A Kudumbashree unit is getting attention by preparing a ‘Healthy Plate’ for those who come to have lunch at the Civil Station Canteen in Malappuram Municipality. Cafe Kudumbashree Canteen, which has been operating the canteen here for four years, is providing non-veg and veg food during lunch under the name of 'Healthy Plate'.

Along with rice, carrots, watermelon, cucumber, spinach, beans, tomatoes, sprouted grains, along with chicken, egg or yogurt, are served as lunch on the 'Healthy Plate'. The 'Healthy Plate', which includes chicken, costs Rs. 80. A 'Healthy Plate' with yogurt or egg costs Rs. 60.

Healthy plates are provided to those who book in advance. This initiative also has the support of Malappuram District Administration, Health Department and Food Safety Department. Although the 'Healthy Plates' were started only two weeks ago, at least 60 orders are now being received daily. The unit is staffed by 22 women and 4 male helpers.

A three-day training was organized for the Internal Resource Group (IRG) members of the Chalanam Mentorship Programme, which aims to improve the organizational structure of Kudumbashree Urban CDSs and transform them into Centres of Excellence. 49 IRG members from 11 CDSs participated in the training.

The Internal Resource Group is a group of Kudumbashree members who are involved in the CDSs as part of the Chalanam Programme to plan activities at the field level and to help them successfully implement them at the grassroots level. They have gained experience working at the CDS level. The IRG members shared their achievements, comments, challenges and problems related to the activities of the Chalanam Mentorship Programme during the last six months at a training program organized in Thiruvananthapuram.

The publication of the handwritten magazine prepared by them, recording the main achievements, was handed over to Syam Kumar K.U, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree and Anishkumar M.S, State Programme Manager. The Resource Group members also prepared and presented the action plan regarding the activities planned to be carried out in the respective CDSs for the next six months.

For the welfare of the elderly and their physical and mental well-being, a generation gathering is being organized in all 1070 CDSs in the state under the auspices of Kudumbashree. The generation gathering will be organized between March 10 and 25, in connection with the World Happiness Day, March 20. The aim of the programme is to empower the youth to create an age-friendly environment. It also aims to provide understanding to the general public about the problems faced by the elderly and to formulate solutions. It is intended to make more elderly people a part of the Kudumbashree system and provide them with the necessary support.

There are 25,992 elderly NHGs in the state, which has 2,83615 elderly people as members. As part of the generational gathering, a one-day gathering is being organized for them in collaboration with the Auxiliary Group. The programmes will begin at 10.30 AM. This will be followed by a seminar on the topic of ‘Age-Friendly New Kerala’ and discussions on various sub-topics related to it. The ideas, opinions and suggestions received in the seminar organized at the CDS level regarding ensuring the welfare of the elderly will be compiled at the CDS level and then at the district level and will be submitted to the State Mission before 10 April 225. The aim is to utilize this by including it in the plans of local self-government bodies, constituent bodies and Kudumbashree to ensure priority consideration for the elderly.

As part of the K4 Care project implemented in the state through Kudumbashree, 1,000 women are being trained in the field of geriatric care. The training is provided in a one-month certified course in collaboration with the National Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation-NIPMR, a renowned institution in this field. The project aims to provide better employment opportunities to Kudumbashree women along with providing various services in the field of geriatric care. The training will start from the first week of March 2025 at the NIPMR campus in Thrissur. The opportunity will be for women only. There are job opportunities in foreign countries for those who successfully complete the course.

A Kudumbashree member, Kudumbashree family member or Auxiliary Group member between the ages of 25-40 can participate in the training programme. They must have passed the 10th class. The members who received the training will be known as K4 Care Executives. They will be available for employment in various fields including care of the elderly, bedridden patients, differently-abled people, newborn babies, and post-natal care. Kudumbashree will also support this.

As part of the project that was launched in January 2024, a total of 605 people have received training in the first phase. Those who wish to participate in the training programme should contact the Kudumbashree District Mission Offices in their respective districts.

The three-day Sargam 2025 Literary Workshop jointly organized by Kudumbashree, Kerala Sahitya Akademi and KILA for the members of the NHGs and Auxiliary Groups concluded. 40 women selected from the participants of the Sargam State-Level Story Writing Competition were part of the workshop organized at KILA headquarters, Mulagunnathukavu, Thrissur from 27 February to 1 March 2025.

