The 12th National Saras Mela, which brought together the culture, taste and uniqueness of rural entrepreneurs from across the country, concluded in Kozhikode. The sea of people who flocked to the fair every day for 12 days was a direct testimony to the success of the Saras Mela. The award for the best stall in the produce marketing fair was won by Hasbi Spices (Indra Neelam NHG) from Kozhikode district, and in the other state category, Hamsa Dry Flowers Unit (Dhanalakshmi SHG) from Goa. The Snehitha Unit from Kozhikode district and the food stall of Sanjok Self-Help Group from Sikkim were selected as the best food stall in the food court.  K. K. Lathika, Kudumbashree Governing Body Executive Member distributed certificates and mementos to the winners. In the indigenous category, Ruchipooram and Kulimey stalls from Attappady were specially honored, while in the transgender category, 'Lakshya' Juice Stall from Ernakulam and Oruma Juice Stall from Palakkad were specially honored.

The Saras Mela, which was set up on a 64,000 square feet area on the Kozhikode beach, was packed with people at the product marketing stalls and food court throughout the 12 days. The National Saras Mela was organized under the auspices of Kudumbashree along with the 'Ente Keralam' Exhibition and Marketing Fair organized in connection with the fourth anniversary of the government. The 12th National Saras Mela officially began on 3 May 2025 when Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala inaugurated both the programmes.

The fully air-conditioned pavilion featured 250 product stalls selling handicrafts, textiles and food products prepared by rural entrepreneurs from various states of the country, and an India Food Court with 50 stalls, a gathering of unique delicacies from 17 states including Kerala, was set up for visitors. 60 product stalls from other states were also set up as part of the Saras Mela.

The Kudumbashree National Saras Mela provided an opportunity for those who could not travel outside Kerala to get to know and enjoy the unique products and food resources of other states.  K. M. Sachindev, Ahmed Devarkovil, MLAs and Women's Commission Chairperson Adv. P. Satidevi also visited the fair on the closing day.

The Prathyasha project implemented in the state through Kudumbashree for those belonging to the marginalized community who deserve special consideration has helped 2,167 people. Of these, 56 people belong to the transgender community. Apart from these, the project is being implemented as part of helping the differently abled, the elderly and those who have been subjected to domestic violence achieve self-sufficiency. As part of this, Kudumbashree has supported a total of 2,037 micro-enterprises in the sectors of tailoring, food processing, cloth bags, paper pen manufacturing and catering. 19 micro enterprises have also been started in the state by transgender people.

Prathyasha is a scheme launched by Kudumbashree to help the poor who face many challenges in life find ways to earn a living. Through the scheme, beneficiaries are provided with financial assistance of Rs. 50,000 to start individual self-employment enterprises and up to a maximum of Rs. 2,50,000 for group enterprises as Startup Fund. Kudumbashree provides job skills training, financial assistance including subsidies, and ongoing support to start and grow businesses.

40,187 micro-enterprises have been formed through the SVEP (Startup Village Entrepreneurship Programme) project implemented in the state through Kudumbashree to develop women entrepreneurship in rural areas. The aim of the project is to provide a better livelihood for NHG members. Currently, about fifty thousand women have access to a better livelihood.

The project is being implemented in 33 of the 43 blocks in the state that have been approved for the project. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the National Rural Livelihood Mission. The scheme also provided loan assistance of Rs. 117.93 crores to 28,705 enterprises under the Community Enterprise Fund. The scheme is also helping in local economic development along with ensuring better income generation for NHG women. In 2017, SVEP, the centrally sponsored micro enterprise development scheme was launched in two blocks, in Vadavukode of Ernakulam district and Parakkode of Pathanamthitta district. Subsequently, Kudumbashree obtained central approval to run the scheme in more blocks based on its performance.

The scheme promotes the formation of small enterprises for NHG women and the production of quality and value-added products. Kudumbashree also provides support for product marketing. As part of the SVEP, a BNSEP (Block Nodal Society for Enterprise Promotion) is functioning in each block, consisting of the CDS Chairpersons and Micro Enterprise Sub-Committee Conveners under the respective block. The BNSEP evaluates the applications received as part of the project and provides guidance and other support to Kudumbashree members and non-members entering the entrepreneurial sector.

