Today is 30 July 2025. Exactly one year ago today, Kerala woke up to heartbreaking news. Many people from Mundakai in Meppadi, Wayanad district, disappeared from this earth without seeing the sunrise that day. The landslide disaster claimed 298 human lives that day. Since then, the State Government has been moving forward with activities to wipe the tears of  the families directly and indirectly affected by this disaster. Kudumbashree has also been providing support to these efforts in every possible way. Kudumbashree's main interventions in Mundakai include preparing micro plans for the survival of Mundakai, livelihood support, providing skill training, providing loans, collaborating with various departments, and counseling services.

A Revolving Fund of Rs. 15,000 was provided to 28 NHGs, and Rs. 1.5 lakhs was provided to Attamala, Mundakai, and Chooralmala wards as  Vulnerability Reduction Fund. Special Micro Plans were prepared for 1084 families directly and indirectly affected by the disaster, focusing on their needs. Kudumbashree carried out the Micro Plan preparation activities by including other departments as per the Government's instructions. The Micro Plans were prepared under the leadership of Kudumbashree through focus group discussions in 49 clusters. The needs related to health, food - nutrition, education, livelihood, skill development - employment, and livelihood loan interventions were considered in the Micro Plan in the subsequent interventions.

Kudumbashree has received Rs. 3.61 crores from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund to provide livelihood support to 357 families in the form of startup funds and credit linked subsidies. In addition, discussions have been held with SLBC regarding the implementation of a new interest-free loan scheme for disaster victims. Kudumbashree is vigorously advancing its efforts to help the victims of the Mundakai disaster to survive in every way, in collaboration with the Government.

'Onnayi Nammal', a meeting of the CDS Chairpersons from seven districts namely Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur was organized in Kozhikode on 28 July 2025. M.B. Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala  who inaugurated the meeting, also released the progress report of the CDSs. In collaboration with the Vigyan Kerala Project, three lakh people will be provided employment within the next one year. Currently, the employment participation of women is twenty percent, and by increasing this to fifty percent, revolutionary changes can be created in the family and society, the Minister said. The Minister also said that the strength gained through unity is the capital of Kudumbashree and that Kudumbashree has become an organization that can be entrusted with any mission with confidence. He also congratulated the CDS Chairpersons who are leading the way in achieving proud achievements by implementing project activities in a good manner.

Kudumbashree, which was formed a quarter of a century ago and has achieved the goal of poverty eradication, should incorporate new goals in its activities in line with the times, said A.K. Saseendran, Minister of Forests and Wildlife, Government of Kerala, who presided over the function. The needs of every woman in the society should emerge from the NHG, ADS and CDS levels, said T.V. Anupama, IAS, Special Secretary, Local Self-Government Department, Government of Kerala in her keynote address.

The progress report describes the activities and achievements of the Kudumbashree CDSs in the last four years. The content of the progress report is the activities and achievements of the current CDS Chairpersons in the areas of livelihood and social development and centrally sponsored schemes since they took office in 2022. The aim of the gathering is to provide an opportunity for other CDSs to understand and implement the exemplary activities carried out in each CDS.

H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering at the inaugural session. Sheeja Sasi, President, District Panchayat, K.T. Prameela, President, Talakkulathur Grama Panchayat, P. Surendran Master, Chairman, Welfare Standing Committee, District Panchayat, K.P. Sunil Kumar, President, Chelannoor Block Panchayat, K.K. Lathika, Executive Member,  Kudumbashree Governing Body, Shyam Kumar K. U, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Reeshma P. K, Chairperson, Talakkulathur Grama Panchayat CDS and  Bijith Rajagopal, Regional Manager, State Bank of India extended their greetings. Chandramathi Amma, K.P. Shyamala, Soumini CP, Ramani MP, R.P. Valsala, Sulochana, Yamuna Raveendran, CDS Chairpersons attended the function. Kavitha P. C, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission proposed the vote of thanks. After the inaugural programme, presentations by districts were organized from 11.30 MA to 3.30 PM and an open forum was organized from 4.30 PM to 5.30 PM.

