'Kolayikkoottam', the preparatory assemblies in connection with Kudumbashree Balasadas has started on 21 September 2024. Kudumbashree Balasabha members are organizing 'Balasadas' on 2 October 2024 in all 19,470 wards of the state. More than four lakh children who are members of 31,612 Balasabhas under Kudumbashree will participate in this. Balasabhas are children's NHGs formed with the objective of protecting children's rights and developing a sense of democracy among them. The Balasadas is organized ahead of the Bala Parliament proposed to be held in December 2024.

Kolayikkoottams are small gatherings of the Kudumbashree/Balasabha families of the ward/division preceding the Balasadas in their respective areas. The activities of Bala Sadas will be announced in advance through these meetings. These activities will be held till 29 September 2024.

The aim of 'Balasadas' is to provide practical knowledge to effectively organize children's Grama Sabha and to develop skills in children to identify social problems and find solutions for them. Strengthening of Balasabhas, and developing organizational skills, leadership qualities and logical thinking in children are also the objectives.

Balasabha members will gather in the nature-friendly places of each ward from 2 PM to 5 PM on 2 October 2024. The questions raised by the children in the Balasadas, social problems and the needs of the children will be divided into various topics under the leadership of the Balasabha Resource Persons and a report will be prepared. These reports will be submitted to the respective CDS office before 10 October 2024. Thus the reports received at the CDS level will be collated and presented to the Bala Panchayat or Bala Urban Local Body and then submitted to the Chairman and Secretary of the Local Self Government Institution. The solutions to the problems raised by the children through the report will be found at the local level.

Through the report, solutions to the problems raised by the children will be found at the local body level. The aim is to present the other issues in the Kudumbashree State Bala Parliament and bring them to the attention of the Government and find solutions.

Under the leadership of Kudumbashree, the local (indigenous) children have prepared nine books as part of the Kanas Jaga (Dream Place) Special Project which was started during the last holiday. Kanas Jaga is a project to make indigenous children excel in different fields and make them self-aware of the place they live in, its climate, climate changes, social issues, children's rights and empower themselves to overcome the issues.

These books are designed by including stories and scripts prepared by children. As part of the Aralam (Kannur), Vandazhi, Parambikulam (Palakkad), Thirunelly, Noolpuzha (Wayanad), Nilambur (Malappuram), Edamalakkudy, Marayoor - Kanthalloor (Idukki), Malaipandara (Pathanamthitta), Koraga (Kasaragod), Kadar (Thrissur) and Attappady Projects, about 3000 children participated in the activities of preparing Kanas Jaga Books.

These books are a collection of writings prepared by children based on the goal of identifying their own area, understanding its features, identifying problems and finding solutions to develop creativity. Now the children are busy preparing short films based on the scripts. These Children's Short Films will be screened at the Children's Film Festival proposed to be held in November 2024.

Kudumbashree's 3.16 lakh Gender Point Persons (GPPs) are gearing up to intervene in gender-based issues. The main task of GPPs is to support the management of gender status issues and to help each NHG member to access related services and rights. A two-day workshop to outline the framework for imparting training to GPPs at Kudumbashree NHG, ADS and CDS level was concluded  in Thiruvananthapuram on 20 September 2024. One person from each Kudumbashree NHG is selected as GPP. The election of GPPs in all 3,16,386 NHGs of the state has been completed. 19,470 GPPs have been assigned to coordinate ward level activities from NHG GPPs and 1070 CDS level GPPs have been assigned to coordinate panchayat level activities from these ADS GPPs. General Awareness Training was also imparted to CDS and ADS Level GPPs.

The responsibilities of Gender Resource Persons include organizing continuous awareness programmes, classes, discussions and debates on gender status issues of NHG members, empower women and children to respond to gender discrimination, act as the NHG link of Vigilant Group, coordinate women empowerment activities at NHG level, take interventions to make NHG areas women and child friendly, register cases in ADS level and support women for solving the problem if gender issues are reported, and providing counseling with the help of Kudumbashree Snehitha Gender Help Desk.

The training activities for the effective delivery of GPP activities to NHG level will be started as a Special Campaign on a pilot basis in each selected block of 14 districts and Attappady from November. The training modules provided by the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) implemented through Kudumbashree in Kerala are developed and divided into three according to the situation of Kerala. 15 modules of training through interactive methods such as Theatre (Creative Training), Activity and Digital Technology are imparted to GPPs and through them to NHG members.

