Kudumbashree entrepreneurs achieved a turnover of Rs. 51,36,150 at the Aajeevika SARAS Mela in Noida. Kudumbashree entrepreneurs from six districts participated in the SARAS Mela organized by the Union Ministry of Rural Development at Sector 33 Noida Haat in which product marketing stalls and food courts were set up from 20 February 2025 to 10 March 2025. Shreyas unit from Kozhikode district also won second place in the food category of product marketing stalls.

A total of eight product marketing stalls were set up by Kudumbashree in the fair. Apart from Shreyas unit, Megha, Aishwarya (Ernakulam), Sree Chamundeshwari, Thanmaya (Palakkad), Sneha (Malappuram), Mayooram (Thrissur), and Sree Krishna (Alappuzha) also brought various products for sale.

Kudumbashree National Resource Organization (NRO) was in charge of coordinating the India Food Court. Two units, Ruchikoottu (Malappuram) and Lakshya (Ernakulam), prepared various dishes such as biryani, paratha, snacks, dosa, and juice at the India Food Court.

The awards for the winners of the Photography, Short Story and Essay Writing Competitions organized under the auspices of Kudumbashree were distributed. M.B. Rajesh, Minister for Local Self Governments, Rural Development, Town Planning, Regional Development Authorities, Excise, KILA and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Kerala distributed the awards to the winners of the competitions during the function held at Mascot Hotel, Thiruvananthapuram on 18 March 2025. Ms. Geetha Nazeer, Governing Body Member, Kudumbashree presided over the function. Adv Smitha Sundareshan, President, Block Panchayath and Kudumbashree Governing Body Member was the Chief Guest of the function.

In the Photography General Category, M.J. Ratheesh Kumar (First Place), Aravindan Manali (Second Place), K.A. Abdul Khader (Third Place), Arun Jyoti Rishikesh, Alfred M.K. and A. Prasad (Consolation Prizes) received the awards. In the NHG/Auxiliary Group Category, Anusha Mohan (First Place), Jasna Palakkal (Second Place), Jemini Benny (Third Place), Jishana K, Fathimath Zowra and Remeena T.K (Consolation Prizes) also received awards. The winners of the first, second and third places in both categories were given a cash award of Rs. 25,000, Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively and the consolation prize winners were given a cash award of Rs. 2,000 each.

In the Sargam Story Writing Competition, Sheeba K (First Place), Muhseena M.A (Second Place), Rasheeda. P, Arsha Unni B (Third Place), Santhakumari P.K, Nirmala Balakrishnan and Vidya Sudheer (Consolation Prizes) were awarded. The winners received cash awards of Rs. 20,000, Rs. 15,000, Rs. 5000 and Rs. 2500 respectively.

In essay writing, Abhiram Pavithran O (First Place), Alan Antony (Second Place), Al Ameen J (Third Place) and Amit Jyothi U.P (Consolation Prize) were also awarded. The winners were given cash awards of Rs. 20,000, Rs. 15,000, Rs. 5000 and Rs. 2500 respectively. All the winners were given cash awards along with mementos and certificates.

G. Binulal, R. Parvathy Devi, Rosemary and K.A. Beena, representing the jury members of all three categories, expressed their views on the competitions. H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree  welcomed the gathering and Dr. Anchal Krishnakumar, Public Relations Officer, Kudumbashree delivered the vote of thanks.

As part of the Jeevandeepam Oruma Group Insurance Scheme for Kudumbashree NHG Members, Kudumbashree, Kerala State Insurance Department and Life Insurance Corporation of India signed a MoU for the period 2025-26 at Kudumbashree State Mission Office, Thiruvananthapuram on 17 March 2025. H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director on behalf of Kudumbashree, Bushara S. Deepa, Joint Director on behalf of Kerala State Insurance Department, and S. Raj Kumar, Divisional Manager, Pension and Group Schemes, on behalf of LIC signed the MoU.

Naveen C, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Abdul Basheer. K, State Program Manager, Neetu L. Prakash, State Assistant Programme Manager, Helen Alex, Branch Manager, Pension and Group Schemes Section, LIC and Sudheer  P. A., Assistant Director, Kerala State Insurance Department were also present at the function.

The Reception Committee of the National SARAS Mela proposed to be held in April 2025 under the leadership of Kudumbashree was inaugurated. P.A. Muhammed Riyas, Minister for Public Works and Tourism, Government of Kerala inaugurated the Reception Committee Office at Beach Port Bungalow, Kozhikode. The fair will be held from 19 April 2025 to 1 May 2025 at Kozhikode Beach.

