KERALA was affected by the most devastating flood which the State has never faced before. It almost brought Kerala into its Knees and it also brought in an army of Samaritans from all over to bring back the State to its past glory and KUDUMBASHREE has also played a vital role.

Kudumbashree has contributed an amount of Rs 7 Crore to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The major part of the amount was mobilized locally by pooling the weekly thrift collection of NHG members based on the request of Executive Director of the Mission. NHGs pooled these funds from various sources such as their contributions; amount kept aside for Onam celebrations etc was also added towards the cause. Apart from this ’s Resource Persons, members of the Kudumbashree Accounts and Audit Service Society (KAAS) and Training Group Members has also made individual contributions.

Even though majority of Kudumbashree members were badly affected by the flood, they have been in the forefront in the relief activity and cleaning exercise. Under the leadership of Kudumbashree members were able to clean more than one lakh houses and more than 2000 Public Institutions. Community Counsellors of the network gave emotional and mental support to nearly 8000 flood affected victims through counselling. Kudumbashree members provided temporarily shelters to more than 8000 flood affected families and they are also providing food packets and local support.

The cheque of Rs. 7 crore was handed over by Hon’ble Minister for Local Self Government Sri. A.C. Moideen to Honb’le Chief Minister in the presence of Executive Director and Programme Officers of Kudumbashree towards Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Kudumbashree employees engaged in active cleaning campaign post Kerala floods. The NULM team of Kudumbashree Mission put their soul in cleaning the flood stricken areas of North Paravoor at Ernakulam District.  The  urban team cleaned the premetric hostel at  North Paravoor.

The unprecedented rain has paved for heavy floods and the calamity has caused immeasurable misery and devastation. Many lives were lost during the floods. Thousands of homes were totally destroyed and many more were damaged. Never before had the State witnessed a calamity in such a large scale. In the fight against the flood, we have braved the odds. Kudumbashree believes that it is our duty to help the affected rebuild their lives and  can make a difference by joining in the rebuilding efforts. The  District Missions and CDSs are also  actively engaged in the rehabilitation activities.

The rehabilitation works done by Kudumbashree Pathanamthitta District Mission after the flood sets a unique model. The Community Development Societies have been actively volunteering for the rehabilitation works at Pathanamthitta post flood. A total of 2857 volunteers participated and cleaned 2363 houses and 37 roads till date. It is under the leadership of Shri. S. Sabir Hussain, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Pathanamthitta District Mission, that the Vadasserikkara, Angadi, Pazhavangadi, Seethathodu, Naranamuzhi, Chittar, Thumpamon, Koipuram, Puramattam, Cheneerkara, Elanthoor, Omalloor, Cherukole, Kozhencherry, Ezhamkulam, Kodumon, Kadambanadu, Kalanjoor and Pallickal CDSs have done the works. The rehabilitation works were done at Ranni, Konni, Adoor, Kozhencherry, Thiruvalla, Mallapally Taluks. The needy were identified and the volunteers were sent from each CDS in the district for the cleaning purposes. The cleaning materials and other equipment were collected by the District Mission through sponsorship and from volunteering NGOs. The team will clean more houses and roads in the upcoming days.The timely intervention by the Pathanamthitta District Mission had set a model to many.

Various Community Development Societies (CDS) of Kudumbashree Mission contribute thoughtfully to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund, the emergency assistance release mechanism granting immediate relief to families and individuals distressed by calamity, loss of life due to accidents and chronic diseases. More than Rs 1 crore have been collected so far. The Distress Relief Fund Campaign is on and more CDSs from different districts across the state are contributing wholeheartedly to support the people in distress.

Nutrimix Consortium under Palakkad District Mission had contributed Rs 2 lakh. Sasthamkotta CDS of Kollam contributed an amount of Rs 1,87,155. Nutrimix unit of Kollam and Kundara CDS of Kollam, gave Rs 1 lakh and Rs 72,750 respectively. The Peelikode CDS of Kasargode District Mission donated Rs 1,36, 620. The 9250 NHGs in Wayanad District collected their thrift amount of the week and collected Rs 1.25 lakh and contributed the same to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. At Malappuram District, Kuruva CDS donated Rs 30,950 and Art Training team and Manjeri Jams Nutrimix unit contributed Rs10,000 and Rs 5000 respectively. The Kottakal CDS contributed the whole money collected for onam celebrations. Other District Missions are also actively contributing to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. The State Mission officials of Kudumbashree Mission also had contributed generously to the flood relief camps to help the flood hit people of Kerala.

