വാര്‍ത്തകള്‍

Kudumbashree women from Wayanad formed giant human logo to mark the International Women's Day. Wearing Kerala saris, and with pink and green scarves on their heads, the women formed the three-flower logo of Kudumbashree Mission at the ground of Government Higher Secondary School, Mananthavady on 6 March 2018. The Kudumbshree women of Wayanad thereby wrote a new saga in the 20-year history of the poverty eradication mission of Kerala. 5,438 members from various units of Wayanad District Kudumbashree Mission, joined together to form the giant human logo and sang the women empowerment song of district mission. The logo was drawn in 260 feet size. Food and drinking water facilities for the women who participated were also arranged at the school ground.

The Kudumbashree logo stands for financial, social, and women empowerment. A huge crowd had gathered at the ground to watch the novel programme. The attempt was also a part of finding a spot in the Guinness World Records by forming the largest human logo by women. A one-hour video of the programme is to be submitted to the Guinness World Records.

Apart from the programme, the first art theatre titled 'Rosy the real strength of women' would be launched at Chandragiri Auditorium as a part of the International Women’s Day celebrations on 8 March 2018. The project aims to conserve the folk and traditional art forms of the State and convey the message of women empowerment and a debate on ‘gender justice’ and a talk show would also be arranged by the Wayanad District Mission.

Kudumbashree's new initiative Pet Care will be launched at Nedumangad of Thiruvananthapuram district soon. Those residing in the urban areas may make use of the pet care centres by paying a fixed amount.

The first of its kind will be started in Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram. As a pilot project, the pet care centre will start functioning by the second week of March 2018. In the first phase, the pet care centre will take care of dogs and once it would be successful, it would take care of other domestic animals as well. The service of a veterinary doctor will also be ensured.

Five Kudumbashree women had been given training regarding the same. Rs 10 lakh is the expected budget for the project. The pet care centre would be started near the Veterinary clinic  at Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram.

10 cages would be built in the first phase.Food will also be given to them. On the special request of the owner, special food  would be served to them. Two beds are also arranged for treating those who need further treatments.

If the demand for the pet centres increase, more centres will be started.

Kudumbashree Mission will give financial assistance worth Rs. 1.83 Crore to the beneficiaries of Kerala Chicken. The amount would be given as Community Investment Fund for the beneficiaries. 

In the first phase, Kudumbashree had identified 438 units all over the state which had basic infrastructure facilities to rear the chicken. Out of these, 183 units would get Rs. 1 Lakh each as loan. An amount of Rs 1.83 Crore would be distributed altogether. The other units would get Community Investment Fund through Community Development Societies (CDS). It is notable that the amount is given at an interest rate of 4% and it needs to be repaid within one year time only.

The programme envisages to serve good quality, poisonous free broiler chicken in Kerala, which would be of help in finding a livelihood for the Kudumbashree women as well. Two entrepreneurs from Thiruvananthapuram had made a record by gaining Rs 48,000 each from Kerala Chicken model of Chicken rearing. Their success story had attracted many other women to this sector.

 It is also planned to launch  Kudumbashree Hatchery units and retail outlets in all districts across Kerala. Converging with the Animal Husbandry Department, by excluding the middle men, the branding of the Kerala chicken would be done, that would be of help to producers and to consumers as well.

Kudumbashree Bazaar, the E-commerce portal to sell out the Kudumbashree products was launched by Dr. K.T Jaleel, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala at Kanakakkunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram on 21 February 2018. The credibility of the products produced by the micro entrepreneurs of Kudumbashree Mission is the success of Kudumbashree Bazaar. Minister said.

In the first phase, different products of 250 micro entrepreneurs are ready for sale. Quality products from Kudumbashree need to be timely delivered to the customers all over the world and thereby the acceptance for the Kudumbashree products could be increased. No compromise should be done regarding the quality of the products. The acceptance for Kudumbashree products is achieved by maintaining the quality. If we succeed to gain that acceptance globally, more micro entrepreneurs would be therefore be able to enter into this sector. By launching Kudumbashree super markets, the marketing network would be more strengthened. He added.

