A two-day workshop on Social Inclusion - Annual Action Plan was organized in Thiruvananthapuram to finalize the outline of the project activities to be carried out by Kudumbashree in the Scheduled Tribes sector for the financial year 2025-26. H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree inaugurated the workshop organized at the Agricultural Co-operative Staff Training Institute (ACSTI) in Manvila, Thiruvananthapuram on 18-19 June 2025.

Kudumbashree's 2025-26 Annual Action Plan has allocated Rs. 25 crores for activities in the local area, including its own fund and the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) fund. Kudumbashree will focus more on NHG formation, converting existing NHGs into self-sufficient NHGs, and economic and social empowerment activities in the local area this year.

It will also strengthen enterprise formation in agriculture, animal husbandry, and traditional employment sectors to provide more livelihood opportunities. Project activities such as reorganization of the Bridge Course, formation of Child Creativity Centre, Communicore, Kanas Jaga 2.0, K-TIC (Kudumbashree Tribal Enterprises and Innovation Centre), Jan Gatsa will also be carried out. Kudumbashree will also carry out special activities in the indigenous sector this financial year as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the formation of the Scheduled Tribes Development Department.

45 people including Assistant District Mission Co-ordinators in charge of Social Inclusion Section, District Programme Managers, District Animator Co-ordinators, Special Project Co-ordinators and Assistant Co-ordinators also participated in the workshop. Dr. B. Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree,  Prabhakaran Melath, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree, Daniel Libni, State Assistant Programme Manager, and Preetha. G, State Assistant Programme Manager led the workshop.

As part of the efforts to make paper pens, bags, files and handicrafts prepared by trainees at Kudumbashree BUDS Institutions available across the country, Kudumbashree and Amigosia Private Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. In the BUDS Institutions run by Kudumbashree in collaboration with local self-government institutions for those facing intellectual challenges, trainees prepare a number of products such as paper pens, bags, files and handicrafts.

Kudumbashree aims to find new markets for BUDS Products, ensure income for trainees and achieve financial self-reliance. Amigosia will carry out activities including branding and marketing to make BUDS Products available online and offline across the country. In the first phase, the products prepared by BUDS trainees will be made available on the Kudumbashree Pocket Mart Mobile Application. Currently, the products of BUDS Institutions are mainly sold through marketing fairs and training programmes.

As per the MoU, Amigosia Private Limited will purchase the products produced by BUDS Students in bulk and later make them available across the country through various marketing channels. H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree and Arun N, Director, Amigosia Private Limited signed the MoU in the presence of M.B. Rajesh, Minister for Local Self-Government, Excise and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala on 17 June 2025. Dr. B. Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Naveen C, Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Dineshan Cheruvath, Panchayat Director (Rural), Ranjini S, Assistant Manager, Amigosia Private Limited, Arun P. Rajan, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree and Jishnu Gopan, State Assistant Programme Manager, Kudumbashree also attended the ceremony organized at the Minister's Chamber.

Kudumbashree celebrated World Milk Day on 1 June 2025 with various programmes like awareness classes, honoring dairy farmers, competitions, and preparation of various dairy products. The programmes were organized  at the district, CDS, and block levels under the leadership of the Kudumbashree Animal Welfare Department from 1 to 9 June 2025.

The idea of this year's World Milk Day was to celebrate the power of milk together. The objectives of the Milk Day celebration were to promote milk consumption, create awareness about the nutritional benefits of milk among children, adolescent girls, elderly people, and members of the community who face nutritional challenges, honor dairy farmers, and promote dairy production units.

A very different activity was the one in which the Community Resource Persons of the Animal Husbandry Department of the respective CDSs purchased milk from Kudumbashree dairy farmers and prepared and distributed milk and milk porridge to the Buds Institution trainees in connection with the BUDS Institutional Entrance Ceremony organized on 2 June 2025.

Awareness classes for dairy farmers led by veterinarians, free distribution of fodder for cattle and sheep, felicitation of best dairy farmers, drawing competitions on the theme of 'Milk Day' for Kudumbashree Balasabha members, quiz competitions, exhibition and marketing of value-added products, farm visits, distribution of milk in Anganwadis, and awareness classes on the importance of milk for Kudumbashree members were organized at the CDS level. These programmes were organized by involving local people's representatives, CDS members, Pashu Sakhis, veterinarians and other concerned department heads.

Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission organized a district-level Milk Day celebration in collaboration with the Dairy Department. Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission organized a district-level dairy farmers' meeting and seminar on 4 June 2025. Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission, in collaboration with Milma, organized an exposure visit for Community Resource Persons to the  Milma Dairy Unit at Kanhangad, Kasaragod. Awareness classes were also given to them. Kudumbashree Palakkad District Mission organized a Milk Festival programme in collaboration with various departments. An awareness session for farmers, machinery expo, and felicitation of dairy farmers were held as part of this. Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission organized a seminar on the topic of 'Value-Added Products from Milk'. Kudumbashree Wayanad District Mission organized special seminars and quiz competitions.