Kudumbashree rescued all Micro Entrepreneurs who came for Saras Fair. More than 500 rural entrepreneurs from 29 states and 7 union territories had came for attending the Saras Fair which was planned to be held at Chengannur from 14-23 August 2018. The accomodation for them were arranged at the hotels at Pandalam and Chengannur. But the unprecedented rain at Kerala turned everything upside down. The hotels they stayed were drowned and they were rescued and moved to the relief camp at Kanichukulangara. 130 people including 75 catering unit entrepreneurs from other states were taken to the relief camps set up at Mar Ivanious College and All Saints College, Thiruvananthapuram.

The process of contacting their respective states is going on. Necessary arrangements are also being made for sending them back to their places on war footing basis. Kudumbashree Mission had arranged accommodation, food and clothes for the rescued women. The entrepreneurs from Kerala are at the relief camp set up at Kanichukulangara, Cherthala. As per the primary statistics, loss of Rs 7 crore has been estimated. Necessary arrangements are also being done for giving enough compensation for all the micro entrepreneurs who lost their products.

Kudumbashree State Mission contributed generously to the flood relief camps to help the flood hit people of Kerala. Using the collected amount from the State Mission, necessary items like drinking water, sanitary napkins, diapers, clothes, soaps, tooth pastes, tooth brushes, towels, candles, bed sheets, antiseptic lotion, medicine etc were bought and handed over to the concerned. Food kits are also arranged and are being sent to the needy. As Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) had offered free transportation, the packages are transported through KSRTC buses, which announced free transportation of relief materials. Kudumbashree Mission's Arogyasena had reached out to the flood prone areas of Kuttanad during the first phase of the flood at Kuttanad . It was for preventing the spread of epidemics that Kudumbashree's Arogyasena made the timely intervention at Kuttanad. Apart from this, the financial contribution of all the staff would be contributed to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund, the emergency assistance release mechanism granting immediate relief to families and individuals distressed by calamity, loss of life due to accidents and chronic diseases. The officials from Kudumbashree State Mission had actively involved in the relief camp collection centres as well.

Women hostels run by Kudumbashree women are being a boon to many. In addition to the four women hostels functioning in Kozhikode, two hostels were launched at Thrissur and Tirurangadi recently. Adithi Homes is opened at Porkalam near Thrissur and Laya Vanitha Hostel is opened in Tirurangadi. The Hostel opened in Thrissur could accommodate 20 to 25 persons. The hostel is functioning under the leadership of Porkulam Ward 8 CDS. Smt. Beena Baburaj, Smt. Fathima Khalid, Smt. Nazla Khalid are the women behind the venture. The Laya Vanitha Hostel opened at Tirurangadi can accomodate upto 12 women. The hostel at Tirurangadi is set up with the help of the centrally designed programme National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM).

The hostels run by Kudumbashree CDS are of high demand in Kozhikode city. Located at Francis road, near fourth platform of Kozhikode Railway station, the 'Rail view' women's hostel which have 33 rooms, including single, double and triple rooms provide the state of the art facilities like free WiFi, CCTV, recreation club, library and reading room, laundry, conference hall, counselling centre etc. The all-women management which provide online booking facility, has also made arrangements to accommodate women working on late night shifts. The counselling centre at the hostel which provide free counselling for women and children and the 'Railway tasty corner' food court which serve tasty food are also accessible to the public as well. Rail view is the fourth hostel started by Kudumbashree CDS. Smt. P.P Sheeja and Smt. V. Pushpalatha, Smt. Savithri, officer bearers of Kozhikode Corporation Kudumbashree CDS North are in charge if the the 'Railview' Hostel.

The first in the series, 'Feminara' Womens Hostel was started at Gujarathi street in 2014, which was an instant hit. Following its success, 'Fly Sky' Hostel and 'She Homes' Hostel were started at Govindapuram and Parayancheri respectively. The demand for women's hostels rise during entrance examinations and other tests. The hostels provide all the modern facilities for a comfortable stay in affordable price, had became a second home for its inhabitants. Kudumbashree Hostels are being boon to many women who are staying away from their homes!

