Kudumbashree has led 3,321 NHGs towards self-sufficiency in the Scheduled Tribes sector in the state. This achievement is achieved by carrying out many activities that enable the NHGs to carry out all activities related to themselves and ensure their own livelihood. The aim is to empower the disadvantaged NHGs in this sector socially and economically by providing financial support and skill training to start livelihood initiatives, including in the agricultural-micro enterprise sector. The activities are carried out in collaboration with local self-government institutions.

Kudumbashree selected 50 percent backward and relatively weak NHGs in various CDSs in the Scheduled Tribes region to achieve self-sufficiency. As part of strengthening NHG activities, various financial supports such as Rs. 15,000 as Corpus Fund and Rs. 15,000 as Revolving Fund were provided to each NHG. In addition, training was provided to NHG members to prepare business plans for starting livelihood enterprises. In the last 9 years, 3,127 farmers groups have been formed in this region. 11,442 members have been provided assistance in livelihood activities related to animal husbandry. In addition, 1196 enterprises have been started. Special training has been provided to the members of selected NHGs under the leadership of Kudumbashree on accounting related to NHG activities, benefits provided by various departments, various livelihood schemes implemented through Kudumbashree, benefits available through Kudumbashree, job skills training and services.

Another achievement was that grading and auditing were conducted as part of improving the performance of NHGs. In addition, financial literacy including bank transactions, efficient use of funds, and availability of linkage loans were also provided to NHGs. The animators from this sector are also responsible for accurately evaluating all activities of the self-sufficient NHGs, including weekly investments, bank linkage loan repayments, and recording them in the Kudumbashree Management Information System.

The Micro Enterprise Development Scheme implemented in the state through Kudumbashree to support Kudumbashree members and enterprises working in the non-agricultural sector has been a success. The objective of the scheme was to form 2,000 enterprises in ten selected blocks within one and a half years. The scheme was completed by forming 2,273 enterprises, including 358 group enterprises and 1,915 individual enterprises, within the period. Through this, the project also helped 3,357 women find their own employment.

The Micro Enterprise Development Scheme was implemented as part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) implemented in the state through Kudumbashree. As part of this, ten Micro Enterprise Consultants were selected in each block for enterprise formation activities. Through them, women interested in starting enterprises in the self-employment sector were identified and various job skill training and financial support were provided. NRLM funds of Rs. 20 lakhs were also provided to each block selected for the project activities.

Kudumbashree entrepreneurs earned Rs. 104.35 crores by organizing National Saras Melas, one of the main platforms for marketing the products of Kudumbashree entrepreneurs, in Kerala for the last nine years. Out of this, Rs. 17.57 crores were earned from the most recent Saras Mela organized in Chengannur. A turnover of Rs. 22 crores have also been achieved by participating in Saras Melas organized in other states. Entrepreneurs earned a total of Rs. 126.35 crores through Saras Melas from Kerala and various states.

Kudumbashree aims to increase the income of Kudumbashree entrepreneurs by organizing local and national level marketing fairs, monthly markets, Onam, Vishu and Ramzan marketing fairs. As part of this, 10,815 monthly markets, 916 local district level trade fairs, 426 food fairs and 6,859 Onam marketing fairs were organized in the last nine years. Through this, a turnover of Rs. 185.86 crores were also obtained. In addition to traditional marketing methods, Kudumbashree is also implementing innovative marketing methods that suit the modern market. The aim is to increase the income of entrepreneurs. As part of this, Kudumbashree is also active in the online marketing sector such as Nano Markets, Marketing Kiosks, and Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, and ONDC.

Kudumbashree is in the animal husbandry sector with 401 Producer Groups to support farmers. The aim is to provide various support and incentives required for primary procurement and value addition of the products produced by farmers through producer groups. Producer groups will help farmers to store and market their produce through a public system and to collectively purchase feed, seeds, fertilizers, etc. required for farming at a profit. Collective activities will be carried out in the areas of market discovery, use of new technology and resources. This will help in improving livelihoods.

