Eshwari, Panchayath Member, Edamalakkudy.

The team had a discussion with Shri. S.Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree regarding the sustainable development of Edmalakkudy. The had visited the tribal settlement at Vithura. The group also visited Secretariat and Legislative Assembly Complex and Shanghumugham beach as well. The team was accompanied by ST promoters, animators and officials of Kudumbashree Idukki District Mission.

The team made their return trip to Edamalakkudy via train. Kudumbashree Idukki District Mission organised such an air tour for the tribes people for including them in the mainstream, who were sidelined from the society for one reason or the other. Those were the moments of sheer excitement for the team of getting on to the plane for the first time.

The ethinic foods prepared by the Kudumbashree unit from Attappady is of high demand at the Saras Mela being held at Pattambi. Vana Sundari Kozhi, the ethnic chicken recepie prepared by the Chaithanya Kudumbashree unit is being the main attraction of the food lovers those who pay visit to the food courts at Saras Mela 2018.

The recepies of Vana Sundari Chicken include the herbs that are available only in Attappady. 20 kg of Vana sundari  chicken  was sold in the first day of sale itself. Many of the people who visits the mela are asking for the recepies too. A  plate including leg piece, dosa, salad and chutney is being sold at a rate of Rs 150 per plate. Single piece is available for Rs 70.  A sale of Rs  4000 was recorded in the inaugural day and  sale of Rs13000 was recorded on the day following.

Apart from Vana Sundari Chicken the unit also prepare Chamayari Payasam, Chamayari Upmav, Ragi Vattayappam, Ragi Pazhampori, Ragi Churulappam, Ragi Putt Kadala, Ragi Ullivada, Ragi Kokkuvada,  Salad, Chutney, Chukku Kappi etc.

Smt. Valli Chandran is the leader of the Chaithanya Kudumbashree unit. Smt. Rony Rengan, Smt. Sijimol, Smt.Maruthy Raju and Smt. Vengy Maruthan are the other members. They had also took part in the Thudi fest and Malabar Craft Mela organised at Palakkad. 

The Cafe Kudumbashree unit from the hamlets of Attappady had already won the hearts  of the food lovers of Pattambi with their ethinic cuisines and are indeed excelling at the Saras Mela 2018.

തിരുവനന്തപുരം: കെട്ടിട നിര്‍മാണ മേഖലയില്‍ വിജയം കൈവരിച്ചതിനു പിന്നാലെ കുടുംബശ്രീ വനിതകള്‍ പെയിന്‍റിങ്ങ് രംഗത്തും സജീവമാകുന്നു. എറണാകുളം ജില്ലയില്‍ രൂപീകരിച്ച നിറക്കൂട്ട് പെയിന്‍റിങ്ങ് യൂണിറ്റിലെ വനിതകളാണ് പുതിയ തൊഴിലില്‍ ശ്രദ്ധേയ നേട്ടം കൈവരിക്കുന്നത്. രണ്ടു വര്‍ഷം മുമ്പ് പ്രവര്‍ത്തനം ആരംഭിച്ച യൂണിറ്റ് ഇതുവരെ ഇരുപതോളം ഫ്ളാറ്റുകളില്‍ പെയിന്‍റിങ് ജോ ലി ഏറ്റെടുത്ത് നടപ്പാക്കുകയും ഇരുപത്തിയഞ്ച് ലക്ഷം രൂപയോളം വരുമാനം നേടുകയും ചെയ്തു കഴിഞ്ഞു.