Organised by Kudumbashree Mission Saras Mela 2018, the national food and cultural expo, offering the best of traditional, ethnic food and artistry was kickstarted at Municipal Ground, Chengannoor, Alappuzha on 14 August 2018.Shri. G. Sudhakaran, Minister for Public Works and Registration, Government of Kerala inaugurated the programme. Shri.Saji Cherian, MLA, Chengannur presided over the function. Shri. S.Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering.

The procession of 25,000 Kudumbashree women was planned prior to the inaugural function. It was later cancelled and the money for the procession would be contributed to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund,the emergency assistance release mechanism granting immediate relief to families and individuals distressed by calamity, loss of life due to accidents and chronic diseases. Micro entrepreneurs from 29 states and 7 Union territories across the country are taking part in the programme. Around 300 stalls are opened, out of which more than 100 stalls are of other states. The 80,000 sq ft big pavilion and food court is the main attraction of the Saras Fair.

The handicrafts that would showcase the heritage and culture of each states, art forms, jewelry, fabrics, utensils etc would be for sale at the Saras Mela. Apart from the sales stalls, several food stalls are opened for offering cuisines from different states across the country. Different ethnic cuisines from different states across the country would offer a new experience to the people. The programme strictly follow the green protocol and is opened from 10 AM to 10 PM. Daily cultural programmes like Kadhakali, Ottam Thullal, Mohiniyattom, Punjabi-Manipuri dances, magic show, seminars are also arranged in connection with Saras Fair. A Mega Thiruvathira was organised in connection with the Saras Fair by thousands of CDS, NHG women and women representatives from Local Self Government Institutions at the Christian College ground, Chengannur, Alappuzha on 13 August 2018.

Adding more colour to Kerala's festive days, Saras Mela 2018 is being an incredible opportunity to get acquainted with the cultural, artistic, traditional, and rich heritage values of different states across the country. Entry to Saras Fair is absolutely free. The mela would come to an end on 23 August 2018. Saras Fair would not only be a platform for the micro entrepreneurs to find market for their rural products, but also, this national festival would act as a platform which arrange the get together of the diverse yet secular culture of our country.

Kudumbashree Mission bid farewell to Dr. K.T Jaleel, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala. On behalf of Kudumbashree Misson, Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission handed over the memento as a token of gratitude to the Minister at the meeting held at Minister's chamber on 14 August 2018. Dr. K.T Jaleel will soon sworn in charge as Minister, Higher Education Department, Government of Kerala. Minister requested all the Kudumbashree officials to continue serving the people with sheer enthusiasm and compassion and offered his wholehearted support for all the future endeavors of Kudumbashree Mission.

Shri. K. P. Anil, Private Secretary to Minister, LSGD, Shri. Santhosh Kumar S, Assistant Private Secretary to Minister, LSGD, Shri. M. Raghavan, Assistant Private Secretary to Minister, LSGD, Smt. Ramlath. P, Director, Kudumbashree Mission, Smt.Shibi Abraham, Accounts Officer, Kudumbashree Mission, Shri. Binu Francis, Shri. Dathan C.S, Smt. Niranjana N.S, Shri. Nikesh Kiran (Programme Officers), Smt. Jayanthi Narendran, Public Relations Officer, Kudumbashree Mission and other officials from Kudumbashree Mission were also present at the meeting.

A group of 11 students from Keio University of Japan visited Kudumbashree to study about the poverty alleviation activities being implemented by Kudumbashree Mission in Kerala. The students visited a Neighbourhood Group at Karakulam Panchayath, interacted with them, attended class room sessions on Kudumbashree three tier system, micro finance activities, livelihoods etc. They also visited the Panchayath office, interacted the Local Self Government members and officials and also visited CDS offices and micro enterprise units.

The 11 member team from Keio University of Japan include George Araki, Eisuke Nasuno, Kenichiro Kimura, Shintaro Iwai, Shiori Tanaka, Shizuki Kanda, Shoko Shimane, Taiga Koen, Umeyama Kan, Yuki Aibe and Yuki Inoue. They belong to a study group which focuses on development studies, who are undergoing an undergraduate programme in Economics at Keio University. It is as part of their short field trip to learn about the developing countries that they visited Kudumbashree Mission. Their study would focus on how Kudumbashree Mission's micro finance activities help the poor people in abolishing poverty. Keio is a private university, known as the oldest institute of modern higher education in Japan located in Tokyo.