The details of Kudumbashree's Pocket Mart Application has been published in 'Dainik Bhaskar', the country's most popular leading Hindi daily. The content of the news is the information regarding the Pocket Mart Mobile Application designed to bring more than a thousand products produced by Kudumbashree entrepreneurs to the online trading arena and the marketing through it.

Dainik Bhaskar is a daily newspaper based in Madhya Pradesh. The newspaper has a circulation of about 35 lakhs. It is also ranked fourth in the world in terms of circulation. The news made its way to Dainik Bhaskar at a time when Kudumbashree's various model project activities, including becoming active in the online trading arena, are progressing and attracting the attention of leading national media in the country. The latest initiative of Kudumbashree, which works towards women empowerment and poverty eradication, is the development of the Pocket Mart Mobile Application and entry into the online trading arena. The news about this getting a place in Dainik Bhaskar will help Kudumbashree's activities gain global publicity.

The first batch training of the two-day training workshop organized for the selected 150 Balasabha Children as part of the Liora Fest was held at Thanneermukkam, Alappuzha. The Udyam Learning Foundation had awarded the Monsoon Fellowship to 150 people who were selected for the state level from among the Balasabha members who were part of the summer camp organized during the recent summer vacation. 75 Balasabha members from Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam, Palakkad and Alappuzha districts participated in the workshop. As part of the study camp, these children discussed many topics ranging from how to turn children's talents into income, what can be done against drugs, and what food habits should be adopted for health protection.

Kudumbashree aimed to develop scientific awareness and personality development skills among the Balasabha members through the Liora Fest Summer Camp. 10 children who participated and performed well in the camp held during the recent vacation were selected from each district and from Attappady Special Project, making a total of 150 children. They are trained by Mentors during the vacations for a year. In addition to the study camps, discussions, seminars, art programmes, investigative projects and cultural gatherings will also be organized. As part of these activities, the children who present the best ideas will also get the opportunity to present their ideas at the International Innovation Conclave proposed to be organized in January 2026. The training camp for children in the remaining districts will be organized on 9-10 August 2025.

Dr. B. Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Ranjith, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Alappuzha District Mission, Arun P. Rajan, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree, Tony Jose, Senior Manager,  Udyam Learning Foundation, Dr. P. Satyanesan, Member, State Textbook Committee and  Swathi Krishnan, State Assistant Programme Manager, Kudumbashree led the first batch workshop.

The winners of the second season of the Vlogs and Reels Competition Season 2 organized by Kudumbashree have been announced. In the Vlogs competition, Ratheesh. T, Charuvilayil, Aakkaparambu, Malappuram won the first place and in the Reels competition, Jyotsna Viji from Kurumali House, Velur, Thrissur won the first place.

In the Vlogs Category, Rathyush. R (Vijayalakshmi Nilayam, Vilayannur, Palakkad) and Soumya M.T.K (Malaparambath, Vadakara, Kozhikode) won the second and third places respectively. In the Reels Category, Harifa Haider (Pullurshangattil, Puthanangadi, Malappuram) and Beena Rajan (Kaipattoor ADS, Edakkattuvayal CDS, Ernakulam) won the second and third places respectively.

In the vlogs competition, the first place winner will receive a cash award of Rs. 50,000, the second place winner will receive Rs. 40,000, and the third place winner will receive Rs. 30,000. In the Reels Competition, the first place winner will receive a cash award of Rs. 25,000, the second place winner will receive Rs. 20,000, and the third place winner will receive Rs. 15,000. In addition, all the winners will receive a trophy and a certificate as prizes. The competition, held in January and February 2025, received more than 50 entries.

Kudumbashree's Special Project 'Samunnathi' aimed at the comprehensive development of Scheduled Caste communities is in Thrithala in Palakkad district. The preliminary consultation meeting of the project, which was held at Nagalassery Co-operative Bank Hall, was inaugurated by M.B. Rajesh, Minister, Local Self-Government, Excise and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala.