Pepper, known as the black gold, is the king of spices. To solve the rising price of pepper, which is widely used for cooking and health care, the Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission has launched a unique project. Through this project, 'One Pepper Seedling in Every House', it will be ensured that at least one pepper plant is cultivated in the kitchen gardens of the NHGs in the district.

The project was launched on the occasion of World Environment Day, on 5 June 2025. Until 5 July 2025, pepper seedlings will be distributed to the NHGs in all 81 CDSs in the district through NHGs, collective farming groups and IFC (Integrated Farming Cluster). Hybrid pepper seedlings from Kudumbashree organic nurseries in the district are being distributed. In the first phase, about three lakh saplings will be distributed and planted in the homes of the NHG members.

The project was inaugurated by T. Sulaja,  President, Kadannappally-Panapuzha Panchayat at the Paravur Kundayad Anganwadi on 5 June 2025. M.V. Jayan, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission, K. Mohanan, Vice President, Kadannappally-Panapuzha Panchayat, K.G. Bindu, CDS Chairperson, T.V. Sudhakaran, Chairman, Welfare Affairs Standing Committee, N. Karthiyani, Chairperson, Health and Education Standing Committee, M.V. Pavithran, Member Secretary and P.V. Swapna, Block Co-ordinator were present at the function. Saiju Padmanabhan, District Programme Manager, Kudumbashree explained the project.

A two-day awareness training was organized for the District Programme Managers & Field Level Officers working as part of the Kudumbashree Animal Husbandry on various schemes implemented in the Animal Husbandry sector by Government Departments concluded on 12 June 2025. The aim is to increase income and create more employment opportunities for the NHGs who earn their livelihood through the Animal Husbandry sector by participating in this training programme and gaining knowledge about various government schemes.

As part of the various animal welfare programmes of Kudumbashree, NHGs are currently involved in diverse activities such as cattle rearing, fish farming, and value-added product manufacturing. 86 people participated in the awareness training provided on various projects implemented by the Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Departments, and the possibilities of integration with the Scheduled Tribes Development Department, Industries Department, Lead Bank, Suchithwa Mission and Employment Guarantee Mission.

Dr. Manu Raveendran, Veterinary Surgeon, Koshy K. Alex, Director (Planning), Dairy Development Department, Biju, Dairy Development Officer, Pathanapuram Block, Shibana, Senior Dairy Extension Officer, Sreetha, Dairy Extension Officer (Training), Nibin, Fisheries Extension Officer, Raviraj, Joint Director, Employment Guarantee Mission, Arun Joy, Technical Consultant, Suchithwa Mission, Jaya Mohan,  Lead Bank Manager, Shinu S.S, Senior Superintendent, Scheduled Tribes Development Department, Dr. Rajesh, Industrial Development Officer conducted the classes. Dr. Vandana Sasidharan, Kudumbashree State Programme Manager and Shani Nassar, State Assistant Program Manager led the training programme.

Applications are invited from suitable Government/Government Institutions to provide comprehensive capacity development training to community councilors of all districts as per the module proposed by Kudumbashree State Mission. Agencies with more than 5 years work experience in the relevant field can apply along with a detailed proposal.

Three days Residential Training is to be provided to 450 community councilors working across the state in 8 batches in different districts. The agency should arrange the training module and should conduct the training at a centre convenient to the trainees within the state limits as per the instructions of Kudumbashree. 

The application along with a detailed proposal (including cost estimate) should be sent online to the email ID kudumbashree1@gmail.com. The selection process will be completed by adopting appropriate methods including presentation of shortlisted agencies after the preliminary screening by an expert panel appointed by Kudumbashree. The last date of receiving the applications is 16 June 2025. For more information, visit the Kudumbashree website www.kudumbashree.org/eoi-cc.

Kudumbashree's video on Micro Entrepreneurship Programmes is included in the syllabus of Calicut University. The english video on Micro Entrepreneurship Programmes is included in the syllabus of the Multi-Disciplinary Course (MDC)-Commerce and Management of the General Foundation Course of Calicut University- Four-year Undergraduate Programme (CU-FYUGP).

The video is included in the Module 2- 'Vistas of Kerala Entrepreneurship' where the various facets of Kerala's commercial development, economic development, various development projects etc. are discussed, aiding the learners to understand the domain of business from socio- cultural perspectives. Three hours is given in the syllabus for discussing the video.