At the closing ceremony organized on 1 March 2025, C.P. Aboobacker, Secretary, Kerala Sahitya Akademi distributed certificates to those who were part of the workshop. Dr. K.P.N. Amrutha, Assistant Director, KILA (Training) presided over the function, while V.S. Bindu, Camp Director conducted the Workshop Review. Dr. U. Salil, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission and K. Rekha, Writer spoke at the function.  K.S. Sunil Kumar, Programme Co-ordinator, Kerala Sahitya Academy welcomed the participants and Dr. Anchal Krishnakumar, Public Relations Officer, Kudumbashree delivered the vote of thanks. On the concluding day, various sessions were led by K.V. Sajay on the topic of 'Evolution of Malayalam Poetry' and K. Rekha on the topic of 'Reading, Writing and Experience'.

Students from BUDS and BUDS Rehabilitation Centres who face intellectual disabilities achieved greater speed, height and distance. Malappuram, the host, emerged champions as the First BUDS Olympia 2025 State Sports Festival. Malappuram won the festival with 71 points, leaving behind all the districts that were ahead on the first day. V. Abdurahiman, Minister for Sports, Wakf and Haj Pilgrimage, Minority Welfare, Government of Kerala inaugurated the closing ceremony of the two-day festival organized by Kudumbashree and distributed trophies to the champions.

Over 400 athletes who had won district-level sports events competed in 35 events in sub-junior, junior, senior, higher ability and lower ability categories over the two days. Pathanamthitta district secured the second position with 51 points and Kannur district secured the third position with 43 points. In the march past held on 27 February 2025, Wayanad, Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram districts secured the first, second and third positions respectively.

Abdul Hameed Master, MLA presided over the closing ceremony. Dr. Zakir Hussain, Director, Physical Education, Calicut University, Abbas C.K, Abdul Kalam Master and P.K. Abdullah Koya Panchayat Presidents, Abdul Latheef P.C, Ward Member, Pallikal Panchayat, Saneera. E, Assistant District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission, Seenath C and Salmath. P.E, CDS Chairpersons spoke at the function. B Suresh Kumar, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission welcomed the gathering and Arun. P. Rajan, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree delivered the vote of thanks.

Individual Champions:

Sub Junior Boys
Muhammad Rasil (Kalikavu BRC Malappuram)
Sub Junior Girls
Roshni P. Rejo (Naranamuzhi BUDS School Pathanamthitta)

Junior Boys
Abhishek K. Kumar (Kumali Priyadarshini BUDS School, Idukki)
Junior Girls
Amrita R.D. (Kodumon BRC Pathanamthitta)

Senior Boys
Muhammad Fazil (Oorngattiri BRC Malappuram)
Senior Girls
Athulya Vinod (Pallichal BUDS School Thiruvananthapuram).

K. Satchidanandan, President, Kerala Sahitya Akademi  said that writers should be able to understand not only their own experiences but also the pains and crises of society. He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Sargam’, the Three-Day State-Level Literary Workshop organized by Kudumbashree in collaboration with Kerala Sahitya Akademi and KILA for selected Kudumbashree members at KILA Campus, Thrissur on 27 February 2025.

Writers are responsible for knowing the world. Literature encourages writers to look into their inner selves and the complexities of their experiences. The training required for writing should be provided throughout life. Along with literature, other art forms should be included. Satchidanandan said that writers should be able to dream beyond all kinds of inequalities and discrimination and that women entering the literary field should find their own place in this field.

Dr. Anchal Krishnakumar, PRO, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering. Dr. K.P.N Amrutha, Assistant Director, KILA presided over the function. Ashokan Charuvil, Vice President, Sahitya Akademi was the Chief Guest of the function. V.S. Bindu, Camp Director delivered the introductory speech. Prasad K. K, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission delivered the vote of thanks.  K. A. Beena , Writer and Dr. U. Salil, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission also participated in the function. 

In the various sessions held in the afternoon, K.A. Beena, Dr. K.M. Anil, Sangeetha Chenampulli, Rahesh Muthumala, Dr. Mini Prasad, and Varghese Antony delivered presentations.