The project is currently being implemented in Kuzhalmandam block in Palakkad through Kudumbashree in the state. Through this project, which is being implemented in collaboration with various departments, all Scheduled Caste families are brought under the Kudumbashree system and various livelihood and employment activities that are possible locally are implemented and various social and women empowerment interventions are carried out. The Minister directed that activities that ensure equality for the marginalized groups through Samunnathi should be implemented through Kudumbashree. The meeting directed to appoint Mentors and Resource Persons to identify and resolve the problems of the Scheduled Castes and to give priority to income-generating activities for the youth.

T. Suhara, President, Thirumittakode Grama Panchayat presided over the meeting. Nishad, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree and Prabhakaran, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree made presentations. V.V. Balachandran, P.K. Jaya, Vijesh Kuttan, Grama Panchayat Presidents and Kudumbashree CDS Chairpersons spoke at the function. N.Unnikrishnan, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering and Jjiin, District Programme Manager proposed the vote of thanks.

As part of highlighting the importance of health care during the month of Karkkidakam, Kudumbashree is organizing the 'Arogya Karkkidakam' Fest from 17 July 2025  to 16 August 2025 during the month of Karkkidakam. The fest is organized as part of the activities of the FNHW Project of National Rural Livelihood Mission implemented by Kudumbashree.

The fest will include organizing awareness classes on the topic of 'Health in Karkkidakam' at the NHGs, ADS, CDS levels and Kudumbashree State and District Mission offices, and distributing Karkkidaka kanji (medicinal porridge) and Pathila Thoran. In addition, marketing fairs featuring Karkkidaka Kanji Koot and other health food items will be organized in collaboration with Kudumbashree's Farm Livelihood and Non-Farm Livelihood sections.

An Awareness Workshop on the topic of 'Arogya Karkkidakam' was inaugurated by H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree at the Kudumbashree State Mission Office on 17 July 2025 (1st of Karkkidakam, Malayalam Year).  As part of understanding the importance of health care during the month of Karkkidakam, Dr. Anupa Sivapal, Associate Professor and Head of the Department, Maria Ayurveda Medical College & Hospital, Marthandam led the class and spoke about health routines, diet, and the nutritional values of grains, pulses and leafy vegetables. 'Arogya Karkkidakam' activities were organized in various District Mission offices and CDSs as well.

The 'Jana Galsa' Project aims to give new life to the existing and dying traditional arts in the local area and to provide better employment and income to the local people through these tribal art forms through the formation of enterprises. As the first step of the 'Jana Galsa' Project, which means celebration of the people, Kudumbashree will prepare a comprehensive directory including artists and tribal art forms in the local area of the state. For this, a survey will be conducted in the Scheduled Tribes area.

Enterprises and a State-Level Consortium will be formed as part of the project, including all the local artists under the special projects implemented by Kudumbashree in the local area. Apart from conducting various awareness activities including those of the State Government, opportunities will be provided to these artists in collaboration with institutions like Folklore Academy, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy, KIRTADS. This will provide them with more livelihood opportunities. Kudumbashree will also make efforts to make tribal art forms, culture, rituals and unique food a part of the curriculum in collaboration with the Education Department in connection with this project.

A two-day workshop was organized in Thiruvananthapuram to prepare guidelines related to the 'Jana Galsa' Project and to formulate an action plan. Dr. B. Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Dr. Pramod Payyanur, Secretary, Bharat Bhavan, V.V. Lavlin, Programme Officer, Kerala Folklore Academy, K.M. Bharathan, Registrar in Charge, Malayalam University, Satheesh Kumar. K, Research Associate, SCERT, Neena V, Lecturer, KIRTADS, Chandrajith, Social Media Expert, Bharat Bhavan, Dr. M. Shaheed Ali, Senior Lecturer, District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Palakkad, Dr. A. Muhammed Kabir, Prabhakaran. M. State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree, Sarika. S, State Assistant Programme Manager, Kudumbashree and Preetha G. Nair, State Assistant Programme Manager, Kudumbashree gave leadership to the programme. Kudumbashree District Programme Managers and selected artists from the local area participated in the workshop.