Ahmed Devarkovil, MLA presided over the inauguration ceremony. Adv. K.M. Sachin Dev MLA, C.P. Muzaffar Ahmed, Deputy Mayor, Kozhikode Corporation, N. Padmini, President, Edachery Panchayat and Harshil R. Meena IAS, Sub Collector delivered their felicitations. Kavitha P.C, District Mission Co-ordinator. Kudumbashree Kozhikode District Mission welcomed the gathering and Bindu Jayson, Chairperson, Azhiyoor CDS delivered the vote of thanks.

This is the 12th time that Kudumbashree is organizing the National SARAS Mela. The fair will feature market stalls offering a variety of products from rural entrepreneurs across India, a food court serving delicacies from various states, and cultural programmes taking place every day.

The State-Level Inauguration of Kudumbashree Snehitha Extension Centres at DySP/ACP Offices in the state was held. M.B. Rajesh, Minister for Local Self Governments, Rural Development, Town Planning, Regional Development Authorities, Excise, KILA and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Kerala at the DySP Office of Palakkad Town South Police Station on 15 March 2025. Through this project, which is being implemented in collaboration with the Home Department, Kudumbashree Community Counselors will be assigned to ensure psychological support to those who need urgent psychological support and welfare at the police stations under the jurisdiction of the DySP/ACP offices for various purposes.

The Extension Centre will function for two days a week. The centre will have a women-child friendly counseling room, toilet facilities, and drinking water. There will also be toys for children. Rehabilitation will be provided in necessary cases using the Kudumbashree system or the necessary government systems. The police will ensure necessary support for the counselors, activities and field level activities at the centre.

K. Binumol, President, District Panchayat, Palakkad presided over the State-Level Inauguration Ceremony. K.K. Chandradas, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree presented the report. Ajith Kumar IPS, District Police Chief, Palakkad and Rajesh Kumar IPS, Assistant Superintendent of Police were the Special Guests of the function. Prameela Sasidharan, Chairperson, Palakkad Municipality, P.C. Haridasan, Additional Superintendent of Police, P.D. Reetha, Chairperson, Palakkad South Kudumbashree CDS, K. Sulochana, Chairperson, Palakkad North Kudumbashree CDS, Subash, Member, Palakkad District Panchayat and Shailaja, Ward Councilor extended their greetings. A. Adam Khan, Inspector of Police of Town South Police Station welcomed the gathering and Anuradha, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Palakkad District Mission delivered the vote of thanks.

With the aim of producing quality, non-toxic watermelons to provide relief to the public this summer, Kudumbashree has begun harvesting watermelons produced as part of the 'Venal Madhuram' watermelon farming campaign launched during December 2024. Kudumbashree's Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) in 14 districts are cultivating watermelons on 758 acres. Most of this has already begun harvesting. A total of 4272 NHGs in 1024 JLGs in 501 CDSs are involved in 'Venal Madhuram' Watermelon Cultivation.

The Watermelon Cultivation Campaign, which is being conducted as part of the Kudumbashree Farm Livelihood Project, aimed to promote watermelon cultivation locally, increase the income of NHG members, and bring more NHG members into the agricultural sector.

Various varieties such as Sugar Baby, Pakeesa, Sugar Queen, Jubilee King, Yellow Munch, and Orange Delight were cultivated as part of the campaign. Kudumbashree had made available a maximum of Rs. 25,000 as a Revolving Fund through CDS for selected existing group farming groups and four new groups to prepare land and purchase planting materials for watermelon cultivation on at least one acre.

The winners of 'Sargam'-Season 3, the State Level Story Writing Competition organized for Kudumbashree NHG Members and Auxiliary Group Members has been announced. Sheeba K, native of  Alappadambu, Kankole, Kannur bagged the First Prize for the story-'Thalekkuthal'. Sheeba will receive Rs. 20,000, a memento and a certificate as a prize. Muhsina M.M, from Chathamangalam of Kozhikode bagged the Second Prize for the story- 'Eeyamppoocha'. Rs.15,000 will be awarded as a cash award. Rasheeda P, a native of Edavanna of Malappuram district, who wrote the story 'Ardhanareeswaran', and Arsha Unni B, a native of Chemmaruthi in Thiruvananthapuram, who wrote the story 'Banaras', shared the third place. Both will receive a certificate and memento and cash award of Rs. 5000 each.

