Ms. Irma Gyati Mala, a researcher at Augsburg University and a native of South America, arrived at Varavoor CDS of Thrissur district Kerala on 21 November 2023 to study the excellence of Kudumbashree. Ms. Irma witnessed first hand the various Kudumbashree initiatives and agricultural activities at Varavoor, the best CDS in Thrissur district.

Ms. Irma, who is doing research on land issues, came to Varavoor on the recommendation of the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA). She visited various activities in the Panchayath such as the Help Desk, Ammoos Coconut Oil Manufacturing Unit, Thanal Board Manufacturing Unit, Navara JLG of Thripti Neighborhood, Sida Retusa (Kurunthotti) Cultivation being done on seven acres of barren land in Thrissur, Kerala Floors were visited. A discussion was also held with the Panchayat Administrative Committee. Ms. P. P Sunitha, President, Varavoor Panchayath, Ms. V.K Pushpa, CDS Chairperson ,  Shri. A.K. Alfred, Member Secretary and Ms. Satyabhama CDS member explained the Kudumbashree activities.

The state-wide gender campaign 'Nayi Chetana' was launched on 25 November 2023 in all districts under the leadership of Kudumbashree. Shri Giriraj Singh, Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Government of India inaugurated the campaign under the auspices of Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi on 25 November 2023. This campaign is a continuation of the campaign organized last year. Facilities have been made available at districts and CDS levels to watch the live telecast of the programme.

As part of awareness, dance performance by Rangashree, the theatre group of Kudumbashree members will be telecasted across the country in various states during the campaign period. 'Against Gender Based Discrimination' is this year's theme. The aim is to create a situation for women and persons of different genders to live fearlessly based on rights without facing discrimination and violence.

3,16,860 Neighborhood Groups, 19,470 ADSs, 1070 CDSs and 824 Gender Resource Centres will be the focus of the campaign activities for four weeks. Trainings regarding Posh Act that ensure dignified and safe working environment for women at workplace without facing harassment and formation of internal committee in all organizations, Group Discussions, Poster, Hashtag, Mural Campaign, Pledge, Street Plays, Flash Mob, Short Film Screening, Honoring Women, Sharing Experiences of Women Survivors etc are the activities.

Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission is organizing Saras Stills & Shots Photography Competition in connection with Kochi Saras Mela. Kudumbashree Activities is the theme for the photography competition. Any activities implemented by Kudumbashree till date can be included. The entries must be a self-taken photo. Any person can participate in the competition. Saras logo should be added along with the photo. The Photo must be uploaded via your Instagram, Facebook and share the collab on Facebook page- 'Sarasmela Ernakulam 23' and Instagram page- 'kochi_sarasmela_23'

The hashtag #KochiSarasMela should be added along with the photo. Likes and reach of the photo will be considered for judging the photo. Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission Co-ordinator will have full authority to decide the results of the competition. The last date for sending the entries is 10 December 2023. For more details regarding the competition, please contact: 9946115459

Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission is lending helping hands to 100 extreme poor families through 'Kaithangu' Programme. Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission is disbursing financial assistance to 100 beneficiary families of extreme poverty scheme in connection with  'Ujjeevanam'- the livelihood campaign implemented by Kudumbashree for extreme poor families.  Shri. V.R. Vinod IAS, District Collector, Malappuram inaugurated the fund distribution under the district's unique scheme 'Kaithangu'. Financial assistance to start a sewing unit was given to a beneficiary in Pookkottur Panchayath. 

Kaithangu is a scheme where CDSs mobilize funds to meet urgent needs and conduct emergency charity work and help the needy. 100 beneficiaries of various local bodies of the district are being given financial assistance to find a means of livelihood as part of the Ujjeevanam Campaign. Shri. Jafar Kakkooth, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission presided over the inaugural function organized at Prashanth Auditorium, Malappuram. Shri. Haskar, District Programme Manager, welcomed the gathering.

Chalanam 2023, the Mentoring Camp for strengthening Kudumbashree CDS Organizational System was held in Ernakulam from 14 to 17 November 2023. Ms. Fathima P.A, District Planning Officer inaugurated the camp held at Santhigiri Retreat Centre, Edathala, Ernakulam.

District Planning Officer Fatima P.A inaugurated the camp which started at Santhigiri Retreat Center, Edathala, Ernakulam. Ms. Rejeena T.M,  District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission presided over the function. Ms. Jasmine Basheer, Chairperson, Perumbavoor CDS, Ms. Lalitha Ganesan, Chairperson, Aluva CDS, Shri. Mithun Jawahar, City Mission Manager, National Urban Livelihood Mission and Shri. Jayan Pookode, Member, Chalanam Training Core Team also spoke at the function. 

A total of 180 people including 20 urban CDS Chairpersons and Sub-Committee Conveners of the district, District Programme Managers, City Mission Managers, Community Organizers and CDS Accountants participated in the training.