The organizing committee of the National Saras Mela, which is being organized for the first time in Kozhikode district under the leadership of Kudumbashree, has been formed. The fair will be organized at the Kozhikode beach at the end of April 2025. The formation meeting of the organizing committee was inaugurated by Adv. P. A. Mohamed Riyas, Minister for Public Works and Tourism, Government of Kerala during the function held at Nalanda Auditorium, Kozhikode on 24 February 2025. A 201-member Executive Committee and a 2001-member Organizing Committee have been formed.

More than 250 product marketing stalls will be set up in connection with the fair, where a variety of products produced by rural entrepreneurs from various states of India will be available. There will also be a Food Court serving a variety of delicacies from other states, art programmes with the participation of experts in the field of art and culture, and seminars on various topics every day.

P.G. George Master,  President, Grama Panchayat Association presided over the meeting to form the Organizing Committee. C.P. Muzaffar Ahmed, Deputy Mayor, Kozhikode Corporation, K. K. Lathika, Kudumbashree Governing Body Executive Member and former MLA, P.C. Kavitha, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission spoke at the function. H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering and Bindu Jayson, Chairperson, Azhiyoor CDS delivered the vote of thanks. 

Patrons - M.B. Rajesh (Minister of Local Self-Government, Excise and Parliamentary Affairs), A.K. Saseendran (Minister of Forest and Wildlife), Dr. Beena Philip (Corporation Mayor) M.K. Raghavan, MP,  Shafi Parambil, MP, Priyanka Gandhi, MP,  K.K. Lathika, P.K. Zainaba (Kudumbashree Governing Body Executive Members) 
 
Chairman - Adv. P.A. Muhammed Riyaz (Minister of Public Works and Tourism)
Vice Chairmen - M. Mehboob, Adv. K. Praveen Kumar, K.K. Balan, Adv. V.K. Sajeevan, M.A. Razak Master, Mukkam Muhammed, Basheer Pandikasala, T.M. Joseph, Gopalan Master
General Convener- Snehil Kumar Singh IAS (District Collector) 
Working Convener - P.C. Kavitha (District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission)
Joint Conveners - P. Sooraj (Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission), P. N. Susheela (Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission), Bindu Jayson (Chairperson, Azhiyoor CDS).

As usual, Kudumbashree is gaining attention by providing Kerala flavors and Kerala-inspired products at the Ajeevika Saras Mela being held in Noida. Kudumbashree entrepreneurs from five districts are participating in the Saras Mela held at Sector 33 Noida Haat organized by the Union Ministry of Rural Development.

Kudumbashree has set up eight product marketing stalls at the fair, including Kudumbashree branded chips, curry powders, handicrafts and food products. Eight units, Megha, Aishwarya (Ernakulam), Thanmaya, Chamundeshwari (Palakkad), Sneha (Malappuram), Shreyas (Kozhikode), and Sreekrishna (Alappuzha), have brought various products. In addition, two Kudumbashree units, Ruchikoottu (Malappuram) and Lakshya (Ernakulam), will be serving various dishes such as biryani, parotta, snacks, dosa, and juice at the India Food Court adjacent to the fair. The food court is organized by the Kudumbashree National Resource Organization (NRO). Saras Mela before the fair ends on 10 March 2025.

The beneficiary training of Kudumbashree's KTIC project, which aims to transform the youth of the indigenous areas into entrepreneurs and thereby open up livelihood opportunities and improve their quality of life, is progressing at the district level. As part of the Kudumbashree Tribal Enterprises and Innovation Centre (KTIC) Project, the first phase of module training of beneficiaries selected from the indigenous areas has been completed in Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kannur districts and Thirunelly in Wayanad.

Kudumbashree aims to organize training in the remaining districts and Attappady in the coming days. The second module training will also be completed in all districts by mid-March. 800 young men and women from the indigenous areas of all 14 districts of Kerala have now been selected as beneficiaries of the project. A training programme lasting about an year and a half will be organized as part of the project in various phases.

Entrepreneurial Development Training is provided to the beneficiaries through 36 Incubators with work experience in various training areas of Kudumbashree. Along with the training, field visits are also organized to see and understand the working methods of micro-enterprises and product marketing.