The entrepreneurs will be provided with the necessary support for project report preparation, job skill training, bank loans, product marketing, branding, and financial support available through the schemes of Kudumbashree and various departments through Kudumbashree Micro Enterprise Consultants in BNSEP. Block Resource Centre (BRC) offices have also been formed and started functioning in each SVEP block for this purpose.

Kottayam district is gearing up to host the Arangu 2025 State Arts Festival, a festival of Kudumbashree NHGs & Auxiliary Group members. The Arangu 2025 State Arts Festival will be organized in 13 venues in Athirampuzha, Kottayam district from 26 to 28 May 2025.

Ahead of the Arangu 2025, H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree held a consultation meeting and visited the Arangu venues. Shyam Kumar, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Nishad, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree, Vidya, State Assistant Programme Manager, Abhilash K. Diwakar, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Kottayam District Mission, Prakash B. Nair, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Kottayam District Mission, District Programme Managers, CDS Chairpersons and Block Co-ordinators attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the campaign activities are progressing well in Kottayam district. Mural writing activities have started with the participation of CDSs. The State Arts Festival will have competitions in 33 categories each in the junior and senior categories. Around 5,000 NHG & Auxiliary Group members who have participated and won in district-level art festivals will be part of the Arangu State Arts Festival.

Kudumbashree Micro Enterprise Resource Centres (MERCs) have become active at the block level by providing employment to NHG women. The MERCs aim to provide support including financial assistance and technical training along with increasing employment and income opportunities. Currently, MERCs are operating in 29 blocks across thirteen districts. They provide support to both existing and new enterprises. MERCs are Kudumbashree’s local employment centres that coordinate livelihood activities for NHG members at the block level. The MERCs aim to expand Kudumbashree micro-enterprises and develop local economies.

They provide assistance to NHG members to obtain wage-based employment, encourage innovative ideas for startups, and provide support for product marketing. They also provide employment to NHG members by organizing job fairs. The formation of a consortium of enterprises at the regional level is also a notable achievement. The project is also very helpful for Kudumbashree Auxiliary Group members.There are systems such as call centres and help desks to improve the functioning of MERCs. MERCs work as a connecting factor between the District Missions and CDSs. Non-Kudumbashree members can also get guidance for starting enterprises through MERCs. Funds have been allocated from the National Rural Livelihood Mission project allocation to each district for the establishment of MERCs and related activities.

This amount will be utilized for office renovation, preparation of detailed project report, working capital, infrastructure development, machinery and other equipment. The Micro Enterprise Consultants under Kudumbashree CDSs are responsible for the management of MERC.

Kairali Chindakki team become the champions in the fourth season of Attappadi Tribal Football League organized as part of Kudumbashree Attappadi Tribal Comprehensive Development Project. They defeated Laya Yuvashree Veerannur team by a one-sided goal in the final match held on 9 May 2025 in the league organized over three days. More than 500 youths played the ball in the league organized with the message of 'Football is the addiction - Say No to Drugs'.

The league was organized under the auspices of the Youth Resource Centre as part of Kudumbashree Attappadi Tribal Comprehensive Development Project. 47 youth clubs/Yuvashree teams took part. The matches were held at the Agali Panchayat Ground. Astro Padavayal defeated Green Valley Mukkali in a penalty shootout and came third. Sanjith Veerannur was pronounced the player of the tournament and Manu Chindakki was pronounced the best goalkeeper. Vaishnav Chindakki was adjudged the emerging player and Dumman Veerannur was adjudged the best goal scorer, and Harish Chindakki was pronounced the best defender.

The final match was inaugurated and the prizes were distributed by Maruthi Murugan, a member of the Kudumbashree Governing Body and President, Attappadi Block. B.S. Manoj, Assistant Project Officer, Kudumbashree Attappady Tribal Comprehensive Development Project, Jomon K.J, Project Co-ordinator, Rajesh, Suresh, Ganesh, Chandran, Youth Co-ordinators, Panchayat Samiti Office Bearers, Animators and others attended the function.