    കെട്ടിട നിര്‍മാണ മേഖലയിലും ഹോളോ ബ്രിക്സ് നിര്‍മാണ മേഖലയിലും കുടുംബശ്രീ  യൂണി റ്റുകള്‍ കൈവരിച്ച മുന്നേറ്റത്തില്‍ നിന്നു പ്രചോദനം ഉള്‍ക്കൊണ്ടാണ് വനിതാ പെയിന്‍റിങ്ങ് യൂണി റ്റുകളും തുടങ്ങിയിട്ടുള്ളത്. എല്ലാ ജില്ലകളിലും പദ്ധതിയില്‍ ചേരാന്‍ താല്‍പര്യമുള്ള അയല്‍ക്കൂട്ട വനിതകളെ കണ്ടെത്തിക്കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുകയാണ്. ഇതു പ്രകാരം  കോട്ടയം ജില്ലയില്‍ പുതിയ യൂണിറ്റു കള്‍ തുടങ്ങുന്നതുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട്  ഗുണഭോക്താക്കളെ തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്തിട്ടുണ്ട്. ഇവര്‍ക്ക് പരിശീലന വും നല്‍കി.  സംസ്ഥാനത്ത്  കുടുംബശ്രീയുടെ കീഴില്‍ രൂപീകരിക്കുന്ന പെയിന്‍റിങ്ങ് യൂണിറ്റുകള്‍ക്ക് പുറത്തെ  സ്വകാര്യ വ്യക്തികളും  സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടു ലഭിക്കുന്ന  വര്‍ക്കുകള്‍ക്കു പുറമേ,  സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ വകുപ്പുകളുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട പെയിന്‍റിങ് ജോലിയും ലഭിക്കും.

    സംസ്ഥാനത്ത് ലൈഫ് പദ്ധതിയുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട് എല്ലാ ജില്ലകളിലുമായി രണ്ടര ലക്ഷത്തോളം ഭവനങ്ങളാണ്  നിര്‍മിക്കുക. ഇവയുടെ  നിര്‍മാണം പൂര്‍ത്തിയാകുന്ന അവസരത്തില്‍ ഈ മേഖലയില്‍ പെയിന്‍റിങ്ങുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടുണ്ടാകുന്ന ബൃഹത്തായ തൊഴില്‍ അവസരങ്ങളും പരമാവധി പ്രയോജ നപ്പെടുത്താന്‍ കുടുംബശ്രീ ലക്ഷ്യമിടുന്നു. ഇതോടൊപ്പം പെയിന്‍റിങ്ങ് യൂണിറ്റുകള്‍ക്ക് കൂടുതല്‍ തൊഴില്‍ അവസരങ്ങളും വരുമാനവും ലഭ്യമാക്കുന്നതിന്‍റെ ഭാഗമായി വിവിധ വകുപ്പുകളുമായുള്ള സംയോജനവും കുടുംബശ്രീ ഉറപ്പു വരുത്തും. സംരംഭം തുടങ്ങുന്നതിനാവശ്യമായ വായ്പയും സബ്സഡിയും  നല്‍കുന്നതോടൊപ്പം   നൂതനമായ പദ്ധതികള്‍ക്കുള്ള ഇന്നവേഷന്‍ ഫണ്ടും നല്‍കും. പദ്ധതി എല്ലാ ജില്ലകളിലേക്കും വ്യാപിപ്പിക്കാനാണ് കുടുംബശ്രീ ലക്ഷ്യമിടുന്നത്.

    കുടുംബശ്രീ എറണാകുളം ജില്ലാ മിഷന്‍റെ ആഭിമുഖ്യത്തില്‍ ആവിഷ്ക്കരിച്ചു നടപ്പാക്കുന്നതാണ്  പുതിയ പദ്ധതി. തുടര്‍ന്നാണ് എല്ലാ ജില്ലകളിലും ഇത്തരം യൂണിറ്റുകള്‍ തുടങ്ങാനുള്ള തീരുമാനമാ യ ത്. ജില്ലയിലെ അയല്‍ക്കൂട്ട വനിതകളില്‍ നിന്നും അഭിമുഖത്തിലൂടെ അഭിരുചിയും താല്‍പര്യവുമു ള്ളവരെയാണ് പദ്ധതിയില്‍ ഉള്‍പ്പെടുത്തിയത്. ഇതു പ്രകാരം വാഴക്കുളം, വെങ്ങോല എന്നിവിടങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്നും തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത പത്തു വനിതകള്‍ക്ക് പെയിന്‍റിങ്ങിലും അനുബന്ധകാര്യങ്ങളിലും രണ്ടു മാസത്തെ തീവ്ര പരിശീലനം നല്‍കി. ഇതിന് ശേഷം ഇവരില്‍ നിന്നും സൂക്ഷ്മസംരംഭം ആരംഭിക്കാന്‍ താല്‍പര്യം പ്രകടിപ്പിച്ച അഞ്ചു പേരെ ഉള്‍പ്പെടുത്തി നിറക്കൂട്ട് എന്ന പേരില്‍ സംരംഭം ആരംഭി ക്കുക യായിരുന്നു. പുരുഷന്‍മാര്‍ ചെയ്യുന്നതു പോലെ ഉയരമുള്ള കെട്ടിടങ്ങളില്‍ വടം കെട്ടി അതില്‍ നിന്നു കൊണ്ട് പെയിന്‍റു ചെയ്യാനും ഇവര്‍ക്ക് കഴിയും.