Consolation prizes will be awarded to Santhakumari P.K, a native of Ezhukon of Kollam, Nirmala Balakrishnan, a native of Vellathooval in Idukki, and Vidya Sudheer, a native of Kuttiyattur of Kannur. They will receive a cash award of Rs. 2500 each. All the winners will receive a memento and a certificate.

A total of 550 entries were received in the competition organized for Kudumbashree NHG- Auxiliary Group members from 28 November 2024 to 24 December 2024. After the preliminary screening by the Malayalam faculty of the Karyavattom campus of Kerala University, the winners were selected by a committee comprising Dr. George Onakkoor, K.A. Beena and Rosemary.

G. Priyanka IAS, District Collector, Palakkad inaugurated various programmes as part of Attappady Tribal Comprehensive Development Project in Attappady at VCFS Conference Hall, Anakatti on 6 March 2025. The Collector inaugurated the distribution of furniture provided by the College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram to Kudumbashree Bridge Course Centres, study materials for trainees at the 'Eth Kanav' PSC Training Centre jointly run by Kudumbashree and Janamaithri Excise, and the Kudumbashree Jeevandeepam Oruma Insurance Fund.

The Collector honored the children who participated in the International Children's Summit on Zero Waste Management and the entrepreneurs of 'Kattuchembakam Cafe', which was selected as the second best stall at the National Saras Mela organized in Alappuzha, on behalf of Kudumbashree.

Maruthi Murugan, Member, Kudumbashree Governing Body and President, Attappady Block Panchayath presided over the function. B.S. Manoj, Assistant Project Officer, Kudumbashree explained the project. P. Ramamurthy, President, Sholayur Panchayat, CI Mahesh Kumar, Janamaithri Excise, S. Ravikumar, Preventive Officer, Excise, Selina, President, Kudumbashree Panchayat Samiti, Saraswathi, Anitha and Shanthi, Secretary delivered their felicitations. Jomon K.J. and P.V. Sreelekha, Kudumbashree Project Co-ordinators welcomed the gathering and delivered the vote of thanks respectively.

The official inauguration of the Cafe Kudumbashree kiosk at India Gate in New Delhi was performed by M.B Rajesh, Minister for Local Self Governments, Rural Development, Town Planning, Regional Development Authorities, Excise, KILA and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Kerala on 12 March 2025. The Minister enjoyed dishes including local food and fish curry. The Minister was accompanied by Prof. K.V. Thomas, Special Representative of the State Government in New Delhi, T.V. Anupama, IAS, Special Secretary, Local Self-Government Department, Government of Kerala and others. 

Cafe Kudumbashree has been operating successfully here on a trial run basis for the past one and a half months. Currently, the cafe is run by Seena Manoj, Sreeja, Anuprakash, Lisi Paulose and Usha Kumari from Tamburu, a Kudumbashree unit in Wayanad district. Kudumbashree units from each district run the cafe every month. All kinds of dishes like puttu, idly, dosa, kappa and fish curry are available here. 

T.S. Jithin, a native of Kottayam district is the head chef. K. P Ajayakumar, the Chief Executive Officer of  AIFRHM (Adebha Institute of Food Research and Hospitality Management), Kudumbashree's training group is supervising the functioning of Cafe Kudumbashree Kiosk.

Sajina, Nusrat, Prashanthini, Maimuna and Shahida, members of Souparnika Kudumbashree Unit in Kozhikode district, are thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the diverse flavors of Kerala at the ‘Vividhta Ka Amrit Mahotsav' organized at the Amrit Udyan of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi. The fair, organized from 1 to 9 March 2025, was attended by South Indian states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Union Territories like Puducherry and Lakshadweep. Kudumbashree got the opportunity because Kudumbashree got the food stall allotted to Kerala.

Although they have participated in many food fairs, including International Trade Fairs organized in Delhi, this is their first time participating in the fair organized in the garden of Rashtrapati Bhavan. They were initially nervous when they got selected, but later flew to Delhi with confidence. From the beginning of the fair, they captivated the visitors with their food dishes full of Travancore, Cochin and Malabar flavors. Various types of biryanis made of fish and meat, chicken dishes, snacks, kappa, fish curry and mini sadya were the main attractions.

It was an honor to have governors, public representatives and high officials from various states visit the food stall. The food stall earned a revenue of around Rs 5 lakhs through nine days of sales. The food stall was run under the supervision of Shaiju. R.S
State Assistant Programme Manager, Ajayakumar, Dayan and Rijesh, the leaders of AIFRHM, Kudumbashree Yuvashree Initiative.