The activity category will comprise of five modules namely Gender Difference and Gender Status, Gender Status - Social Construction and Socialization, Gender Based Division of Labour, Adolescence - Welfare and Health and Child Marriage. Five modules are included under the theater category such as accessibility and control, gender difference and mobility, gender-rights and entitlements, food and nutrition, women's literacy and education. Under the Digital Technology Category there are five modules on gender-based violence, institutional systems, gender status and livelihoods, gender status and decentralization, women-specific legislation and existing laws. Along with these modules, subjects for digital literacy and personal development are also included in the training.

Dr. B.Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Ms. Feby D.A. and Shri. Arjun Prathap R.P, Office Secretarial Staff gave leadership to the Two Day Workshop held at Hotel Grand Chaithram, Thiruvananthapuram. Education experts, experts in Information and Communication Technology, Experts from the theater departments, teacher trainers, Kudumbashree District Programme Managers, Snehitha Gender Help Desk staff etc participated in the programme.

Kudumbashree made a turnover of Rs. 28.47 crores from the Onam Marketing Fairs organized across the state under the leadership of Kudumbashree on the occasion of Onam this time. Sales of Rs. 19.58 crores was made through the marketing of  products of micro enterprises and sales of Rs. 8.89 crores was made through the marketing of agricultural products. This achievement was achieved through the 2014 Onam Marketing Fairs organized at CDS level and District Level across the state. Kudumbashree entrepreneurs who participated in the fair will get this income.

Ernakulam district came in the first place with a turnover of Rs. 3.6 crores. Alappuzha district came in the second place with Rs. 3.4 crores from 164 fairs. Thrissur district came in the third place with a turnover of Rs. 3.3 crores from 186 fairs. Ernakulam district is leading in the number of marketing fairs as well.  A total of 205 fairs were organized in Ernakulam district. Thrissur with 186 marketing fairs and Kannur with 182 fairs were ranked second and third respectively.

There has been a remarkable increase in turnover, marketing fairs, number of agricultural microenterprise units, products and participation of entrepreneurs compared to the previous year. This year 43,359 micro enterprise units came to the fair with various products. Last year it was 28,401. This time 26,816 women farmer groups have brought agricultural products to the market. This segment saw an additional participation of 5826 units over the previous year. In this way, better products can be brought to the public market and products can be made available to the common people at a fair price. It is also noteworthy that the Government's interventions to prevent inflation were also supported through this.

Realizing the demand for flowers in the Onam market, this time more farmers were active in this field. As part of this, this time 3000 women farmers cultivated in 1253 acres including marigold, jasmine and lotus and brought flowers to the market. Last year there were 1819 farmers in 780 acres in this area. The excellent response received from the Onam market has given great enthusiasm to the entrepreneurs as well as the farmers.

'Balasadas-Onnichirikkam Othiri Parayam' will be organized in all 19,470 wards of the state with the participation of Kudumbashree Balasabha members on 2 October 2024. More than four lakh children who are members of 31,612 Balasabha under Kudumbashree will participate in this programme. As part of this, the children of the Balasabha in each ward will come together and discuss the problems, crises, duties and rights they are facing.

Balasabha children from five to eighteen years of age will participate in the Balasadas. As a part of this, children will gather in nature-friendly places in each ward during 2 PM to 5 PM. The first step is to prepare a report by dividing the questions raised by the children in the Balasabha, the social problems and the needs of the children into various topics under the leadership of the Balasabha Resource Persons. Then these reports will be submitted to the respective CDS Offices before 10 October 2024. In this way, the reports received at the CDS level will be collated and presented to the Bala Panchayat and Bala Urban Local Body and then will be submitted to the Chairman and Secretary of the Local Self Government Institution. The problems raised by the children through the reports will be solved at the local level. The aim is to present the rest in the State Bala Parliament and thereby bring to the attention of the Government and find solutions. 

Balasadas aims to provide practical knowledge to effectively organize Children's Grama Sabha and also to develop skills in identifying social problems and finding solutions for them. Also, there are objectives to empower Balasabhas, develop the organizational skills of children, leadership qualities and logical thinking in children. District Missions, State-CDS Resource Persons and ADS Mentors have been tasked with organizing Balasadas.

Before the Balasadas, 'Kolayikkoottam' will be organized in each ward with the participation of the Balasabha members. Also, various publicity activities including reels, poster writing, status post competition and flash mob will be organized as part of the campaign.

