Kudumbashree is formulating special activities for the LEAP (Local Employment Assurance Programme), which aims at extending employment to at least 5 people locally in every panchayath, as Kudumbashree has an important role to play in the implementation of the programme. As part of this, various activities are progressing in the Local bodies. LEAP project is one of the important projects announced in the 2020-21 State Budget of the Government of Kerala.

Through these activities, Kudumbashree kept the goals of identifying beneficiaries from the Kudumbashree NHGs at first. The next goal is to provide skill training to at least 40,000 Kudumbashree members or their family members. Thereafter, the next aim is to bring all the interested among them to the formation of enterprises. Kudumbashree encourages enterprises in production as well as service sectors, and wants to ensure that these entrepreneurs earn a monthly income of a minimum of Rs 10,000. Online Data Collection is ongoing in the NHGs through CDS to identify those who are interested in becoming part of the LEAP Project training, which would be implemented through Kudumbashree. After analysing these data, a two day General Orientation Training would be extended on the various livelihood projects and skill training programmes of Kudumbashree, Local Self Government Department and other Government Departments. The programmes of Kudumbashree viz., ARISE, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY), agricultural programmes etc, that would help in securing wage employment or self employment (through new enterprises) would be introduced during the training.

The interested members would be extended awareness on the livelihood opportunities that could be started locally and in the respective districts. They will also be sensitised about the challenges and opportunities of the same. Through empaneled agencies, training would be extended. Necessary skill training will also be provided to ensure enterprise formation by those who are interested. In addition, existing enterprises would be provided with relentless support. A system will be put in place to solve their problems, as part of this LEAP programme. Through the support system, the entrepreneurs would be extended financial assistance. Also they will be provided support in making avail innovative technologies. Needed training and handholding will be provided as well.

It is aimed to complete the selection of the beneficiaries by the mid of September. General Orientation Training will be provided within one month and Skill training will be provided before December. Later, activities for enterprise formation or support to get wage employment will be organised. As of now, there are more than 26,000 micro enterprises in Kerala registered as Kudumbashree units. Through these enterprises, around 1 lakh NHG members are finding their livelihood. It is expected that by implementing LEAP projects for enterprise formation, a minimum of 5000 new enterprises would be started. The aim of implementing the LEAP programme is to help 10,000+ people to identify livelihoods of their own.

കുടുംബശ്രീ വഴി നടപ്പാക്കുന്ന സ്റ്റാര്‍ട്ടപ്പ് വില്ലേജ് എന്റര്‍പ്രണര്‍ഷിപ്പ് പ്രോഗ്രാമിന്റെ ഭാഗമായി കഴിഞ്ഞവര്‍ഷം മികച്ച പ്രവര്‍ത്തനം നടത്തിയ ബ്ലോക്കുകളില്‍ ഇടുക്കി ജില്ലയിലെ ഇടുക്കി ബ്ലോക്കിന് ഒന്നാം സ്ഥാനം. കേരളത്തിലെ തെരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത 14 ബ്ലോക്കുകളില്‍, ആ പ്രദേശത്തെ വിഭവങ്ങള്‍ പരമാവധി ഉപയോഗിച്ച് കൊണ്ട് ആ പ്രദേശത്ത് ആവശ്യമുള്ള സംരംഭങ്ങള്‍ ആരംഭിക്കുന്നതിനായി കുടുംബശ്രീ അംഗങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് പ്രോത്സാഹനം നല്‍കുന്ന പദ്ധതിയാണ് എസ്‌വിഇപി. സംരംഭങ്ങളുടെ രൂപീകരണ ലക്ഷ്യത്തിന്റെ പൂര്‍ത്തീകരണം, സംരംഭങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് നിയമസാധുതയുണ്ടാക്കല്‍, അരക്ഷിത സമൂഹത്തിന്റെ ഉള്‍പ്പെടുത്തല്‍, സോഫട്‌വെയര്‍ അപ്‌ഡേഷന്‍ തുടങ്ങീ പത്തോളം ഘടകങ്ങളുടെ അടിസ്ഥാനത്തിലാണ് ജില്ലകളെ വിലയിരുത്തിയത്. മലപ്പുറം ജില്ലയിലെ നിലമ്പൂര്‍, കോട്ടയം ജില്ലയിലെ വൈക്കം, കാസര്‍ഗോഡ് ജില്ലയിലെ നീലേശ്വരം, എറണാകുളം ജില്ലയിലെ വടവുകോട് എന്നീ ബ്ലോക്കുകളാണ് യഥാക്രമം രണ്ട് മുതല്‍ അഞ്ച് വരെയുള്ള സ്ഥാനത്ത്.

