Ms. Sudha Devadas, Mangamkuzhy House of Kuzhur, Mala of Thrissur district and Ms. Elsy Yousef of Palikoodath House of Thuravoor, Angamaly of Ernakulam district received the honor from Shri. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, Government of India. Both of them were selected to represent Kerala in a ceremony to honor 'Lakhpati Didis' from all over the country at Jalgaon in Maharashtra on 25 August 2024. Among them, Ms. Sudha also got a chance to directly interact with the Prime Minister. Lakhpati Didis are NHG/SHG members with an annual income of up to Rs.1 lakh. Dr. Shameena P.N, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree also accompanied them.

Ms. Sudha Prakriti became a member of Kudumbashree NHG in 2011. She turned to Group Farming to earn a living through agricultural sector. At present, Sudha and her group is cultivating various varieties of rice, banana, yam, spinach and beans in about 22 acres of land. Mahila Rice Producers Company was also formed. Sudha has also been trained in the Drone Didi Project to meet agricultural needs and generate income using drones. Sudha, who has fulfilled her responsibilities as a CDS member, is also a Gender Resource Person. She is currently a member of Kuzhur Gram Panchayat.

Ms. Elsy Yousef returned home in 2008 as her husband was diagnosed with cancer while living with her family in Mumbai. She came to know about Kudumbashree during a very difficult situation when she was finding it hard to move forward with her life. Then in 2012, an NHG called 'Kanchana' was started under the leadership of Elsy. She also participated in various trainings to earn livelihood. In 2018, the NHG members formed a Collective Farming Group called 'Nirapara' and started engaging in agriculture. Elsy, who is also a Kudumbashree Resource Person in the field of agriculture, was selected for the programme in the Krishi Sakhi Category.

The District Administration of Wayanad and Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission jointly organized the 'Njangalund Koode' (We are With You) Job fair with the objective of creating gainful employment opportunities for the job seekers in the disaster affected area of Meppadi Gram Panchayat in Wayanad, which was hit by landslide disaster. Adv K. Rajan, Minister for Revenue and Housing, Government of Kerala inaugurated the Job Mela organized under the leadership of the Deendayal Upadhyaya Grameena Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), the skill training programme of Kudumbashree and Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission organized at Meppadi Gram Panchayat, Wayanad on 23 August 2024.

The minister handed over the offer letter to ten candidates selected by employers ESAF Small Finance Bank, Markaz Knowledge City and Indus Motors at the inauguration ceremony. 21 employers from inside and outside the district participated in the fair. Out of about 300 job seekers, 59 were selected for various jobs. And a shortlist of 127 people was prepared.

Shri. P.K. Balasubramanian, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission welcomed the gathering. Ms. Bini Prabhakaran, Chairperson, Meppadi CDS, Ms. Rejeena V.K, Ms. Seleena K. M, Shri. Ameen K, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinators, Kudumbashree, Shri. Nishad C. C, Shri. Shibu N.P, State Programme Managers, Shri. Jenson M. Joy, Ms. Apsana K, District Programme Managers and others participated in the programme.

Kudumbashree's Snehitha Gender Help Desk is a system that provides help, support and shelter to women and children who are victims of violence. On 23 August 2024, it has been 11 years since the Snehitha Centre started functioning in Ernakulam district. Many programmes were implemented by the district. Radioshree, Kudumbashree's Online Radio broadcasted special programme in connection with the Anniversary of  Snehitha Gender Help Desk at Ernakulam. Radioshree broadcasted a special programme called 'Vijayaveethi' from 4 to 5 pm on 23 August 2024, where one could get to know the activities of Snehitha Gender Help Desk in Ernakulam district.

 Apart from this, in connection with Snehitha anniversary in Ernakulam district, various publicity programmes like public announcement about Snehitha under the leadership of Kudumbashree Rangashree team in the name 'Uchabhashini', Gender Challenge and Online Gender Game aimed at creating gender awareness among the public were also organized. Also it is aimed to organize various programmes such as 'Unnathi', 'Blooming Buds' for the children of coastal areas, flash mobs/flyer campaigns centered on Gender Resource Centers and 'Phoenix' for underprivileged women are also targeted to be implemented in Ernakulam district from 23 August 2024 in the upcoming days in connection with the anniversary.

Kudumbashree is moving ahead with efforts to start Happiness Centres in 154 Model CDSs with the concept of Happy Kerala. The aim is to raise the happiness index of families. A three-day state-level training programme for the project trainers will be conducted on 28, 29 and 30 August 2024, with districts divided into South and North regions. 

A state-level training module, project-related guidelines and a template for surveying households were also prepared at a Planning Workshop organized in Thiruvananthapuram on 19 August 2024. The regional openings are Kollam and Kozhikode. A total of 140 people will participate in the training (ten people from each district). The training is conducted by State Level Resource Persons comprising of experts in various fields.

