The three-day literary workshop 'Sargam-2023' organized for the members of the Kudumbashree NHGs from 11 to13 December 2023 at KILA Headquarters, Thrissur has been concluded. About 45 women participated in this workshop jointly organized by Kudumbashree, Kerala Sahitya Akademi and KILA. Sessions on various topics led by around 30 prominent writers of Malayalam opened up different avenues for the NHG members in writing. On 13 December 2203, the concluding day today, Ms. K.A. Beena interacted with the participants on 'Footprints in Travel Literature' and Ms. Sreebala Menon interacted with the participants on 'E-Writing Techniques in Malayalam'.

Prof. C.P. Aboobacker, Secretary, Kerala Sahitya Academy inaugurated the valedictory function. He also distributed the certificates to the participants of the literary camp. Shri. Nafih Muhammed, Public Relations Officer, Kudumbashree presided over the function. He also reviewed the literary camp. Shri. K.K. Prasad, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission welcomed the gathering and Shri. K.S. Sunil, Programme Co-ordinator, Kerala Sahitya Academy delivered the vote of thanks. The literature camp was organized by including those who participated in the state-level story writing competition organized by Kudumbashree for the women of Kudumbashree NHGs and who wrote the best stories.

Kudumbashree's 'Sargam 2023' the Three Day State Level Literary Workshop for Kudumbashree NHG members jointly organized by Kudumbashree, KILA and Kerala Sahitya Academy has started at KILA, Mulagunnathukavu, Thrissur on 11 December 2023. Shri. K.Satchidanandan, President, Kerala Sahitya Academy officially inaugurated the camp. Literary empowerment gives women more visibility in society. Satchidanandan said. He clarified that the ultimate duty of literature is to make the friendship of justice and righteousness possible and women can do that through literary workshops like Sargam. He added.

Ms. Bindu K.S. Director, Kudumbashree presided over the function. Dr Joy Elamon, Director General, KILA, Shri. V.R. Santhosh, Deputy Secretary, Information and Public Relations Department delivered their felicitations. Shri. Nafih Muhammed, Public Relations Officer, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering and Dr. Kavitha A, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission delivered the vote of thanks. The Sargam 2023 Literary Workshop envisages to help Kudumbashree women who want to shine in the field of literature to interact with prominent writers and get acquainted with the new techniques of the writing world. The participants of the Sargam State Level Story Competition organized for Kudumbashree NHG members are the participants of the workshop.

Various Sessions on the First Day

1. Way of Writing (Shihabuddin Poythumkadavu)

2. Good Story is not Impossible (Vaisakhan, Sithara S, Ashokan Cheruvil)

3. New Literature, New Language (M.M Narayanan)

4. New Age Poetry (D Anil Kumar, Ashokan Marayoor, Ramya Balakrishnan)

5. The Chemistry of Writing and Reading (N. Rajan , Anu Pappachan)

'Fashion Eleganza' Fashion Show will be organized for College Students as part of the Kochi National Saras Mela proposed to be organized by Kudumbashree from 21 December 2023 to 01 January 2024. The First Prize, Second Prize and Third Prize will be cash prize of Rs. 10,000, Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 3,000 respectively. Those who participate in the fashion show will get certificates as well. The first 50 people who register first will be given the opportunity to participate in the fashion show. Those who are interested in participating in the Fashion Show may fill the Google Form given below:

https://surveyheart.com/form/65720337fce58309df3768e6

Kudumbashree is inviting applications for Kudumbashree -The Urban Learning Internship Programme as part of the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) Programme being implemented by Kudumbashree in Kerala.

The internship will be conducted at the state mission level and 93 Urban Local Bodies. At the Kudumbashree State Mission Office, three interns will be appointed for 3 months, and in Urban Local Bodies, one intern each will be appointed for 2 months. Candidates selected for the internship will be entitled to a certificate issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and stipend of Rs. 8000 per month. Priority will be given for Kudumbashree Auxiliary Group Members.

The last date for applying for the internship is 08 December 2023. For more details, visit Kudumbashree website https://www.kudumbashree.org/internship

Kudumbashree is inviting applications for Kudumbashree-The Urban Learning Internship Programme as part of the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) Programme being implemented by Kudumbashree in Kerala.

