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.

A new training project is being launched focusing on BUDS Institutions, which are jointly run by Kudumbashree and Local Self-Government Institutions for children with intellectual challenges. Kudumbashree will implement a comprehensive project aimed at the development of teenage children in BUDS Institutions.

Through this comprehensive training project, Kudumbashree aims to find solutions to the problems faced by teenage trainees in BUDS Institutions due to the gap in physical and intellectual development. About 13,000 children in 378 BUDS Institutions in the state will be provided with psychological support through this training project. For this, about 26,000 parents, more than 500 teachers and nannies will also be trained based on specially prepared modules. The training programme will be prepared with the help of doctors from the Psychiatry Department of Government Medical Colleges and prominent Psychologists. The initial Writing Workshop for preparing the module of the programme was organized at the Kudumbashree State Mission Office, Thiruvananthapuram.

H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree, Dr. Arun B. Nair,  Professor of the Department of Psychiatry, Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Dr. Mohan Roy, Head of the Department of Psychiatry, Medical College, Kollam,  Dr. B. Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree,  Arun P. Rajan, State Programme Manager, Jishnu Gopan, State Assistant Program Manager,  Krishnakumari, State Assistant Program Manager, Ambika, Suji, Vinitha, BUDS School teachers and parents of BUDS Trainees also participated in the workshop. The training modules will be finalized through writing workshops organized in the following days.

Kudumbashree is launching the ROOTS Campaign with the main objective of strengthening the ADS system in cities. The ROOTS campaign, which stands for 'Rejuvenation of Organization through Ownership, Togetherness and Support', also aims to inculcate a mentoring mindset among Kudumbashree employees. The campaign is being implemented as part of the National Urban Livelihood Mission implemented by Kudumbashree with the aim of eradicating poverty in urban areas.

As part of the campaign, the first phase of training was organized for 138 people selected from among Community Organizers, Multi-Task Employees and City Mission Managers. The campaign aims to assign up to four ADSs to one of the selected Kudumbashree employees and implement empowerment activities through them by providing them with necessary guidelines and advice.

Classes were given as part of the training on various topics such as NHG - The Nucleus of Development, Meeting Procedures in ADSs and NHGs, Documents and Registers to be Maintained, and Duties of a Mentor. In addition, activities in various fields such as Public Speaking, Communication, and Mentoring Skills were also conducted as part of the training programme organized at the Agricultural Co-operative Staff Training Institute, Manvila, Thiruvananthapuram.

Megha Mary Koshy, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Sudheer K.B, Programme Manager, Beena. E, Programme Manager,  Nishad C.C, Programme Manager, Prabhakaran M, Programme Manager, Anish Kumar M.S, Programme Manager, Prithviraj, Programme Manager, Meghana. S, Programme Manager, Nishanth G.S, Programme Manager, Mathew Johny, Mission Executive, Mithun Jawahar, Mission Executive, Seema Chandran, Chalanam Mentor Core Group member, Jayan Pookad, Chalanam Mentor Core Group member, Sreelatha, Chalanam Mentor Core Group member,  Manu. C, Chalanam Mentor Core Group member, Aniyan Kunju, Chalanam Mentor Core Group member and Anil Kumar, Chalanam Mentor Core Group member handled various sessions.

Kudumbashree is providing opportunities for the NHGs who are actively involved in the agricultural, animal husbandry and entrepreneurship sectors to make the most of the potential of fish farming. Kudumbashree plans and implements several activities to create more employment opportunities in the fish farming sector. In this regard, one-day workshops have been organized in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts to provide a clear understanding of various aspects of fish farming to the NHGs.

To ensure additional income for the NHGs working in this sector by utilizing the potential of fish products, fisheries clusters have also been formed in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode districts. These clusters are working in collaboration with Producer Groups formed in the animal husbandry sector. More than three hundred NHGs have become part of these clusters. Cluster formation is also in progress in Malappuram, Kollam and Alappuzha districts.

As part of the awareness workshop on fisheries-based activities, classes were given on various topics such as fish processing, waste disposal in fish markets, fish marketing potential, value-added fish products and their marketing, factors to be considered while bringing fish products to the market, potential for value-added products, methods of selecting and processing quality fish to generate more profit in the market, temperature control, processing equipment, storage systems, and innovative technologies such as aquaponics and bio floc. The workshop was led by M. Shaji, National Resource Person, National Rural Livelihood Mission and former Joint Director, Marine Products Export Development Authority. More than 600 NHG members participated in the workshops organized in six districts.