Kudumbashree and Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Central Tuber Crops Research Centre (ICAR-CTCRI) have signed a MoU for providing 12 state-of-the-art technologies in tuber cultivation. The MoU was signed by H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director for Kudumbashree and Dr. G. Baiju, Director for ICAR - CTCRI at a function organized yesterday (09-05-2025) at the Central Potato Research Centre, Sreekaryam, Thiruvananthapuram.

This is the first MoU for the transfer of technologies as part of K-TAP (Kudumbashree Technology Advancement Programme), which is designed to guide lakhs of NHG members who earn their livelihood from agriculture as part of Kudumbashree, to modern science and technology-based farming methods and sustainable income generation. According to this, Kudumbashree will receive 12 technologies focused on value addition and food processing from tuber crops. The technologies will be provided for preparing various dishes such as cookies, kulfi, muffins, snacks, pasta, jelly, etc. using tapioca and sweet potatoes.

In the coming weeks, Kudumbashree aims to acquire technologies from seven other leading agricultural technology research institutes in India, prepare a knowledge base of a total of 180 technologies, and launch products using these technologies by Onam, said H. Dineshan, IAS, in his keynote address. Activities to provide training focused on these technologies to selected NHG members will also begin soon. The objective of the K-TAP project is to provide better employment opportunities to women by making progress in all aspects of agriculture, starting from production, value-added product manufacturing, processing and marketing, through the use of innovative technologies in agriculture and allied sectors. Currently, 4,32,667 women in 94,594 farmer groups under Kudumbashree are engaged in various types of agriculture on more than 20,000 hectares across the state. There are also producer groups, agricultural enterprises and farmer producer companies. K-TAP technology will be used to strengthen the livelihood activities of these women farmers. The use of these technologies for processing of agricultural products, value addition of small grains, organic production methods, smart farming, eco-friendly packaging, branding, and licensing will lead to expansion and increase in income of existing enterprises.

The MoU signing ceremony was presided over by Dr. G. Baiju, Director, ICAR-CTCRI. In his presidential address, he said that all the programmes in collaboration with Kudumbashree will be effectively reached to the grassroots and completed successfully. Dr. S. Shanavas, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree explained the project. Ramesh. G, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram District Mission, Dr. M.S. Sajeev (Principal Scientist, ICAR - CTCRI) spoke. Dr. P.S. Sivakumar (Principal Scientist, ICAR - CTCRI) welcomed the gathering and Dr. T. Krishnakumar (Scientist, ICAR - CTCRI) delivered the vote of thanks. Representatives of Kudumbashree State and District Missions and ICAR - CTCRI also attended the function.

The FNHW project implemented by Kudumbashree to ensure better access to nutrition, health, sanitation and drinking water for women and children is becoming notable in the state. The aim of the project is to create awareness among the 48 lakh members under Kudumbashree. As part of this, more than 42 lakh NHG members were visited and awareness was created among pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls and the elderly about menstrual hygiene and the importance of nutrition for women.

The project was launched in Attappady in 2015. Later it was expanded to all districts. Activities are being carried out in Kudumbashree CDSs and ADSs, focusing on NHG members and children. Already 791 food fairs, 27 medical camps, 1,112 nutrition fairs and micro green farming have been organized as part of providing nutrition awareness. As part of giving special emphasis to the implementation of the project in the Scheduled Tribes area, an 'Osra' Awareness Campaign was also organized. The 'Shraddha' Cancer Awareness Campaign organized in Ambalappuzha and Aryad blocks of Alappuzha district attracted a lot of attention through the initial check-up and awareness camp for 2,243 Kudumbashree members.

Kudumbashree also ensures the co-operation of various departments and international organizations to make the project activities more efficient. As part of this, the 'Poshan Maa' Campaign was organized in 387 CDSs in collaboration with the Department of Women and Child Development, and training was organized for 1,732 Resource Persons selected as part of the FNHW project in collaboration with the UN World Food Programme.
The Happy Keralam Project is also being implemented in 154 selected Model CDSs in the state to increase the happiness index of families.