Shri. Jafar Malik IAS,  Executive Director, Kudumbashree visited the Kudumbashree Stalls at India International Trade Fair (IITF) being organized at Pragati Maidan, Delhi. He was accompanied with Shri. Nafih Muhammed, Public Relations Officer, Kudumbashree, Shri. Muhammed Shan S, State Assistant Programme Manager and Shri. Shobhu Narayanan, District Programme Manager, Kudumbashree.

There are two Kudumbashree stalls in the commercial stalls for product marketing at the Kerala Pavilion at IITF, which is run under the auspices of the India Trade Promotion Organization and the Union Ministry of Rural Development. Kudumbashree has also prepared a special themed stall based on this year's theme of 'Vasudhaiva Kudumbakam' - Unity through Trade. The food court also has stalls of Kudumbashree units from Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram districts. IITF also has Aajeevika Saras Mela to introduce the best products of rural entrepreneurs to the whole of India. There are five stalls of Kudumbashree entrepreneurs in this Saras Mela. The fair will conclude on 27 November 2023.

A group of tourists from Sweden visited 'Noorang' Heritage Tuber Conservation Centre at Thirunelly of Wayanad district of Kerala which protects over 180 tubers. Tourists have been given an opportunity to visit 'Noorang' from the 1 to 31 December 2023 in the name of  'Noorang Thirgale'. A 21-member team of cyclists from Sweden visited 'Noorang' on 4 November 2023. They spent three hours at 'Noorang'.

'Noorang' is being conducted by ten women who are members of Kudumbashree from the Vetta Kuruma section of Irumbupalam hamlet, as part of a special tribal project run by Kudumbashree in Thirunelly of Wayanad district. A sweet stew made of tubers and different types of edible leaves are prepared for the visitors. One can visit 'Noorang' during the time between 10 AM & 5 PM. Entry to 'Noorang' is by pass. For more details: 9895303504

Chalanam District Level Mentoring Camp for strengthening the Kudumbashree organizational system in urban CDSs was held at Pathanamthitta from 13 to16 November 2023. Ms. Aadhila, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Pathanamthitta District Mission inaugurated the camp at Zion Retreat Centre, Kunnanthanam, Pathanamthitta. The CDS Chairpersons of Pathanamthitta, Adoor, Pandalam and Thiruvalla Urban Local Bodies and Sub Committee Conveners participated in the training. Ms. Renjini Ajith, CDS Chairperson, Kunnanthanam CDS presided over the inaugural function. Ms. Beena E, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree, Shri. Ajith Kumar M, Shri. Ajith. S, Ms. Sunitha V, City Mission Managers, Ms. Seema, Shri. Anil, Members, Training Core Team also spoke at the function.

The government ordered to allocate Rs. 33.6 crores as subsidy to Janakeeya Hotels, a public welfare scheme implemented in the state through Kudumbashree (G.O.(Rt) No. 2260/2023/LSGD dated 17-11-2023). 5043 Kudumbashree women entrepreneurs in 1198 Janakeeya Hotels will be benefited out of it. Rs. 33.6 crores have now been sanctioned out of Rs. 41.09 crores due from December 2022 to August 2023.

Janakeeya Hotels were started in the context of the Covid pandemic as part of the Hunger Free Kerala Scheme introduced in the budget of the State Government in the financial year 2019-20. The aim of the project was to provide free or moderate cost mid-day meals to the poor, marginalized, underprivileged and bedridden. Later the project was extended across the state on an enterprise model.

Meals were provided at Janakeeya Hotels at the rate of Rs. 20 per meal and Rs. 25 per parcel. Considering the covid situation, subsidy was also given to the entrepreneurs at the rate of Rs. 10 per meal. The subsidy was discontinued when the threat of covid was over and the social life returned to its pre-covid status. Instead as per the direction of the District Planning Committee, Rs. 30 to Rs. 40 was fixed per meal in each district to avoid the financial burden for the entrepreneurs.

Chalanam District Level Mentoring Camp was held at Palakkad. The objective of this state-wide camp is to introduce various government schemes to the office-bearers of the Kudumbashree organization system in urban CDSs, evaluate the achievements of the first phase of 'Chalanam' and 'Chuvadu' trainings, and prepare a theme-based action plan for the future activities of CDSs.

The camp was held at Integrated Rural Technology Centre (IRTC), Mundur, Palakkad from 7 to 10 November 2023. Ms. Priya Ajayan, Chairperson, Palakkad Municipality performed the inauguration of the function. Ms. Radha Bhai T, Chairperson, Mundur CDS presided over the function and Ms. Janaki Devi, Chairperson, Ottappalam Municipality was the chief guest of the programme. Shri. K.K. Chandradas, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Palakkad District Mission, Ms. Beena E, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree State Mission and Ms. Reetha, CDS Chairperson, Palakkad South CDS spoke at the function.