The Module Workshop as part of 'Dhruva' Programme, which is jointly implemented by Kudumbashree and HLL Management Academy (HMA), functioning under HLL Life Care Limited, the Central Public Sector Undertaking for tribal Balasabha members of Thirunelly and Noolpuzha Panchayats in Wayanad District was held in Kottayam from 7 to 9 October 2024.

Through the project 'Dhruva - Building Resilience & Well-Being in Balasabha members through life skills education', the aim is to provide 13-day Efficiency Development Training to selected tribal Balasabha children between 13 and 15 years of age. 50 children each from Thirunelly and Noolpuzha will be selected for training in the first phase.

The Dhruva Project aims to empower these children with essential life skills including nutrition, hygiene and health care through sports-focused Efficiency Development Training to help them face life's challenges, take advantage of opportunities and lead a healthy and productive life.

Shri. Arun P. Rajan, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree, Ms. Sarika. S, State Assistant Programme Manager, Kudumbashree, Shri. T.V. Sai Krishna, Co-ordinator, Thirunelly Special Project, Shri. Jayan Pookode, Member, Training Team, Ms. Raji, Animator Co-ordinator, Pathanamthitta, Ms. Sreeja, Ms. Priya, Resource Persons, Shri. Varghese, Trainer, Shri. Baby Bhaskar, CEO, Blue Point, Ms. Meenu, Manager, HLL Lifecare Limited, Ms. Namitha S., Shri. Jijo S. Shri. Pramod, Ms. Rajitha Ravi, Ms. Anjali A.S, Representatives, HMA, Ms. Christeena, Dr. Poornima, Representatives, Mehac Foundation also participated in the Workshop.

Shri. H. Dineshan IAS took over the charge as the new Executive Director of Kudumbashree. Shri. H. Dineshan IAS is the 2013 Batch IAS Officer and was working as the Director of Social Justice Department. He has served as Panchayat Director, Idukki District Collector and I&PRD Director. He is a native of Kanhangad of Kasaragod district.

As part of the second phase of the 'Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam' Campaign, Kudumbashree is initiating extensive activities to upgrade all three lakh NHGs under Kudumbashree into Green NHGs in the state. It is aimed at declaring a Fully Green NHG by 15 February 2025 after completing the survey and grading based on specially prepared criteria. The NHG Survey began on 2 October 2024. About 40,000 Kudumbashree volunteers selected at the ward level are conducting the survey. The formation of Green NHGs is the latest initiative of Kudumbashree, which is actively involved in the activities to achieve the goal of a Garbage Free Kerala.

The survey is based on various criteria such as waste management practices in the houses of NHG members, adherence to green protocol in the activities directly carried out by the NHG, activities undertaken to prevent dumping of waste in public places in the area where the NHG is located, activities undertaken to create clean roadsides in the NHG area. Along with this, the ADS and CDS level grading will also be completed. The aim is to complete the survey of all NHGs before 30 December 2024. In the first phase of the survey, NHGs that scored less than 60 percent will be specially considered and actions to improve them will be devised and implemented.

As part of the Mind Blowers State Level Campaign, a two-day training session for Block Level Resource Teachers was conducted in Thiruvananthapuram on 7- 8 October 2024. Mind Blowers State Level Campaign is organized with the aim of developing knowledge, creativity and entrepreneurship among the children who are members of Balasabha. About 300 selected trainers participated in the training programme.

Block Level Resource Teachers were given training to train children according to a special module designed to develop children's creativity and thinking skills. Dr. Rajesh Vallikode, Research Officer, SCERT inaugurated the training programme. Dr. B. Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree presided over the function. Shri. V. Ajaya Kumar, Shri. R.S. Baiju Kumar, Dr. Geetha Lakshmi, Shri. S. Suresh Kumar, Shri. Girish Anand, Shri. K. John led the classes.

The Campaign which is organized in collaboration with the Udhyam Learning Foundation has two phases. 50,000 children are being trained. The objectives of the Mind Blowers Campaign is to help children discover their innate abilities, provide necessary support to develop the discovered abilities, empower the Balasabha members to identify social problems, and empower children to solve problems through entrepreneurial ideas and innovative methods.