Balasabhas are children's NHGs formed with the aim of protecting children's rights and instilling a sense of democracy in them. The Balasadas is organized ahead of the Bala Parliament proposed to be held in December this year.

Kudumbashree Agri Expo-'Thrithala Polima', an Extensive Agricultural Exhibition and Marketing Fair has started at Palakkad. Adv. V.P Rejeena, President, Thrithala Block Panchayat inaugurated the Expo at the premises of Velliyamkallu Irrigation Project, Thrithala, Palakkad. Ms. P.K. Jaya, President, Thrithala Grama Panchayat presided over the function.

The Agri Expo is organized With the objective of reviving the agricultural sector by introducing innovative methods and techniques, to bring the increasing potential of value added products and bringing the necessary machinery and practical knowledge to the farmers. The stalls of leading Central and State Research Institutes in Agricultural Sector, Department of Agriculture and other related departments, agricultural machinery, various products prepared by Kudumbashree farmers and entrepreneurs of the district, informative discussions, Seminars and Food Fair with mouth-watering dishes prepared by Kudumbashree is also organized as part of the programme.

Shri. Sharafudeen Kalathil, President, Kapoor Grama Panchayat, Ms. T Suhara, President, Thirumittacode Grama Panchayat, Shri. K. P Sreenivasan, Vice President, Thrithala Grama Panchayat, Ms. Shaniba Teacher, Member, Palakkad District Panchayat, Shri. Kammukutty Edathol, Member, Palakkad District Panchayat, Ms. Kubra Shahjahan, Member, Thrithala Block Panchayat, Ms. Deepa P, Chairperson, Development Standing Committee, Thrithala Grama Panchayat, Ms. T.V. Sabitha, Chairperson, Health Education Standing Committee, Thrithala Grama Panchayat, Shri. P. Aravindakshan, Chairman, Welfare Standing Committee,Thrithala Grama Panchayat, Shri. P. V Muhammedali, Member, Thrithala Grama Panchayat, Shri. M. Gopinathan,  Member, Thrithala Grama Panchayat, Ms. Sujitha Jayaprakash, Chairperson, Thrithala CDS, Shri. P Velayudhan, Shri. K. Babu Nazar, Shri. Ali Master, Shri. K. P Siddique, Shri. K. R Balan, Shri. K. K Chandradas, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Palakkad District Mission, Dr. Shanavas, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Dr. Rana Raj, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree and Dr. Shameena P.N, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree was also present at the function. The Agri Expo will come to an end on 14 September 2024.

A Micro Plan Workshop which focused on the rehabilitation of landslide victims in Meppadi Gram Panchayat of Wayanad district was organized on 9 September 2024 at Kalpetta of Wayanad. Ms. T.V. Anupama IAS, Special Secretary, Local Self-Government Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the workshop led by Kudumbashree Mission under the Local Self-Government Department under the auspices of the District Administration. Ms. A Geetha IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree presided over the function. 

The objective of the workshop was to discuss and prepare plans and bring it to implementation for the rehabilitation of the disaster victims. Ms. D.R. Meghashree IAS, District Collector, Wayanad did the subject presentation and Shri. S Gautham Raj IAS, Assistant Collector, presented the Survey Report. The Government is planning to implement the project by strengthening the recovery and upliftment of the affected people in the mental, physical, financial and social sectors based on the survey conducted in 1009 households. Shri. N Jagajeevan, Consultant, Suchitwa Mission, gave leadership to the discussions regarding micro plan. 

Shri. P. K. Balasubramanian, District Mission Co-ordinator, Wayanad District Mission welcomed the gathering. Shri. Shibu N.P, Shri. Anishkumar M.S, Ms. Beena E, Shri. Prabhakaran M,  State Programme Managers, Kudumbashree and representatives of various departments took part in the workshop.  Shri. Nishad C.C, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree delivered the vote of thanks.

New outlet has started at Pandalam of Pathanamthitta as part of the Second Phase of Cafe Kudumbashree Premium Restaurant Network. Shri. M.B. Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala performed the inauguration of the Cafe Kudumbashree Premium Restaurant at DTPC Amenity Centre, Kulanada, Pandalam on 10 September 2024.

The characteristics of Kudumbashree are many. The most important of them is their innate talent or gift in cooking flavorful food. The food court run by Kudumbashree as a part of Keraleeyam had a record turnover. Wherever Kudumbashree Fairs are held, be it Saras Mela or other fairs, we can see this specialty of Kudumbashree. That is why Kudumbashree decided to develop it as an enterprise. The Minister said.