Trainees will participate in the activities of setting up 'Happiness Forums' at District and CDS ADS levels. The Happiness Forum is formed by including representatives of the Kudumbashree three-tier organizational system and representatives of local bodies. 'Idam' (spaces) 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. The family-based micro-level plan will be prepared in these 'spaces' formed at the ward level to find out the required happiness index for each family.

Dr. B Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Dr. Sreelekha T.J, Dr. Razeena Padmam, Shri. Rafi. P, Senior Programme Associate, UN World Food Programme Nutrition Division, Shri  Baiju Kumar R. S, Ms. Subha Sree, Ms. Sunitha, Nutritionists, Ms. Krishnakumari, Ms. Preetha G. Nair, Ms. Feby, State Assistant Program Managers, Kudumbasree District Program Managers, Ms. Beena, Ms. Nishitha, Dr. Unnimol, Ms. Anu, representatives of Snehitha participated in the planning workshop.

What are Happiness Centres?
Kudumbashree aims to make every family a centres of happiness by ensuring the overall well-being and upliftment of every individual and family in the society through Happiness Centres. With the implementation of this very innovative concept, Kerala will be able to advance in the happiness index and become a model for other states. The project is implemented in connection with the FNHW (Food, Nutrition, Health and WASH) activities as part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission implemented by Kudumbashree.

Actions are planned for the project to address the inadequacies faced by an individual or family in various areas like equality, economic sustainability, environment, art, literature, sports, mental health, nutrition, hygiene and democratic values and lead them to a happy life. The project will be implemented in such a way that it will be helpful to every person of the society like children, youth, adults and the elderly.

Activities
A survey will be conducted focusing on the families in the Model CDSs where Happiness Centres will be established and a micro-level plan will be prepared to raise the Happiness Index of those families. On the basis of this project, a Happiness Index will be prepared according to the social situation of Kerala and the project activities will be started after conducting an evaluation under the leadership of experts in various fields.

Kudumbashree will make convergences with various departments like health, social justice, women and child development, agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy development, forest and other departments in the implementation of the project. It will also coordinate with the various projects implemented by Kudumbashree.

The trainees of BUDS Institutions celebrated BUDS Day on 16 August 2024 with various events. BUDS Schools and BUDS Rehabilitation Centres (for above 18 years) are jointly run by local self-government bodies and Kudumbashree for intellectually challenged children. The first BUDS School in the state started functioning in Venganoor Gram Panchayat of Thiruvananthapuram district on 16 August 2004. The objectives of the Celebration of BUDS Day is to make BUDS Institutions more popular, bringing trainees into the mainstream of society, embedding more children in BUDS Institutions and providing psychological support to parents.

BUDS Week was also organized as part of BUDS Day Celebrations. As part of the BUDS Day Celebrations, various Buds institutions organized many programmes such as home visits to the homes of fellow trainees who could not reach the institutions, awareness raising for parents, public visits, film screenings, outings and art programmes. As of now, there are 11847 trainees in 361 existing institutions (BUDS Schools and BUDS Rehabilitation Centres).

As part of the conversion of Kudumbasree CDSs in urban areas into model CDSs, a renovated Kudumbasree CDS office with modern systems has started functioning in Nilambur Municipality of Malappuram district on 15 August 2024. Ms. P. K Sainaba, Executive Member, Kudumbashree Governing Body inaugurated the Modernized Model CDS Office. Shri. Mattummal Saleem, Municipal Chairman, who is also a member of the Kudumbashree Governing Body, presided over the function. There are 33 ADSs and 448 NHGs under Nilambur CDS. At present there are 168 Model CDSs in urban and rural areas under the Kudumbashree organizational system.

The BUDS School children had the realization that even a single rupee has its own price for the tears of the people of Mundakkai and Chooralmala in Wayanad who were affected by the natural calamity. The way the students of BUDS School in Thazhekkode of Malappuram district have found to donate an amount they can to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund was an eye-opener.  With the help of their parents, the BUDS children collected Rs 8500 by preparing tea and sweets in Karingalathani town. 19 children are studying in BUDS School, which is working under Thazhekkode Panchayat. Rahshah Anshif Hafil and Ajmal Dilshad, the children gave the leadership to the programme. The other children helped them. Village panchayat representatives, Shri. Ayoob, Ms. Sajna Nusaiba, Ms. Shamna Tahira, parents of BUDS  School Children, Shri. Mubashir, Ms. Aaya Fahisha, Teachers extended the support. This intervention of the students of  BUDS School. Thazhekkode was really inspiring for everyone to collect every rupee as much as they can and come forward to wipe the tears to their fellow beings.