The first state level training was organized as part of Kudumbashree's 'Happy Keralam' Project to ensure the overall welfare and upliftment of every individual and family in the Kerala society by making every family a Centre of Happiness. The three-day South Region Training for 70 Resource Persons from seven districts from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam district was held in Kottayam from 3-5 October 2024. The training for Resource Persons in remaining districts will be from 9-11 October 2024 at Vadakara, Kozhikode.

The Happy Kerala Project is being implemented as part of the FNHW (Food, Nutrition, Health and WASH) activities of the National Rural Livelihood Mission implemented by Kudumbashree. Kudumbashree Happiness Centres will be started in 154 Model CDSs in the state.

Those trained at the State Level will participate in the activities of setting up 'Happiness Forums' at the district, CDS and ADS levels. The Happiness Forum is formed by including representatives of the Kudumbashree three-tier organizational system and representatives of local bodies. 'Edam' will also be formed at the ward level with 10 to 40 families in each ward. It will include all the families in the general society. It is in these 'Edam' formed at the ward level that a family-based micro-level plan is prepared to find out the required happiness index for each family.

Adv. K.V. Bindu, President, Kottayam District Panchayat inaugurated the Southern Region Training Programme. Shri. Abhilash Diwakar, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Kottayam District Mission welcomed the gathering. Ms. Krishnakumari R, State Assistant Programme Manager explained the project. Ms. Usha Devi, District Program Manager (Gender) delivered the vote of thanks.

A two-day training for the facilitators was organized prior to the preparation of the micro plan as part of the rehabilitation work in Meppadi of Wayanad district which suffered from landslides. The training was held at Kalpetta, Wayanad on 3-4 October 2024. Ms. Anupama IAS, Special Secretary, Local Self-Government Department, Government of Kerala made an introductory presentation. Ms. Geetha A. IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree clarified the importance of the micro plan. 

Ms. Meghashree IAS, District Collector, Wayanad District, Shri. Gautham Raj IAS, Assistant Collector, Wayanad District, Shri. P.K. Balasubramanian, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission, Shri. N. Jagajeevan, Shri. Vimal Kumar Mathew, State Resource Persons, Shri. Anish Kumar, Ms. Beena E, Shri. N. P Shibu, Shri. M Prabhakaran, Shri. Nishad C.C, Shri. Arun P. Rajan, Kudumbashree State Programme Managers and heads of various departments led the classes. About 120 people participated in the training.

Kudumbashree organized 'Balasadas' for Balasabha members in 19,470 wards of the state on 2 October 2024, Gandhi Jayanti Day. More than 4 lakh children participated in the children's audience which started by 2 PM. "Why high school students are not given lunch in schools ?, Why there is no special Grama sabha for children?"  These were the questions asked by the children at the 'Balasadas' organized by Kudumbashree across the state.

The Balasadas aims to provide practical knowledge to effectively organize the Children's Grama Sabha and develop the skills to identify social problems and find solutions among the children. It also aims at the empowerment of Balasabhas, developing organizational skills, leadership qualities and logical thinking in children.

The questions raised by the children, social problems, children's needs, suggestions and opinions will be divided into various topics under the leadership of Balasabha Resource Persons and a report will be prepared. These reports will be submitted to the CDS office before 10 October 2024. These reports received at the CDS level will be collated and presented to the Bala Panchayat or Bala Urban Local Body and then be submitted to the Chairman and Secretary of the Local Self Government Institution. The solutions for the problems raised by the children through the report will be found at the local body level. The aim is to present the other issues in the State Kudumbashree Bala Parliament and bring them to the attention of the Government and find solutions.

Ahead of Balasadas, Kolayikkoottam, installation of question boxes in schools, reels, poster writing, status post competitions, proclamation marches and flash mobs were also organized in the districts. Local body representatives, District Missions, State - CDS Resource Persons, ADS Mentors and CDS Members supervised the Balasadas.

The new outlet of Cafe Kudumbashree Premium Restaurant started its operations in Kannur district of Kerala. Cafe Kudumbashree Premium Restaurant with premium facilities and variety of food including local delicacies is started at Thalassery - Mysore Interstate Highway near Vallithodu Kunnoth, Iritty. 