We started Janakeeya Hotels during covid. Actually it was an intervention meant only for the time of covid. The Community Kitchen was set up under the leadership of Kudumbashree. The Government and local bodies provide significant support to Janakeeya Hotels based on the Government's vision that no one should starve. The building, water and electricity are provided by the local body free of cost. The Civil Supplies Department is providing rice at subsidized rates. Apart from that, there is a cash subsidy from the Government. Although it has started to cool down during the covid period, it is still going on. But that is not enough. The Minister added.

The Minister also said that Kudumbashree started Cafe Kudumbashree Premium Restaurants based on the vision that it should grow as an enterprise to a higher level. It has become a huge hit everywhere. I myself inaugurated the first restaurant in Angamaly. It is still very crowded. Those restaurants have been able to create acceptance among people. He said.

Ms. Veena George, Minister for Health and Woman and Child Development, Government of Kerala, in her video message said that Cafe Kudumbashree Premium Restaurant will be an initiative that will benefit travelers on MC Road as well as  pilgrims in a big way. For Kudumbashree, there is no doubt that this premium restaurant will provide all kinds of impetus in the journey ahead. She added.

Shri. Jiji Mathew, Chairman, Welfare Standing Committee, Pathanamthitta District Panchayat presided over the function. Shri. Sreekanth A.S, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering and Ms. Bindu Rekha, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Pathanamthitta District Mission delivered the vote of thanks.

Shri. R Ajayakumar, Chairman, District Panchayath Standing Committee, Shri. R Thulaseedharan Pillai, President, Block Panchayath President's Association, Shri. Paul Rajan, President, Pandalam Block Panchayat, Shri. K.P Udayabhanu, District Secretary, CPI(M), Shri. P. K Sasidharan, District Secretary, CPI, Shri. Satheesh Kochuparambil, President, District Congress Committee, Adv. V.A Sooraj, District President, BJP, Shri. Saji Alex, District President, Kerala Congress (M), Shri. Mathew Koshy, Executive Member, DTPC, Shri. T Murukesh, Executive Member, DTPC, Shri. Manoj Madhavasseril, Executive Member, DTPC, Shri. M Sasikumar, Executive Member, DTPC, Shri. Subair Kutty, Deputy Director, DTPC, Shri. Binosh Kunjappan, Secretary, DTPC, Shri. Shaju George, General Manager, Kerala Bank, Ms. Ayini Santhosh, Chairperson, Kulanada CDS and Shri. K.S. Sajith, Regional Manager, Kerala Bank was also present at the function. The Cafe Kudumbashree Premium Restaurant opened has Banquet Hall, Kiosk, Non AC Refreshment Hall and Juice Counter.

Kudumbashree launched Café Kudumbashree Premium Restaurant to enjoy premium services and special dishes and unique local dishes prepared by Kudumbashree entrepreneurs. In the first phase, Cafe Kudumbashree Premium Restaurants were opened at Angamaly, Meppadi of Wayanad and Guruvayoor. The restaurant started at Pandalam of Pathanamthitta is the fourth outlet opened in the Cafe Kudumbashree Premium Restaurant network.

Shri. M. B Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala performed the State Level Inauguration of the Kudumbashree Onam Marketing Fair during the function held at Old Private Bus Stand, Pathanamthitta on 10 September 2024. Ms. Veena George, Minister for Health and Woman and Child Development, Government of Kerala presided over the function.

The Minister said that Kudumbashree made record sales of Rs 23.22 crores through Onam Market Fairs during last year and it is expected that Kudumbashree will break that record this year. The aim is to make a sale of Rs 30 crores. The Minister said that Kudumbashree is a movement that turns everything that touches into gold. So that would be a much easier task for Kudumbashree to achieve this aim. The specialty of this year's Onam is that under the leadership of Kudumbashree, not only fruits, vegetables and paddy are cultivated as usual. Floriculture has also been done extensively this time. Flower cultivation has been done in 1253 acres under the leadership of Kudumbashree in Kerala through more than 3000 women farmer groups. All the flowers needed for Onam will be provided by Kudumbashree. Similarly, 11298 Kudumbashree women farmers' groups cultivated vegetables and fruits for Onam in Kerala on 6798 acres. Kudumbashree will present not only the flowers required for Onam but also vegetables and fruits. Kudumbashree's intervention is helping to contain the price rise in the Onam market to a great extent. Kudumbashree is making a notable intervention through these Onam Markets and it is highly appreciable. The Minister said. 