With the slogan 'One lakh jobs by Onam', Kudumbashree has launched a campaign in collaboration with Vijnana Keralam to provide local jobs by providing skill training to women. The campaign was given its final shape at a review meeting of the Chairmen and Secretaries of Local Self-Government Institutions organized at Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) Headquarters Thrissur from 3 to 5 July 2025 under the chairmanship of M.B. Rajesh, Minister, Local Self-Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala.

Dr. T.M. Thomas Isaac, Principal Advisor, Vijnana Keralam, T.V. Anupama IAS, Special Secretary, Local Self-Government Department, H. Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree and key department officials also attended the meetings. M.B. Rajesh, Minister, Local Self-Government Department, Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala, Dr. T.M. Thomas Isaac, Principal Advisor, Vijnana Keralam, Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree, U.V. Jose IAS (Retd), Executive Director, Suchithwa Mission also participated in the Press Conference organized at KILA, Thrissur on 5 July 2025.

A major problem faced by entrepreneurs in Kerala is the lack of employable workers. Meanwhile, only 20 percent of working-age women are engaged in work outside the home. Kudumbashree aims to increase this to 50 percent in a few years. Kudumbashree is initiating this through this campaign. The campaign will run from July 2025 to September 2025.

A transplantation of rice seedlings accompanied by songs, dances and rhythms. A celebration that brought together children, adults, the country and the locals. That is the 'Mazhapolima' Agricultural Revival Campaign being conducted by the Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission at the CDS level. With the endless rain, children and adults alike come forward to plant the rice seedlings, sing and dance in the fields. Along with this, art and sports competitions and food festivals are also held to celebrate the 'Mazhapolima'.

The District Mission has organized 'Mazhapolima' with the aim of making barren land cultivable, ensuring food security, attracting people including the younger generation to agriculture, and restoring agricultural culture. The campaign, which started on 20 June 2025, will be conducted in 30 CDSs in the district this time. So far, 'Mazhapolima' has been celebrated in Payam, Dharmadam, Mangattidam and Cherukunnu CDSs. This is the second consecutive year that 'Mazhapolima' is being conducted in Kannur district. In the first year, 125 acres of fallow land was cultivated.

The Kudumbashree Snehitha Extension Centres, which were started in collaboration with the Home Department in 84 DySP/ACP offices in the state, are progressing well. Emergency psychological support and counseling services are being provided to those who come to the police stations under the jurisdiction of these offices for various needs through the Extension Centre. The Snehitha Extension Centre started its operations in March this year. In a short period of time, about 1000 cases have been referred to the Snehitha Extension Centres and services have been provided. Therefore, the State-Level Monitoring Committee, which met at the Kudumbashree State Mission Office, decided to intensify the project activities in the state. Counseling services are provided at the Extension Centres two days a week through Kudumbashree's Community Counselors.

Activities to strengthen the project

• To create awareness among police officers about the Friendly Police Extension Centres and the services available through them (At the district level, officers of the rank of SHO and Sub Inspector will be specially called and jointly trained by the Home Department and Kudumbashree.
• To include this awareness training in the training syllabus for newly joining Sub Inspectors.
• To provide expert training to Community Counselors working in Extension Centres.
• In unavoidable situations, Community Counselors will conduct home visits and provide counseling and psychological support.
• Providing services locally through the Community Counselor in charge of the respective area and Snehitha Gender Help Desk for cases that do not have references from SHO and DYSP.
• Tele Counseling if necessary.
• Meeting of the District Level Monitoring Committee every month.
• Meetings at the rural and city levels in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur districts to evaluate the work.

The monitoring committee was convened under the leadership of H.Dineshan IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree, Bastin Sabu, Assistant Inspector General, Women and Children. Dr. B.Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree, Dr. Mercy Joy Sebastian, Assistant Professor, Clinical Psychology, Medical College, Adv. Shinyraj, Justin Mathew, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree and Feby D.A. and Sarika.S, State Assistant Programme Managers also attended the meeting.

Kerala shone at the FNHW Two-Day Regional Seminar organized by the Union Ministry of Rural Development in Shillong, Meghalaya. In the seminar, which was attended by fifteen states and two Union Territories, including Kerala, the excellence of various project activities implemented in Kerala through Kudumbashree in the field of social development and the achievements achieved through it were noteworthy. In the seminar organized over two days, the conference of various states commented that Kerala is a world model in the field of social development.