Kudumbashree made notable achievements in State Farm Awards 2023. Ms. K Bindu, Member, Haritha JLG in Pattuvam CDS of  Kannur district won the 'Karshaka Thilakam' Award for the Best Woman Farmer in Kerala. Whereas, Kudumbashree BUDS Paradise School of Thirunelly Grama Panchayat in Wayanad district won the Award for the Best Agricultural School in Special School Category.

Bindu is cultivating many crops such as  paddy, flowers, turmeric, ginger, vegetables, sesame and chickpeas in 26 acres of land. Ms. Bindu of Kakavani House, Mangalasserry has been active in agriculture for the last 25 years. Bindu also trains Kudumbashree members to operate farm machinery.

40 differently-abled students are studying at BUDS Paradise School, which is run under the supervision of Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission and Thirunelly Gram Panchayat. The Agri Therapy Project implemented in about 1 acre of land as per the directions of Kudumbashree State Mission for the mental and physical growth of the trainees made the school eligible for the award. Assistance was provided by the Keystone Foundation to set up the vegetable garden. Thirunelly Krishi Bhavan also supervised the project.

Tomatoes, brinjals, cauliflower, cabbage, pulses, spinach, colocasia, elephant yam, cassava, banana, ivy gourd, green chillies, bird's eye chilli, purple yam and bamboos are cultivated for children's lunch.

Four Kudumbashree members reached Delhi to participate as invited guests to take part in the Independence Day Parade at Delhi's Red Fort on 15 August 2024. Ms. Soumya Biju from Thrissur, district Ms. Natasha Baburaj from Ernakulam district and Ms. Sreevidya R from Palakkad district and Ms. Silna K V from Kasaragod district  flew from Kochi International Airport to Delhi on 13 August 2024.

The opportunity was given to two persons each belonging to the categories of 'Lakhpati Didi' who have an annual income of Rs 1 lakh and 'Drone Didi' who have received drone training. They came to Delhi on the invitation of the Union Ministry of Rural Development as part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) project implemented by Kudumbashree.

Soumya's (Puthiyamadath House, Varantharapilly) main source of income is vegetable farming and cow and goat rearing. Soumya is the member of Jeeva NHG. Mushroom cultivation and manufacturing of value-added products from coconuts is the livelihood of Natasha Baburaj (Edapparampil house in Edakkattuvayal). Natasha owns a venture called 'Keerthi Mushroom'. Both belong to 'Lakhpati Didi' category.

On the other hand Srividya (Adichiratil House in Kizhakkethara) and Silna (Manikoth, Kanhangad) have received 'Drone Didi' training. Sreevidya, member of Ahalya NHG and Silna, member of Jwala NHG are expertly trained and hold drone licenses. Drone Didis are doing activities including spraying fertilizers in the fields.

The NHG members are accompanied with their partners and Dr. Shameena P.N, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree and Ms. Chinchu Shaj, State Assistant Programme Manager.

The first training of Punarjeevanam'- Kudumbashree's Entrepreneurship Development Series to revive the livelihood opportunities in the agricultural sector held at Nirvana Holistic Living, Sholayur, Attappady, Palakkad has concluded. The three day training programme started when Shri. M. B Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala launched the programme and inaugurated the first training of the series online on 12 August 2024. 

On the final day of the  training, Dr. Jisy George, Subject Matter Specialist, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kayamkulam, Alappuzha spoke about the Value Addition of Small Grains/ Banana. She explained the need to include millet in the diet and how millets will help in controlling lifestyle diseases like diabetes and pointed out the health benefits and nutrition values of different millets. Dr. Jisy also explained in detail about the value added products such as traditional products, bakery products, extruded products, flaked and popped products, instant food mixes, fortified products and probiotic products. Practical sessions were also held.

Ms. Aswathy, Entrepreneur, V One, Tholikkode, Punalur, Kollam shared her success story during the session 'Women Empowerment through Livelihood-Success Stories of Women Entrepreneurs'. She explained the struggles she had faced in life in becoming a successful entrepreneur. She shared about the training she received, how she launched her product to the market and how she is marketing her product. She demonstrated her products during the training programme and she stressed the importance of labelling and branding while launching a product. She also offered her wholehearted support for the trainees who wish to launch their own products. The presentation of 5 nutritional products prepared from small grains such as Health Mix, Cookies (Spicy), Cookies (Sweet), Porridge mix and Upma mix was also arranged. 

Punarjeevanam will bring about a major change in the agricultural livelihood sector by focusing on skill development required at community level in each district and year-long continuous training and support. Punarjeevanam is a revolutionary step of Kudumbashree in the field of agricultural livelihood. The project was jointly implemented by the Kudumbashree State Mission and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's flagship organization in tuber research, the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CTCRI).