The Minister added that it was Kudumbashree that made the largest contribution to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) for the survivors of Wayanad Landslides. It is a matter of pride that Kudumbashree made a contribution of Rs 20.07 crores. Kudumbashree has once again proved that it is the epitome of women power. He said. The intervention of Kudumbashree in Wayanad is not limited to this. The Two Day Workshop for preparing the micro plan for the affected families in Wayanad was completed yesterday. Kudumbashree is preparing a micro plan for every affected family to extend them the needed support. Kudumbashree gave leadership to the Community Kitchens, Help Desks and Sanitation. Under the leadership of Community Counsellors, Kudumbashree stepped in to extend mental support to the affected people. This shows the abundance of the interventions of Kudumbashree.

Ms. Veena George, Minister for Health and Woman and Child Development, Government of Kerala said that the Kudumbashree Movement is one of the greatest examples that Kerala has given to the world in the present era. She also added that women empowerment had effectively and beautifully made social advancement possible. 

The Minister also performed the official declaration of the First Phase Completion of K-LIFT in Pathanamthitta district and the release of the 'Jeevanam' Handbook. Ms. Veena George, Minister for Health and Woman and Child Development, Government of Kerala received the handbook. 

Through Onam Marketing Fair Kudumbashree aims at providing products to consumers at fair prices during Onam. 2140 Marketing Fairs i.e., two in each of the 1070 CDSs under Kudumbashree and 14 District Level Fairs will be organized. According to this, there will be a total of 2154 Marketing Fairs of Kudumbashree all across Kerala in connection with Onam. Each district will be given Rs.2 lakhs and Rs.20,000 each for Rural and Urban CDSs for organizing District Level Marketing Fairs. Apart from this, if more than two Marketing Fairs are organized in Urban CDSs, Rs 10,000 will be given for every Marketing Fair conducted. Through Onam Marketing Fairs, entrepreneurs in Kudumbashree Micro Enterprise-Agricultural Sectors will get the best opportunity to earn income by selling their products. The Marketing Fair will conclude on 14 September 2024.

Shri. R Ajayakumar, Chairman, District Panchayath Standing Committee performed the inauguration of the District Level Kerala Chicken Project. He also performed the first sale of the Onam Kit.  Shri. Jiji Mathew, Chairman, Welfare Standing Committee performed the launch of the Curry Powder Products and the first sale. He also distributed the equipment to Home Shop members. The inauguration of the 'Plastic Carry Bag Free Pathanamthitta Campaign' and the Loan Disbursement was performed by Ms. Nirmala Devi, Director, Kerala Bank. Shri. Ajith Kumar, Co-ordinator, Suchitwa Mission explained about the 'Plastic Carry Bag Free Pathanamthitta Campaign'. The District Level launch of the Branded Chips was also done during the function. Dr. Rana Raj V.R, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree and Chief Executive Officer, Kerala Chicken, explained about the Kerala Chicken Project. Shri. Anish Vasudevan, Designer, who designed the logo of Aaravam 2024, the District Level Onam Marketing Fair was felicitated at the function. The certificate of Dheeram Karate Training programme was distributed by Ms. Ponnamma Sasi, Chairperson, Pathanamthitta Municipality. The video produced for the marketing of the products made by BUDS Children was screened during the function.  

Adv. Pramod Narayanan, MLA, Ranni Constituency, Adv. K. U Janeesh Kumar, MLA, Konni Constituency, Shri. K.P Udayabhanu, District Secretary, CPI(M), Shri. P. K Sasidharan, District Secretary, CPI was also present at the function. Ms. Raji P Rajappan, President, District Panchayath welcomed the gathering and Ms. Aadila S, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Pathanamthitta District Mission delivered the vote of thanks.

Haritha Karma Sena members in the state will get support from the Government to celebrate onam this time. The Government has given permission to the Corporations, Municipalities and Grama Panchayats to allocate Rs. 1000 each from the separate fund of the local bodies as festival allowance to the Haritha Karma Sena members. The Haritha Karma Sena members were also granted Festival Allowance in 2023 as well. The action is taken in consideration of the Kudumbashree Director's letter to the Government requesting that steps be taken to provide Festival Allowance in the same manner this year as well.