Kerala won applause at the seminar jointly organized by the National Rural Livelihood Mission and the National Mission Management Unit under the Union Ministry of Rural Development. Smriti Sharan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, said that Kerala should be taken as a model in social development activities. Projects like Ujjeevanam implemented by Kudumbashree in the state to eradicate extreme poverty, Kanas Jaga implemented last year to foster creativity in children in indigenous areas, and K-TICK for youth in indigenous areas have won praise from other states. Various states commented at the seminar that 'Happy Keralam' implemented in the health and mental health sector, BUDS Schools for differently abled children, and BUDS Rehabilitation Centres for the elderly are also exemplary.

Apart from Kerala, the states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Karnataka, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, West Bengal and the Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry participated in the seminar. Representing Kerala, Dr. B.Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree made a presentation on various projects implemented by Kudumbashree in the field of social development. Justin Mathew, State Programme Manager and Krishnakumari R, State Assistant Programme Manager also participated in the programme. Athira, Community Resource Person from Malappuram district shared her successful experiences related to the implementation of the FNHW project. The team also visited various CDSs in Meghalaya.

Kudumbashree’s ‘50 Plus’ Campaign to increase the number of NHG members to 50 lakhs with the aim of organizational empowerment has been launched in the state. As part of the campaign, which will be organized till 30 August 2025, those who are not yet members of NHGs will be identified and made part of NHGs. Special NHGs will also be formed for the differently-abled, transgender and elderly. NHG members who have dropped out will be brought back into the neighborhood group system. In this regard, preparatory work has been started at the CDS, ADS and district levels.

Currently, there are 48 lakh members in Kudumbashree. It is expected that at least five lakh women will be newly recruited into the NHG system through the campaign. The campaign activities implemented by focusing on coastal, tribal, linguistic minority Kannada areas, and CDSs with fewer neighborhood groups will be helpful in this. Kannada Mentors, Tribal Animators, Tribal Special Project Co-ordinators, and Coastal Volunteers will be utilized for this purpose.

As part of the campaign, in the first phase, a list of NHGs that have stopped functioning will be prepared in each CDS. Then, activities will be started under the leadership of Kudumbashree ADSs to make them functional. Activities will be carried out after a census of all families and NHG members within each CDS area in relation to the formation of new NHGs. All newly started NHGs will be provided with accounting training under the leadership of the Kudumbashree KAASS team. In addition, Kudumbashree will directly provide training to the CDS Chairpersons. The Block Co-ordinator will be responsible for co-ordinating the block level campaign activities.

As part of the campaign, district level consultation meetings were organized before 25 June 2025. Training for CDSs has also been completed. The decision has been made to complete the campaign activities by 25 July 2025.

Kudumbashree's participation in various campaigns and awareness programmes such as extreme poverty eradication programmes, waste management, anti-drug campaign, digital literacy activities, and disaster management activities is important. The active participation of NHG members plays an important role in the success of these programmes.

Kudumbashree's online radio 'Radio Shree' was launched from 1 July 2025 onwards as a new voice of empowerment. The new broadcast start from 7 AM with the technical co-operation of Malayalam Mission. The aim is to utilize Radio Shree as the most effective teaching medium to learn and understand about Kudumbashree. There will be programme that integrate entertainment and knowledge. Kudumbashree aims to spread knowledge globally by bringing information and knowledge about women empowerment and poverty  eradication activities implemented in the state and other states through Kudumbashree to various parts of the world, including NHG families.

The broadcast will start from 7 AM. Six different programmes will be broadcasted, namely 'Sindooracheppu', 'Kootukari', Radio 'Shreemathi', 'Nattarangu', 'Radio Shree Sahityotsavam' and 'Audio Book'. Each programme is one hour long. The first schedule is from 7 AM to 1 PM. There will be a twenty-four-hour broadcast in four schedules of six hours each. Eighteen hours of this will be rebroadcast. In addition, there will be Kudumbashree news for five minutes every two hours. Through the broadcast based on innovative technology, very enjoyable and informative programmes have been prepared for the listeners.

Anyone who uses a smartphone can listen to the radio through the App Store, Play Store, as well as through an Android Play Store and IOS Store account. Radio Shree broadcasts can also be accessed on the website www.radioshree.com. The advantage of online radio is that the project activities implemented through Kudumbashree can be reached to 48 lakh families and various sectors of the society in the shortest possible time. Efforts are being made to ensure the presence of Kudumbashree's voice in every sector of the society, including NHG women, students, parents, and various workplaces.