   2017ല്‍ കേരളത്തില്‍ 14 ബ്ലോക്കുകളിലും ആരംഭിച്ച ഈ പദ്ധതിയിലൂടെ നാല് വര്‍ഷം കൊണ്ട് 26,034 സംരംഭങ്ങള്‍ ആരംഭിക്കാനാണ് ലക്ഷ്യമിട്ടത്. എസ്.വി.ഇ.പി പദ്ധതിയുടെ ഭാഗമായി തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത എല്ലാ ബ്ലോക്കുകളിലും ബ്ലോക്ക് നോഡല്‍ സൊസൈറ്റി ഫോര്‍ എന്റര്‍പ്രൈസ് പ്രൊമോഷന്‍ (ബി.എന്‍.എസ്.ഇ.പി.) തുടങ്ങുകയും കുടുംബശ്രീയില്‍ നിന്നുള്ള മൈക്രോ എന്റര്‍പ്രൈസ് കണ്‍സള്‍ട്ടന്റുമാരെ (എം.ഇ.സി.) തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു. ബ്ലോക്കിലെ സി.ഡി.എസ്സ്. ഭരണസമിതികളിലെ സി.ഡി.എസ്സ് ചെയപേഴ്സണമാര്‍, എം.ഇ ഉപസമിതി കണ്‍വീനര്‍മാര്‍ എന്നിവരാണ് ബി.എന്‍.എസ്.ഇ.പി യുടെ ഭരണസമിതി. ഇപ്രകാരമുള്ള ബി.എന്‍.എസ്.ഇ.പി ഭരണസമിതിയുടെ നേതൃത്വത്തില്‍ പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്ന എം.ഇ.സി മാരുടെ പിന്തുണയോടെയാണ് സംരംഭങ്ങള്‍  തുടങ്ങാന്‍ താത്പര്യമുള്ളവരെ കണ്ടെത്തുന്നതും പരിശീലനം നല്‍കുന്നതും ആവശ്യമുള്ള കൈത്താങ്ങ് നല്‍കുന്നതും. പദ്ധതി ആരംഭിച്ച് 2 വര്‍ഷം പിന്നിടുമ്പോള്‍ 11,212 സംരംഭങ്ങളാണ് കേരളത്തിലെ 14 ബ്ലോക്കുകളിലായി ഇതുവരെ ആരംഭിച്ചിട്ടുള്ളത്.

Through the Chief Minister's Helping Hand Loan Scheme, which is being implemented through Kudumbashree was started from 23 April, Rs 1782.82 crores bank loan has already been provided to Kudumbashree members until now. Also loan applications of Rs 1958.12 crores have been submitted to banks. As per the statistics till 17 August, Rs 1782.82 crores is already received by NHGs as bank loan.1,92,172 NHGs have received loans and a total of 22,37,588 NHG members have received the loan amount.

Chief Minister's Helping Hand Loan Scheme (CMHLS) is the interest free loan scheme launched to extend temporary assistance to those who lost their income during the crisis of covid-19. After the floods of 2018, the Resurgent Kerala Loan Scheme (RKLS) was successfully implemented through Kudumbashree. It is the success of that which led the Government of Kerala to decide to implement the Chief Minister's Helping Hand Loan Scheme (CMHLS) programme through Kudumbashree. The plan was to provide Rs 2000 crores as Interest Free bank Loan.

In the first phase of implementation, discussion was held with the banks and the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) expressed their willingness to give loans at 9 % interest. Government agreed to provide interest subsidies to the NHGs. As it is an interest free loan, it was decided to limit the loan to Rs 2000 crores as per the Government decision and the loan limit for CDSs and NHGs were fixed.