Currently, there are 3131 women farmers in 401 producer groups in the animal husbandry sector under Kudumbashree. These groups will mainly carry out activities that will provide better marketing for farmers' produce and thereby sustainable income. As part of this, members will be identified from CDS who will market their products on a self-employment basis, train them and link them to producer groups. Once marketing becomes efficient, productivity and income will increase.                              
   
As part of the procurement of products, Rs. 10,000 is provided as working capital to each producer group for the necessary funds to provide prices to farmers, marketing, rent, etc. As of now, Rs. 2.3 crores has been provided to 401 groups in this regard. Groups can be provided a maximum of Rs. 1 lakh as working capital according to their business plan. In addition, Rs. 1.5 lakhs will be provided for the development of infrastructure of producer groups. Rs. 1.7 crores has been made available to 401 groups in this regard. The project is being implemented through the National Rural Livelihood Mission Scheme.

20 people from the Koraga Scheduled Tribes in Kasaragod district are now happy that their dream has come true. Their wish to learn drone flying was fulfilled by the Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission. The drone flying training was organized in collaboration with ASAP Skill Park as part of the Koraga Special Project implemented in the district by Kudumbashree. This is the first time that Kudumbashree is organizing drone flying training in the indigenous area.

The 16-day training programme began on 19 April 2025. Kudumbashree is providing all the food and travel allowance for the trainees. Those who successfully complete the training will also be provided with support to get a job in this sector. The training programme was inaugurated by C.H.

Iqbal, District Mission Co-ordinator (i/c),  Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission. The programme was chaired by Kishore Kumar, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission. Sanal and Prajith, Co-ordinators, ASAP explained the project. Akhil, Co-ordinator, ASAP Skill Park Centre welcomed the participants and Yaduraj, Co-ordinator, Koraga Special Project  proposed the vote of thanks

With the aim of providing free vocational skill training and employment to the youth in rural areas, the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) scheme implemented in the state through Kudumbashree has so far provided employment to 45,341 youths. 621 people have also found employment abroad. Till date, 77,965 people have completed training through the scheme.
                    
The beneficiaries of the scheme are young men and women between the ages of 18-35 in rural areas. Currently, more than 100 attractive new generation courses are being conducted in 33 sectors. The free provision of study materials, uniforms and hostel facilities to those selected as beneficiaries of the scheme and the guaranteed employment are attracting many people to the scheme.

Through the DDU-GKY scheme, 932 beneficiaries of the 'Ashraya' scheme, who are members of poor families, were provided with job training and 457 were provided with jobs. In addition, 19,356 people belonging to the Scheduled Castes were provided with training and 9,544 people were provided with jobs. 4,947 people belonging to the Scheduled Tribes were trained and out of them 2,252 people were also provided with jobs.

Under the DDU-GKY scheme, skill training is being provided to the youth of the coastal region in courses related to the port sector. For this, the 'Sagarmala' Scheme is also being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Ports. Through this scheme, 269 people have completed the training and 159 people have got employment.

As part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission implemented in the state through Kudumbashree, Rural Self-Employment Training Institutes have been established in 14 districts in collaboration with leading banks. In the last 9 years, 92,823 beneficiaries and 61,842 people belonging to the BPL category in rural areas have been trained in 3,403 batches through the lead banks in charge of this. Self-employment training has been provided. Out of this, 78,832 people have been provided employment in the self-employment and wage-based employment sectors and 74,555 people have been provided employment in the self-employment sector alone.

In Kerala, many people have also been provided employment through the 'Unnathi' Scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development, which is jointly implemented by Kudumbashree and the Employment Guarantee Mission.

The Kudumbashree State Level Award Selection Workshop, which began on 21 April 2025 at KILA Headquarters, Mulangunnathukavu Thrissur, has concluded. Presentations of the contestants for the primary election were organized in front of the sub-committees formed on a topic basis until 24 April 2025. The final selection was held on 25 April 2025.

The final selection was conducted by a panel comprising P.K. Sainaba, Governing Body Member, Kudumbashree, T.V. Anupama IAS, Special Secretary, Local Self-Government Department, Government of Kerala, H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree and Syam Kumar K.U, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree. The awards will be distributed on Kudumbashree Day, 17 May 2025.