1190 people get jobs through Kudumbashree Initiative for Business Solutions (KIBS)

1190 people got jobs in the state through Kudumbashree Initiative for Business Solutions (KIBS). The aim of the project is to ensure sustainable income generation by providing employment to skilled women in government, semi-government, public sector and private institutions in urban areas. Currently, out of the 1,190 people who got jobs, 1,060 are women. This includes 14 transgenders and 116 men.

KIBS is headquartered in Ernakulam under the leadership of the Kudumbashree State Mission. KIBS was formed under the Travancore Cochin Scientific Charitable Society Act. KIBS is a facility management centre that provides employees to institutions operating in various fields. 585 Kudumbashree women working in all 24 stations of the Kochi Rail Metro have also found prestigious jobs through KIBS. Their services are in the categories of housekeeping, ticketing, customer care service, help desk, customer facilitation service, gardening-vegetable garden construction, kitchen, canteen and parking. Transgender people in Kochi Metro have also been able to get jobs through KIBS.

After Kochi Rail Metro, thirty of the people who have been appointed for housekeeping and ticketing jobs in Kochi Water Metro are Kudumbashree women. They also got jobs through KIBS. Those who get jobs in various government, semi-government, public sector institutions and universities through KIBS are assured of government-approved wages and benefits like ESI, Provident Fund, and gratuity.

Kudumbashree Awards 2025 - State Level Awards were announced by M.B. Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala during the Press Meet held in Thiruvananthapuram on 7 May 2025. The Kudumbashree Award 2025 is constituted as part of intensifying Kudumbashree project activities and honoring excellent and notable achievements. The awards will be distributed on 17 May 2025 in connection with Kudumbashree Day. The award winners will receive a cash award, a certificate and a memento. 

Awards are given in a total of 17 categories viz., Best NHG, Best ADS, Best Ooru Samithi, Best Enterprise Group, Best Entrepreneur, Best BUDS Institution, Best Gender Resource Centre, Best Auxiliary Group, Best Auxiliary Enterprise, Best Snehitha Gender Help Desk, District that has carried out the Best Public Relations Activities, Best District Mission, as well as Best CDS (Convergence Activities, Unique Activities, Administration-Microfinance Activities), Best CDS (Agriculture Sector, Animal Husbandry), Best CDS (Social Development, Gender), Best CDS (Tribal Activities), Best CDS (Micro Enterprise, DDU-GKY, K-DISC). Although awards have been given to outstanding CDSs before, this is the first time that Kudumbashree is recognizing excellence in such categories.

The details of State Level Award Winners are as follows:

1. Best NHG

First Place: Pournami NHG, Sulthan Bathery CDS, Wayanad 
Second Place: Bhagyashree NHG, Sreekrishnapuram CDS, Palakkad
Third Place: Aswathy NHG, Thiruvaniyoor CDS, Ernakulam

2. Best ADS

First Place: Thichur ADS, Varavoor CDS, Thrissur
Second Place: Punnamparambu ADS, Sreekrishnapuram CDS, Palakkad
Third Place: Mattara ADS, Ulikkal CDS, Kannur

3. Best Auxiliary Group

First Place: Dhwani Auxiliary Group, Sulthan Bathery CDS, Wayanad
Second Place: Punarjani Auxiliary Group, Porkulam CDS, Thrissur
Third Place: Wings of Fire Auxiliary Group, Tiruvallur CDS, Kozhikode
Vaibhavam Auxiliary Group, Haripad CDS, Alappuzha

4. Best Ooru Samithi

First Place: Daivagund/Jellippara Oorusamithi, Agali Panchayath Samithi, Palakkad
Second Place: Sthreesakthi Oorusamithi, Thirunelly CDS, Wayanad

5. Best Enterprise Group

First Place: Sanjeevani Nutrimix, Thazhekad CDS, Malappuram
Second Place: Aishwarya Sree Amrutham Foods, Thirumittakode CDS, Palakkad
Third Place: Nanma Food Processing Unit, Pozhuthana CDS, Wayanad

6. Best Entrepreneur

First Place: Ms. Shareefa, Malappuram Municipality CDS 2, Malappuram
Second Place: Ms. Eliyamma Philip. Panathady CDS, Kasaragod
Third Place: Ms. Sandhya J, Pulimath CDS, Thiruvananthapuram 