The video published in the official YouTube Channel of Kudumbashree during November 2022 explains in detail about the micro enterprises programme of Kudumbashree and how it helps the Kudumbashree women achieve economic empowerment. The video also explains the specialized strategy to analyze the need for micro enterprises for the economic empowerment of Kudumbashree NHG women and their families. The on-demand support provided to them including training, financial assistance and other support are well explained in the video. The video also explains about the various funds given to the NHG members, insurance scheme, Nutrimix, Micro Enterprise Consultants, Janakeeya Hotels, Haritha Karma Sena etc. The video also explains how such micro enterprise activities would act as an income generating source for the NHG members and will benefit the respective local self-government institutions as it paves way for the Local Economic Development. Videos on various programmes of Kudumbashree are also included in the official YouTube Channel.

By including this video in the syllabus of the Calicut University the students will get to know how Kudumbashree is making steady yet significant impact through micro enterprise development.

The tree planting activities as part of the Women for Trees - Green City campaign organized by Kudumbashree in all 93 municipalities of Kerala began on 5 June 2025, World Environment Day. This activity was organized in all 30 municipalities. People's representatives led the activities. As part of the campaign, NHGs in urban areas will plant shade trees and fruit trees until August 2025.

As the first phase of the campaign, survey activities were also organized from 21 to 23 May 2025 to find places for tree planting. This campaign is being organized in the state as part of the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) implemented in Kerala through Kudumbashree. The campaign, planned by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and organized across the country in collaboration with the Amrut Mission, aims to promote urban greening and cleanliness through women.

Saplings are mainly planted near parks and water bodies and on roadsides. The seedlings required for this are available from the Department of Agriculture, Kudumbashree's plant nurseries and local marketing centres.

The selection phase of the 'Smartshree' Incubator Project, which aims to take Kudumbashree enterprises with growth potential to the next level, expand them and create models for other entrepreneurs to emulate, has been completed. 150 Enterprises from across the state have been selected for the project. The duration of this project, implemented by the Union Ministry of Rural Development through Kudumbashree, is three years. Kudumbashree aims to take these enterprises to the next level within the next year and a half.

The incubator support is given to the enterprises in the manufacturing and service sectors that are facing difficulties in succeeding in the market for various reasons. As part of the project, Kudumbashree had entered into an agreement with IIMK-LIVE (Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode - Laboratory for Innovation, Venturing and Entrepreneurship) to act as an incubator providing all kinds of support to the enterprises. Accordingly, 150 enterprises have now been selected for the 'Smartshree' project through a selection process jointly conducted by Kudumbashree and IIMK-LIVE. These include enterprises from various sectors such as food sector, apparel, curry powder production, cleaning & hygiene, and handicrafts.

The project aims to provide support to build a better environment for enterprises, engage with larger markets, achieve economic sustainability, create local employment opportunities and create models for expansion opportunities.

Aneesh Kumar M.S and Suchitra S,  State Programme Managers, Kudumbashree represented Kudumbashree as jury members for the selection process conducted at IIMK. Prof. Deva Prasad (IIMK) Prof. Ashok Thomas (IIMK) Lijo P. Jose (Senior General Manager IIMK -LIVE) Muhammad Niyas T (MSME Expert) and Abhijith (MSME Expert) were the other jury members.

Kudumbashree has come up with 'Onakani' to help Keralites prepare Onam Feast with non-toxic vegetables and fruits this coming Onam. The state-level inauguration of the project was performed by M.B. Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala at Maruthoorkonam ward in Kottukal Panchayat, Thiruvananthapuram on 4 June 2025. 

As part of the Onakani project, Kudumbashree Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) will cultivate 25,680 acres of land this year. The required hybrid vegetable seedlings with high productivity will be prepared through Kudumbashree Organic Plant Nurseries. Each CDS has been allocated a maximum of Rs. 25,000 as a Revolving Fund for the implementation of the project. Farmers will also be provided with technical training. With the slogan 'Onam with Kudumbashree', this time Kudumbashree aims to prepare and make available to the people an Onam kit including pickles, chips, payasam mix and curry powder in addition to all the vegetables required to prepare the meal.

Adv. D. Suresh Kumar,  President, District Panchayat presided over the function and Dr. S. Shanavas, Program Officer, Kudumbashree explained the project. Vimala. K, President, Kottukal CDS  presented the products to the Minister. Adv. Vinod Kottukal, Member, District Panchayat, L. Rani, President, Athiyannoor Block Panchayat, Vishnu Prashanth, President, Block Panchayat Standing Committee, Athiyannoor Block, M.V. Manmohan, Member, Athiyannoor Block Panchayat, Geetha. S, Vice President, Kottukal Grama Panchayat,  B. Sulochana, President, Grama Panchayat Standing Committee, Kottukal Grama Panchayath,  Beena V.T, Praveen, Geetha. G, Ambili A.S, Girija. T, Suresh, Members, Kottukal Grama Panchayat and Anil Kumar R, Assistant Secretary, Kottukal Grama Panchayat spoke at the function. Chandralekha. K, President, Kottukal Grama Panchayat welcomed the gathering and Ramesh. G, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram District Mission delivered the vote of thanks.