Kudumbashree has got a strong system for marketing by launching Kudumbashree E-commerce portal, said Shri. K. Muraleedharan, MLA who presided over the function. By launching the website the marketing of Kudumbashree products had attained a better level and its planned to start warehouses in all districts to store the products for sale in the second phase. Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission said.

The contract signed between Indian Postal Service and Kudumbashree Mission regarding the delivery of the Kudumbashree products was exchanged by Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission and Shri. M. Mohandas, Senior Superintendent, Thiruvananthapuram Post office North Division Zonal Office. The contract signed regarding the extension of technical support for launching Kudumbashree Community Radio Service was exchanged between Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission and Smt. Usha Mangalangy, Assistant General Manager, Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited. Training was given to the micro entrepreneurs regarding the packing of products and website. The training of Postal department was also conducted for the micro entrepreneurs.

Minister felicitated Shri. Hari Shambhu Dev, CEO, Street Bell Pvt Ltd and Smt. Arunima, Manager, Operations, who offered the technical support for Kudumbashreebazaar.com. Minister gave away the trophy and Visa to the DDUGKY students. Shri.Prathin C.T, Shri. K. Appu and Vishnu.P, who got international placement at Mac Donalds, Abu Dhabi through Edu jobs consultancy, Vadakara, Kozhikode.

Shri. Mohandas IPS, Shri Pramod K.V, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree Mission, Smt. Niranjana .N.S, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree Mission and Shri. Ajith Chacko, Chief Operating Officer, NRLM also attended the function.

Kudumbashree Mission is to make a path breaking gesture by launching 'www.kudumbashreebazaar.com'. From now onwards, through this e-portal, products made by the Kudumbashree women could be bought at ease. It is for improving the market and reach of the Kudumbashree products among the common people that the e-portal is launched.

There are about 15,000 Micro Enterprises in the state. The Kudumbashree women are producing different type of curry powders, flour, masala powders, different types of pickles, jams, squashes, coconut oil, handicrafts, cosmetics, toiletries, readymade garments etc. Out of these the best 200 types which would excel in packing and labelling would be available for sale through the e-portal in the first phase. As the demand for the products increases, more products would be made available online for sale. Through this the Kudumbashree women would be able to make more income of their own.

The details of the products including the photo, name of the unit, phone number which are ready for sale are made available in the website. The customers may visit the website and select the products they wish to buy. When the consumer confirms one item, the concerned Micro Entrepreneurs, District Programme Managers and the State Mission Manager would receive a message. It is the responsibility of the Entrepreneur to send the product through post on receiving the order. Kudumbashree and Postal department had already signed a contract regarding this. Once the Kudumbashree super markets would be started in all districts, the supervision and the responsibility of the online portal would be handed over to them. The technical support for launching the e-portal was facilitated by Start Up Mission.

Sparsham Campaign, which aims at strengthening the activities of Kudumbashree Mission at urban areas and to help reach the advantages of the various programmes implemented by Kudumbashree to the real beneficiaries was launched by Dr. K.T Jaleel, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala at Animation Centre, Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram on 16 February 2018. The campaign would be held from 20 February 2018- 19 March 2018. For eradicating the urban areas, Kudumbashree and Local Self Government Departments should work hand in hand. Minister said.

The Pradhan Manthri Awas Yojana (Urban)[ PMAY (U)] programme under Central- State Ministries which works with the mission of achieving 'Housing for All' and National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) programme which enable the urban poor to find a livelihood of their own are implemented through Kudumbashree Mission. The campaign envisages to reach the advantages of these programmes to the real beneficiaries to the maximum. It is planned to spend Rs 10,000 crores in constructing the houses for the needy in the next financial year. Government will give Rs 4 lakh to the urban homeless who have plots of their own. There are 7,38,704 families dwelling in the urban areas. Even now, around 1 lakh urban poor are out of those NHGs. The campaign is being organised for including such urban poor to the NHGs. Minister added.