Awards will be given in a total of 17 categories. Awards will be given for Best NHG, ADS, Ooru Samithi, Enterprise Group, Entrepreneur, BUDS Institution, Gender Resource Centre, Auxiliary Group, Auxiliary Enterprise, Gender Help Desk, District that has conducted public relations activities, Best District Mission, as well as Best CDS (Convergence Activities, Unique Activities, Administration - Microfinance Activities), Best CDS (Agriculture Sector, Animal Husbandry), Best CDS (Social Development, Gender), Best CDS (Tribal Activities), Best CDS (Micro Enterprise, DDU-GKY, K-DISC).

A three-day state-level training for the trainers as part of the 'Mind Blowers Liora Fest' District-Level Summer Camps organized by Kudumbashree for Balasabha members, has begun at Animation Centre, Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram on 24 April 2025. Fifty people, including selected Balasabha Resource Persons from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Kozhikode districts and experts from various fields were trained. Trainers selected from the remaining districts will be provided training at the Community Development Centre in Ernakulam on the 28-30 April 2025.

In this regard, a special training module prepared under the leadership of Kudumbashree was released jointly by Dr. B. Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Arun P. Rajan, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree and Tony Jose, Senior Manager, Udhyam Learning Foundation.

The presentations for the Kudumbashree State Level Award 2025 have been completed. The presentations for the Best District Mission and Best Public Relations District awards were held at the Kudumbashree Award State Level Selection Workshop held at KILA Headquarters, Mulangunnathukavu, Thrissur on 24 April 2025.

Awards will be given in a total of 17 categories. Awards will be given for Best NHG, ADS, Ooru Samithi, Enterprise Group, Entrepreneur, BUDS Institution, Gender Resource Centre, Auxiliary Group, Auxiliary Enterprise, Gender Help Desk, District that has conducted public relations activities, Best District Mission, as well as Best CDS (Convergence Activities, Unique Activities, Administration-Microfinance Activities), Best CDS (Agriculture Sector, Animal Husbandry), Best CDS (Social Development, Gender), Best CDS (Tribal Activities), Best CDS (Micro Enterprise, DDU-GKY, K-DISC). The award distribution will also be organized on 17 May 2025 in connection with Kudumbashree Day.

The five Premium Cafe Restaurants under Kudumbashree, which have captivated food lovers by serving a variety of flavors, have earned an income of Rs. five crores. The women entrepreneurs have achieved a lot within a year of starting their operations. This success is recorded from the five Premium Cafe Restaurants started under Kudumbashree in the state in the districts of Thrissur (Guruvayur), Ernakulam (Angamaly), Wayanad (Meppadi), Pathanamthitta (Panthalam) and Kannur. Of these, Guruvayur generated a turnover of Rs. 1,74,93,028 and  Angamaly generated Rs. 1,49,39,825. Whereas Meppadi generated Rs. 82,03,485. Pathanamthitta generated a turnover of Rs. 59,63,620 and Kannur generated a turnover of Rs. 61,60,979.

In the first phase of the project, the Premium Cafe Restaurant chain was launched in Angamaly of Ernakulam district last year. Later, it was started in Meppadi of Wayanad district and Guruvayur of Thrissur district. As part of the second phase of Premium Cafe activities, Premium Restaurants were also started in Kottayam (Kuravilangad), Kozhikode (Koyilandy), Kasaragod, Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram districts. Premium Cafe gained great acceptance due to its excellent infrastructure, quality and diverse food resources and services. With this, the project was expanded to other districts as well. The operation of Premium Cafe Restaurants is led by excellent women entrepreneurs working in the canteen catering sector. Cooking, food distribution, billing, cleaning, parcel service, etc. are all done by women.

The aim of setting up a Premium Cafe network across the state is to modernize enterprises and ensure sustainable income for entrepreneurs. Currently, the project is helping to ensure better employment and income for more than two hundred women. All Premium Cafes have the best modern facilities including culinary diversity, basic facilities, food delivery, parcel service, catering, online services, cleanliness, and better waste management facilities. The project is also helping entrepreneurs achieve greater professionalism.