The internship will be conducted at the state mission level and 93 Urban Local Bodies. At the Kudumbashree State Mission Office, three interns will be appointed for 3 months, and in Urban Local Bodies, one intern each will be appointed for 2 months. Candidates selected for the internship will be entitled to a certificate issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and stipend of Rs. 8000 per month. Priority will be given for Kudumbashree Auxiliary Group Members.

The last date for applying for the internship is 08 December 2023. For more details, visit Kudumbashree website https://www.kudumbashree.org/internship

Quality products produced by NHG members who are part of Kerala's own Kudumbashree have once again captured the hearts of the people of Delhi. Kudumbashree has achieved a turnover of Rs. 47,05,041 from the India International Trade Fair (IITF) organized at Pragati Maidan, Delhi from 14 to 27 November 2023 under the auspices of the Union Ministry of Rural Development and India Trade Promotion Organization.

Kudumbashree was able to get this turnover only from two commercial stalls in the Kerala Pavilion, two stalls in the food court, five stalls in the Ajeevika Saras Mela held in conjunction with the International Trade Fair. i.e., from a total of 9 stalls. The turnover  from the stalls in the Kerala Pavilion was Rs. 10.70 lakhs and from the stalls in the food court was Rs. 13.67 lakhs and from the five stalls at the Ajeevika Mela was Rs. 22.66 lakhs.

Kudumbashree products selected from various districts were marketed at the commercial stall. The Kudumbashree units from Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode districts brought the taste of Kerala to Delhi through the food court. Kudumbashree had set up stalls from Attappady, Palakkad, Idukki, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram as part of the Ajeevika Saras Mela in Delhi. Kudumbashree also won the Second Best Exhibitor Award in the Theme Area Kerala Pavilion.

Chalanam, a four-day capacity building training programme for chairpersons and sub-committee conveners of Kudumbashree urban CDSs was organized in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Idukki districts. The District Level Mentoring Camp in Idukki was held at Narakakanam Love Hills Resort, Idukki from 21 to 24 November 2023. Ms Asha Mol, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Idukki District Mission inaugurated the camp. Ms. Beena E, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree State Mission explained the objectives of the camp. Shri. Manu Soman, Shri Ranjith P.C, Shri. Anoop C.A, Shri Tony Jose, City Mission Managers gave leadership to the camp. About fifty people participated in the camp.

Shri. Jafar Malik IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree inaugurated the Mentoring Camp in Thiruvananthapuram district organized at Maria Rani Convention Centre, Thiruvananthapuram from 27 to 30 November 2023. Shri. Jahamgeer S, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree Urban Programmes, Ms. Beena E, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree State Mission, Dr. B. Sreejith, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram District Mission, Ms. Sreelatha, Ms. Vahida, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinators, Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram District Mission delivered their greetings. A special boot camp was also organized for the trainees. 77 people participated in the training.

The training for Kottayam district was also held from 27 to 30 November 2023. Around 60 people including state mission representatives and city mission managers participated in the training organized at Ettumanoor Casa Maria Centre.

More than 30 lakh neighborhood group members have participated in Kudumbashree's 'Thirike School' campaign, which has created new movements in the field of women's empowerment. A total of 30,21,317 people participated on different days. Out of 3,14,557 NHGs across the state, 2,97,559 NHGs have already participated in the campaign.

According to the figures till 26 November 2023, Thiruvananthapuram district had the highest number of participants. 3,33,968 women participated in the training in Thiruvananthapuram district on various dates. Palakkad (3,28,350) and Malappuram (3,17,899) districts came in the second and third positions respectively. Wayanad district which has only 27 CDSs has 99.25 % NHG participation. Out of the total 1,24,647 NHG members in Wayanad, 1,04,277 participated in the campaign. Kasaragod district which has only 42 CDSs also has better participation. Out of the total 1,80,789 NHG members 1,29,476 participated in the campaign.

The aim is to provide training to 46 lakh women in the NHG network by involving the remaining 16 lakh members by 10 December 2023. As part of this, all the participants who are yet to participate in the campaign from each CDS will be made part of the campaign during the next four holidays. For this, State-District-CDS level activities have been intensified.

'Back to School' is the campaign launched with the aim of empowering the Kudumbashree organizational system, by providing training to 46 lakh Kudumbashree members in the state. Training is conducted on holidays in selected schools. As per the current decision, the campaign will come to an end on 10 December 2023.

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.