This is a novel project implemented by Kudumbashree NRO. Vulnerability Reduction Plan (VRP) programme aims at mainstreaming the vulnerable families (Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, women headed households, victims of human trafficking, those facing physical- mental disabilities etc) of a selected area. This programme , which is part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), is being implemented by NRO in association with Tripura State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM).

VRP is implemented by Village Organisations (VO), which are formed as a federation of 10-15 Self Help Groups-SHGs in every panchayath. The vulnerable families are identified on the basis of different criteria and the details of these families are enlisted at first. Out of the selected families, the most vulnerable families are earmarked and Vulnerability Reduction Plans are prepared considering their various needs. The aim is to reduce their vulnerability. Out of these needs, some are solved by SRLM through their own projects. Some other needs are addressed through departmental projects (of other departments) and some could be directly done by the Village Organisations. This way, the needs of the vulnerable families are fulfilled. Then, they will be made part of the SHG network and many other activities will be undertaken to mainstream vulnerable families.

The first of its kind activity (support for VRP) was implemented in Kunjaban Gram Panchayat of Matabari Block of Tripura on 28 November 2018. Plans were formulated for many such as Hiran Bala Das, a 65 year old woman with a 21 year old intellectually disabled daughter with no regular source of income apart from the old age pension, and to many like Dhirendra Das, a widowed 71 year old man again with no other source of income apart from the old age pension etc. The mapping was then piloted in Maa Durga VO of Muhiripur Gram Panchayat in Jolaibari Block on 31 July 2019. The details of 216 families were collected then. After the detailed analysis, it was found that 12 families are more vulnerable and are in need of emergency assistance. Special plans were prepared for them. Rs 58,000 was given as Vulnerability Reduction Fund (VRF) through SRLM. In some panchayats, VRP plans were submitted as part of their Annual Action Plans.

NRO extended many supports/ consultancy / assistance to the Village Organisations in the blocks of Tripura where NROs support was requested. NRO provides support in many aspects of implementation of VRP. Kudumbashree NRO had prepared a special module for VRP implementation in Tripura. Also, NRO helped the state to frame strategies for identifying the vulnerable families. Also, support was extended for coordinating training and for preparing the VRP plans. Mentors and coordinators of Kudumbashree NRO are doing these activities based on the work experience they earned while implementing the Ashraya Programme in Kerala. Kudumbashree National Resource Organisation (NRO) the wing of Kudumbashree that provides consultancy and support to various states and union territories in the country as per their requests.

Four states in India are replicating the Kudumbashree Balasabha model through Kudumbashree National Research Organisation. The activity of the formation of Balasabhas in other states as part of the functioning of Kudumbashree NRO is progressing well. At present, formation of Balsabhas has been started at Tripura, Assam, Jharkhand and Manipur. In Tripura,1529 children are members of 125 Balasabha, whereas in Assam, 17,250 children are members of 1150 Balasabha. In Jharkhand there are 2900 Balasabha which have 41,290 children as members whereas in Manipur,  there are 20 Balasabha which have 300 children as members.

It was while going forward with the NRO activities, Kudumbashree NRO team noticed the issues faced by the children in different states. The issues they faced included dropping out from schools, child marriages, becoming victims of human trafficking, drug addiction etc. As a solution to this, Kudumbashree thought of forming Balasabhas at those locations (blocks/ panchayats) where NRO is supporting the states. And the same have been implemented in 4 states.

Preventing intergenerational transmission of poverty, acquiring knowledge through entertainment, developing leadership qualities, nurturing co-operative attitude, raising aptitude towards science, helping understanding democratic processes, ensuring participation in conserving the environment, and focusing on personality development of the students are some of the key aims of Balasabha. Kudumbashree NRO formed Balasabhas focusing on these aims.

Initially, there were no favourable situations for implementing such an activity in other states as this was a novel concept. But now the formation of Balasabhas is progressing in four states in the best possible manner. Children who are members of these Balsabhas are organising various activities. Resource Persons from within the villagers were selected and are entrusted for coordinating the functioning of the Balasabhas.

It was during 2012, the Government of India (Ministry of Rural Development) recognised Kudumbashree as a National Resource Organisation (NRO). As per the request of the different states, NRO functions in various areas of the country, working on various projects.  The activities of NRO focus on supporting the states for forming SHG networks, supporting women (SHG members) to start micro enterprises and to make convergences possible with the Local Self Government Institutions. Also the overall thrust is to help women earn their rights through various initiatives. As of now, 20 states and one Union Territory have signed MoU with Kudumbashree NRO.