      പ്രതിദിനം ആയിരം രൂപയ്ക്കടുത്താണ് ഓരോ യൂണിറ്റ് അംഗത്തിന്‍റെയും വരുമാനം.  പുതിയ വര്‍ക്കുകള്‍ ഏറ്റെടുക്കുന്നതിനായി സൈറ്റുകള്‍ നേരില്‍ കണ്ട് അളവെടുക്കുന്നതും ക്വട്ടേഷന്‍ നല്‍കു ന്നതുമെല്ലാം  യൂണിറ്റ് അംഗങ്ങള്‍ നേരിട്ടാണ്. ബഹുനില കെട്ടിടങ്ങളുടെ വര്‍ക്ക് ഏറ്റെടുക്കുമ്പോള്‍ മാത്രമാണ് ഇവര്‍ പുറത്തു നിന്നും വിദഗ്ധരുടെ സഹായം തേടുന്നത്. 
 

To provide skill development to people with disabilities and provide livelihoods opportunities, a Livelihood Resource Centre was set up at ‘Snehatheeram’, the BUDS Rehabilitation Centre of Mararikulam South Grama Panchayath associating with Leonard Cheshire Disability Project Nagapattinam as part of the ‘Access to Livelihood’ Programme, the flagship programme of Leonard Cheshire Disability to empower the Persons with Disability (PWDs).

After detailed planning and discussions with Kudumbashree, MoU was signed in the month of July 2016. As per the MoU, the project duration was 8 months from July 2016 to March 2017 and for utilizing the fund within the period, the programme was extended to March 2018. As per the agreement between Leonard Cheshire Disability Project Nagapattinam and Kudumbashree Mission, Satellite Livelihood Resource Centre of Leonard Cheshire Disability Project was opened at the Buds Rehabilitation Centre at Marairikulam South Grama Panchayath as part of the pilot study.

And as part of the initial activities, linkages were established with the local level skill providers by ensuring necessary accessibility features. Partnership with local employers and with the financial institutions was also set up to provide necessary employment support. For setting up businesses and a Livelihood Resource Map was created. After identifying the persons with disabilities in the locality, through need analysis and skill assessment, skill training was given to them. A total of 122 persons were identified with disabilities out of which 27 were from BRC. 10 were given training in paper making, 10 were given training in vermin compost making and mothers of 5 bed ridden children of BRC were given training and amenities for poultry farming. The other physically challenged identified from within the panchayath were given training for LED Bulb assembling as well.

With the help of Eksat training team, guidance was given to the children on making paper bags, tablet covers, shopping bags, gift cover, envelope, oven bags, files making, marketing techniques, packing etc which were included in the module and orders were received from Panchayath, Agriculture Department and other organisations. The 3000 notepads used during the 19th Anniversary programme of Kudumbashree Mission held at Alappuzha were made by the children of Snehatheeram BRC of Mararikulam South Panchayath. One vermi compost unit with four rings at BUDS School Campus with the technical guidance of Socio Economic Unit Foundation (SEUF).