Kudumbashree Mission, the State Poverty Eradication Mission of Kerala which has became a strong presence in the social scenario of Kerala has launched the Season 7 of ‘Kudumbashree Oru Nerchithram’ Photography Competition. The competition aims at motivating the aspiring photographers and to propagate the activities of Kudumbashree Mission through photographs.  Pictures that depict various activities of Kudumbashree will be considered for the competition. The last date for sending the entries is 15 August 2025. There are separate prizes for the General category and the NHG / Auxiliary Group category.

The best photograph in the General Category will receive a cash award of Rs. 25,000. The second best photograph will receive a cash award of Rs.15,000 and the third photograph will receive Rs.10,000. In addition, five people will receive a consolation prize of Rs. 2,000 each. In the NHG / Auxiliary Group category, the best  photograph will receive a cash award of Rs. 25,000, the second  photograph will receive Rs.15,000 and the third  photograph will receive Rs.10,000 each. Five people will receive a consolation prize of Rs. 2,000 each. The full notification with detailed information can be found on the website link www.kudumbashree.org/photography2025.

One can take photographs based on Kudumbashree NHG meetings, various entrepreneurial activities and agricultural activities carried out by NHG members, Kudumbashree Balasabha, BUDS Institutions and other topics related to Kudumbashree.

Photos can be sent to the email address kudumbashreephotocontest@gmail.com. Photo prints or CDs or pen drives containing unwatermarked photos can be sent to the address 'Public Relations Officer, Kudumbashree State Mission Office, TRIDA Rehabilitation Building, Medical College (P.O), Thiruvananthapuram- 695011.  The entries should be transcribed as 'Kudumbashree Oru Nerchithram Photography Competition'.

The jury, composed of renowned photographers and officials of Kudumbashree Mission will select the winners. Good quality photographs portraying the strength of Kudumbashree, functioning focusing on women empowerment is considered for the ‘Kudumbashree Oru Nerchithram’ Photography Competition, which is being conducted from 2017 onwards. Kudumbashree Mission which envisions eradicating poverty through women in Kerala had successfully completed 27 revolutionary years.

The state-level inauguration of the Kudumbashree CDS Chairpersons' Gathering 'Onnayi Nammal' (We are one) was held in Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta on 14 July 2025. M.B.Rajesh, Minister for Local Self-Government, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the gathering. CDS Chairpersons from seven districts from Thiruvalla to Ernakulam participated in the meeting held at Thiruvalla. The Minister also released the CDS-level progress report at the event. These are the Progress Reports describing the activities carried out by the Kudumbashree CDSs in the last four years and the achievements achieved.

The Minister said that Kudumbashree has been able to elevate women to the leadership ranks of the socio-political and cultural spheres of Kerala through its activities over the past quarter of a century and that the Kudumbashree CDS Chairpersons should be able to realize the great goal of a New Kerala. 

Mathew T. Thomas MLA presided over the function. H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering. George Abraham, President, Pathanamthitta District Panchayat, Anu George, Chairperson, Thiruvalla Municipality, Jiji Mathew, Chairman, District Panchayat Welfare Standing Committee and Leju M. Zacharia,  Municipality Ward Councilor, Santosh Kumar, Deputy General Manager, ABU SBI, Syam Kumar K. U, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Usha Rajendran, Indira Bhai, Shanthakumari J, Kairali C, Leelamma V.S, Geetha Sadanandan, CDS Chairpersons also spoke at the function.  Adhila. S, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Pathanamthitta District Mission delivered the vote of thanks.  A special presentation led by the IBCB team of Kudumbashree State Mission on the future activities of Kudumbashree, a presentation of the topics of the districts, a presentation of selected best models, and an open forum were also organized in connection with the meeting. A meeting of CDS Chairpersons from Thrissur to Kasaragod districts will be organized in Kozhikode district by the end of July 2025.