The restaurant was inaugurated by Shri. M.B. Rajesh, Minister,  Local Self-Government Department, Excise Department & Parliamentary Affairs Department Government of Kerala online on 1 October 2024. Shri. Sunny Joseph, MLA presided over the inaugural ceremony. Shri. M. V Jayan, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission explained the project. 

Kudumbashree's first of its kind Premium Restaurant was opened in Angamaly of Ernakulam district. Later, Premium restaurants were opened in Guruvayoor of Thrissur district, Meppadi of Wayanad district and Pandalam of Pathanamthitta district.

The location of the Cafe Kudumbashree Premium Restaurant opened at Iritty is as follows:

 https://maps.app.goo.gl/7GA7PqBPWfeHjv2S9

National Saras Mela to showcase and market diverse products of India's rural entrepreneurs will start at Chengannur of Alappuzha district from 17 to 28 January 2025. The meeting of the organizing committee of the fair was organized at IHRD Engineering College Auditorium, Chengannur on 30 September 2024. Shri. Saji Cherian, Minister for Fisheries and Cultural affairs, Government of Kerala inaugurated the meeting. Adv Shobha Varghese, Chairperson, Chengannur Municipality presided over the function. 

A 1001-member General Committee and 251-member Executive Committee was formed with Shri. Saji Cherian, Minister as Chairman, Shri. Alex M Varghese IAS as General Convener and Shri. S. Ranjith, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission as Convener.

In addition to the products, the India Food Court, which provides food products from different states, and various programmes including cultural programmes, seminars and processions will be part of the fair. Apart from this, programmes  in connection with 'Chengannur Peruma' and boat race will also be organized.

Shri. K.M.Salim, Shri. P.K. Venugopal, Presidents, Block Panchayats, Shri. O.S. Unnikrishnan, Chairman, Folklore Academy, Shri. M. Sasikumar, Ms. Hemalatha Mohan, Shri. K.K. Sadanandan, Ms. T.V. Ratnakumari, Shri. M.G. Sreekumar, Shri. G. Vivek, Shri. Oommen Aalummoottil, Shri. T.T M Varghese, Shri. Sasikumar Cherukol and Shri. P.R. Ramesh Kumar also spoke at the function.  Shri. S.Ranjith, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission welcomed the gathering.

Shri. M.B. Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala performed the inauguration of the Micro Enterprise Resource Centre (MERC) at Uzhavoor Block of Kottayam District and 'Ithal' Notebook Manufacturing Unit at Veliyannur BUDS School on 24 September 2024.

MERC is a block level mechanism for strengthening the Kudumbashree Micro Enterprise Sector. MERC is also functioning in Pallam block in the district. Currently MERCs have been started in 17 blocks to increase employment and income opportunities and provide financial assistance and technical training to women in the NHG. MERCs aim to take Kudumbashree initiatives to higher levels through continuous and effective monitoring and support.

In March 2023, Kudumbashree started the first MERC at Nedumangad of Thiruvananthapuram district. Currently MERCs are functioning in all 13 districts except Wayanad. Apart from Kottayam, Kannur, Ernakulam and Malappuram have two MERCs each. MERCs are a single window system for co-ordinating and expediting livelihood activities at the block level. Another highlight is that Call Centres and Help Desks are functioning along with.  MERCs are also functioning in Chadayamangalam (Kollam), Konni (Pathanamthitta), Muthukulam (Alappuzha), Azhutha (Idukki), Kothamangalam, Mulanthuruthy (Ernakulam), Ollukkara (Thrissur), Alathoor (Palakkad), Vadakara (Kozhikode), Thalassery, Iritty (Kannur), Kasaragod (Kasaragod), Mankada and Vandoor (Malappuram) blocks also have MERCs functioning.

'Ithal' along with 'Kanivu'

 A modern mechanized notebook manufacturing unit has started functioning in connection with the 'Kanivu' initiative at Veliyannur BUDS School. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the panchayat with the aim of ensuring an income source for the parents of BUDS School children.

Shri. Mons Joseph, MLA presided over the  inaugural ceremony. Ms. K.V. Bindu, President, District Panchayath, Shri. P.C. Kurian, President, Block Panchayath, Shri. P.M. Mathew, Chairman, District Panchayat Standing Committee, Panchayat representatives, Kudumbashree office bearers and officials were also present at the function.