 Kudumbashree National Resource Organisation (NRO) functions aiming at providing supports to other states, based on the experience from Kudumbashree model of Kerala. Balasabha, the 'Kudumbashree of Children', was started as a fraternity of children who accompany their mothers during the Kudumbashree neighbourhood group meetings.

The Kudumbashree NRO team and the mentors adapted and framed the concept of Balasabha suiting the same to the requirement and situation of various states. They had started implementing the concept quickly, guiding the younger generation of all these partner states of Kudumbashree.

6.7 lakh Kudumbashree members had shown interest to enroll for the KSFE Vidyashree Scheme, which enables the needy NHG members to buy laptops. Vidyashree Scheme is being implemented by Kudumbashree in association with Kerala State Financial Enterprises (KSFE) for supporting students. Till date, 6,70,156 Kudumbashree members came forward to become part of this scheme and out of them, 5,12,561 members opted for receipt of laptops, as during the crisis situation of COVID 19, the educational system is in transition and becoming more dependent on online education.

Vidyashree is a micro chitty of Rs 15,000 with a monthly installment of Rs 500 for 30 months. A NHG member can enroll for only one Vidyashree Chitty. As per this, if a Kudumbashree member becomes part of this scheme, after the payment of the third installment, she may inform the NHG if she needs a laptop. Laptop with the specifications prescribed by the Education Department, procured from the agencies empanelled by IT Department would be made available for them. These laptops would cost less than Rs 15,000.

As per Vidyashree, after the payment of the third installment, all in need can own a laptop as the laptop will be provided by KSFE. When the chitty installment payment would be complete, the members would get the remaining amount in the chitty (if any) including interest, excluding the cost of the laptop. Those who repay the chitty regularly need not pay the installment amount of Rs 500 during the 10th term and 20th term. KSFE would pay this. In addition, for those who regularly repay the chitty starting from 1st term up to the 30th term, KSFE would bear the first installment of Rs 500 for enrolling in a similar scheme that would be started. In short, those who repay without fail may save Rs 1500. Those Kudumbashree members who do not need a laptop may also join this scheme. After paying the 13th monthly instalment, they may draw the full city amount (if needed) without any bid or lot. They would also get the savings interest of KSFE as well. The repayment should be done without any fail. The NHG and CDS would oversee the monthly repayment.

Kudumbashree collected the details of the NHG members who are interested in joining this micro savings programme which aims at making available laptops for the common people as laptops are becoming inevitable for enabling online education.

Kudumbashree is proud to be part of an activity that helps the newer generation to get in tune with the changing time through the Vidyashree Scheme associating with Kerala State Financial Enterprises(KSFE).

Kudumbashree is about to start imparting skill training in more BUDS Institutions. It is the new project that Kudumbashree intends to start for BUDS Institutions. Kudumbashree had already been imparting skill training in most of the BUDS Rehabilitation Centres (BRC) in Kerala on various skills like paper binding, spiral binding, paper cover making, paper pen production, mattress making, soap and hand wash production, farming etc for the children in BUDS Institutions. Now, Kudumbashree aims at imparting skill training to more institutions in this financial year as a part of the special livelihood initiative. The plan is to scale up and implement the skill training programme to 150 more BUDS Institutions this year.

In the first phase, the teachers, children and parents of each BUDS Institutions would identify the skills which the students wish to acquire. Based on the identified skill need, Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared by each institution. The activities for preparing DPR for each BUDS school had already been started. August 15 is the last date to submit the DPRs. Once the DPR is received from all institutions, approval would be given for each BUDS school. Special financial assistance would be provided to each institution for this special livelihood assistance. Rs 4 crores has been earmarked for 150 institutions for setting up basic infrastructure and for buying machineries. Also find will be provided for arranging working capital. There is financial support for monitoring, evaluation and for branding and marketing.

After the completion of training, Kudumbashree has also planned the branding of the products manufactured by the students of BUDS Institutions. Marketing support will also be provided in a centralised manner. As per the schedule, skill training courses will be started by September/ October 2020 and the branding and marketing activities will be started by December 2020.