Leonard Cheshire Disability (LCD) is an international NGO working through five regional offices in Africa and Asia, with an extensive global network of partners in over 50 countries. The key focus of our programmes is inclusive education, access to livelihoods, campaigning and advocacy, and research. The South Asia Regional office is based in Bangalore, India. Leonard Cheshire Project Nagapattinam (LCPNP) is the partner organization of Leonard Cheshire Disability implementing the ‘Access to Livelihoods’ Programme since 2008 in 4 locations– Nagapattinam, Thiruvallur, Cuddalore and Chennai- through established ‘Livelihoods Resource Centre (LRC) based in Chennai. The Main objectives of this model are to connect people with disabilities with opportunities to work, to act as a “one-stop-shop” by providing training, career guidance, and links to employers, who support people with disabilities in the world of work, to promote the choice and decision of people with disabilities in livelihood and to support confidence building in people with disabilities.

The Executive Committee of the Department of Women and Child approved the scale-up of the Amrutham Take Home Ration Fortification to all Nutrimix production units in Wayanad district. Fortification of Take Home Rations is the collaborative project between Kudumbashree Mission, Department of Women and Child Development and United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP), which aims to deliver fortified blended foods to children between 6-36 months of age through Integrated Child Development Services Programme in Kerala.

As per the MoU signed between the Government of Kerala and United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP), with the intention of demonstrating that fortification can be well implemented in government systems and schemes with adequate capacity building of the women’s neighbourhood groups, starting in December 2016, Kudumbashree Mission in collaboration with UNWFP and the Social Justice Department (SJD), had setup a fortification demonstration at the Snehadeepam Amrutham Nutrimix unit in Vellamunda panchayath in Manathavady block of Wayanad district.

Fortification is a practice of deliberately increasing the micronutrient content of a food, so as to improve the nutritional quality of food supply and provide a public health benefit with minimal risk to health. As per the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau Survey 2012, average intake of children (1-3 years) for recommended micronutrients was found to be much lower than the required, resulting in the consequent malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. According to the World Health Organization, young children between 6-36 months of age catered to by the Integrated Child Development Services Programme and Kudumbashree, should receive foods which provide sufficient energy, protein and micronutrients to cover a child’s energy and nutrient gaps. The pilot project in Mananthavady aimed to address the same as well. Micronutrients may be provided to these children through dietary diversification, supplementation or fortification. Food fortification however is the most cost-effective strategy by which the micronutrients are added to foods leading to rapid improvement in the micronutrient status of various population groups at a reasonable cost without requiring any behavioural change.

As of date, 163.5 metric tonnes of fortified Amrutham Nutrimix has been produced by the Snehadeepam unit in Wayanad and distributed to all 148 Anganwadi centres in the project area. The pilot project has efficiently demonstrated that, Take Home Ration can be easily fortified by addition of micronutrient premix to the existing recipe of Amrutham Nutrimix while using the same equipment’s available at the Nutrimix production unit. The beneficiary response and acceptability of fortified Amrutham as observed during the pilot project has been highly encouraging. As part of scaling-up the Take Home Ration fortification initiative across Kerala, the project will be initially extended to all Nutrimix production units in Wayanad district followed by other districts in the State. UNWFP will support with capacity building of all the units engaged in nutri-mix production in Wayanad.

The District Mission of Thrissur came up with a new idea for finding markets for their entrepreneurs, associating with Canara Bank. Similar to the mobile unit of Consumer fed, the Canaravahini would reach the customers and the products of Kudumbashree would be bought by the customers. A branded van would act as a mobile shop which would reach out to the customers and sell the products of the  micro entrepreneurs in the district. The programme is being implemented as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities of Canara bank. 

Alathur Rice produced by the JLGs of Annamanada Panchayath in the district, curry powders, other flours, masalas, jam, squash, coconut oil, handicrafts, toiletries etc are for sale at ‘Canaravahini’.

Through various activities, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission had been finding maximum market for their products and is monitoring them as well.  Kudumbashree District Mission of Thrissur  understood that only through such out of the box initiatives that market could be assured for the products.  Through different initiatives to market the products, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission is standing out unique.