7.Best Auxiliary Group Enterprise

First Place: Team Gramam, Poothadi CDS, Wayanad
Second Place: One 18, Varavoor CDS, Thrissur
Third Place: AG's Aranyakam Home Stay & Cafe, Amarambalam CDS, Malappuram

8. Best CDS - Convergence Activities, Unique Activities, Administration-Microfinance Activities

First Place: Cheruvathoor CDS, Kasaragod
Second Place: Aryanad CDS, Thiruvananthapuram
Third Place: Varavoor CDS, Thrissur

9. Best CDS - Social Development, Gender

First Place: Varavoor CDS, Thrissur
Second Place: Kinanoor Karinthalam CDS, Kasaragod
Third Place: Kavilumpara CDS, Kozhikode

10. Best CDS - Tribal Activities

First Place: Marayoor CDS, Idukki
Second Place: Thirunelly CDS, Wayanad

11. Best CDS -  Agriculture Sector, Animal Husbandry

First Place: Varavoor CDS, Thrissur
Second Place: Bedadukka CDS, Kasaragod
Third Place: Valakom CDS, Ernakulam

12. Best CDS - Non Farm Livelihood (Micro Enterprise, DDU-GKY, K-DISC)

First Place: Mariyapuram CDS, Idukki
Second Place: Muttil CDS, Wayanad
Third Place: Sasthamcotta CDS, Kollam

13. Best BUDS Institution

First Place: Pazhassi Raja BUDS School, Mattannur CDS, Kannur
Second Place: BUDS Paradise Special School, Thirunelly Wayanad
Third Place: Spectrum Special School, Marancherry CDS, Malappuram

14. Best Gender Resource Centre

First Place: Vazhayoor GRC, Vazhayoor CDS, Malappuram
Second Place: Nanniyode GRC, Nanniyode CDS, Thiruvananthapuram
Third Place: Pallippuram GRC, Pallippuram CDS, Ernakulam 

15. Best Snehitha

First Place: Malappuram
Second Place: Thrissur
Third Place: Thiruvananthapuram

16. Best District Mission

First Place: Kollam 
Second Place: Thrissur
Third Place: Ernakulam & Wayanad

17. District that carried out Best Public Relation Activities

First Place: Kollam 
Second Place: Thrissur
Third Place: Ernakulam

The State Level Award Selection Committee, chaired by the Special Secretary of the Local Self Government Department and convened by the Executive Director of Kudumbashree, selected the state level winners in various categories. The District Level Award Selection Committee, chaired by a member of the Kudumbashree Governing Body and the respective District Mission Co-ordinators as the Working Chairmen had selected the winners in the district level. 

The awards for Best CDS (5 categories), Best BUDS Institution, Best Snehitha, Best GRC, Best District Mission, and the District that carried out Best Public Relations Activities have been decided based on the activities of the financial year 2023-24. The Awards for Best Neighborhood Group, Best Auxiliary Group, Best ADS, Best Ooru Samithi, Best Enterprise, Best Auxiliary Group Enterprise, and Best Entrepreneur have considered the activities of the financial years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24.

The award selection process has been completed at three levels: block, district and state level. The award nominations from CDSs have been examined by the primary screening committee based on the criteria and nominations that have scored more than 50% marks have been considered at the block level. 

The State-Level Award selection was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the sub-committees comprising the State Mission Programme Officer/State Programme Manager and the Chairman, along with subject matter experts, scrutinized the documents based on the application criteria, analyzed the presentations on the activities, recorded the marks and submitted them to the State-Level Award Selection Committee.

In the second phase, the State-Level Award Selection Committee comprising the Local Self-Government Department Special Secretary Chairman, Kudumbashree Executive Director, Kudumbashree Executive Committee Member, and State Mission Program Officer analyzed the marks prepared and submitted by the sub-committees and determined the final winners.

H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree, Geetha Nazeer, Member, Kudumbashree Governing Body, Shyam Kumar K.U, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree also took part in the Press Meet.