The Award for the Best CDS was bagged by Chavakkad CDS. Best ULB in formation of new NHG was bagged by Kattapana ULB. Anugraha ( Neyyatinkara ) was selected as the best performing NHG. Oruma (Chavakkad) and Pournami (Sulthan Bathery) was selected as the second best NHGs in the state. The awards for the best performing banks in CLSS under PMAY was bagged by Axis Bank and Kerala Grameen Bank. Shri. Umesh Arora, Executive Vice President, Axis Bank and Shri. P. Janardhanan, General Manager, Kerala Grameen Bank received the awards from the Minister. Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust ( HLFPPT) and Jeevaneeyam Ayurvedic Research Centre bagged the awards for the best performing Skill Training Provider and Shri. Vimal Ravi and Dr. Reshmi Pramod received the awards from the Minister respectively. The ID cards for the Urban Service team was also issued by the Minister.

Adv. Rajendra Babu, Mayor, Kollam released the Urban Directory and the Circular on Sparsham Campaign by giving it to Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission. Shri. Sabu. K. Thomas, Secretary, Chairman's Chamber presided over the function. Shri. K Muraleedharan, Ward Councillor, Smt. Heeba, Chairperson, Neyyatinkara ULB, Shri. Pramod K.V, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Shri. Binu Francis, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Chairpersons of ULBs, Secretaries, Kudumbashree CDS Chairpersons, NULM City Mission Managers and PMAY City Cell Managers also attended the programme.

The prizes for the winners of 'Kudumbashree Oru Nerchithram’ Photography Competition 2017 was distributed by Dr. K.T Jaleel, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala at the function held at Animation Centre, Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram on 16 February 2018. Shri.G.Shivaprasad, Photographer, Mathrubhumi Kottayam unit had bagged the first prize. The beauty of the unity of Kudumbashree women was well captured in Sivaprasad's click. The Award prize, Rs 20,000 and certificate was given to him.

Shri.Sudharmadas, Photographer, KeralaKaumudi Kochi unit came second and Shri. Shaju. V. Karat from Malappuram came in the third place. The second prize and third prize was Rs 10,000 and Rs 5000 respectively. Sudharmadas captured the reflection of the hardwork of Kudumbashree women creatively. Photograph of a Kudumbashree woman digging well for drinking water with the caption 'Onto the depths for livelihood' made Shaju's photograph selected in the competition. The certificates and the award money were given to them.

The photographs submitted by Smt. Beena Paul, Smt. Nithya Sibin, Shri. Sajan. V. Nambiar, Shri. K. Surendran, Shri. Arun Kumar. C, Shri. C.R Gireesh Kumar, Shri. Printo Popz, Shri. Ashwin. P, Shri. Sunil Punarka and Shri. Saju Naduvil were selected for consolation prizes. Rs 1000 each and certificates were distributed to each of them as well.

Shri. Alagappan, renowned cinematographer was the Jury Chairman who selected the winners. Shri. Pramod, Photographer, Deshabhimani, Smt.Nisha. Director, Kudumbashree Mission and Smt. Jayanthi Narendranath, Public Relations Officer, Kudumbashree Mission were the other Jury members.

Kudumbashree Mission which envisions at eradicating poverty through women in Kerala had successfully completed 19 revolutionary years, conducted the photography competition for motivating the aspiring photographers and to propagate the activities of Kudumbashree Mission through photographs. The contestants were directed to submit photographs that reflect the various activities of Kudumbashree Mission. The competition was conducted from 1 November 2017- 15 December 2017.

Apart from the awards, free subscription of Kudumbashree Magazine will be given to selected 50 people. More details of the competition is published in the website www.kudumbashree.org