'Chalanam 2023', the training for Urban CDS Sub-Committee Conveners is ongoing and the training of two batches have been completed. Training will be given for a total of five batches for four days for each batch. The objective is to empower the sub-committee conveners to intensify the activities of various livelihood schemes and social welfare schemes implemented in urban areas by Kudumbashree. The training for the conveners of the sub-committee on social development and infrastructure development was completed yesterday on 22 February 2023.

The 'Chalanam 2023' training programme was launched on 14 February 2023 with the aim of strengthening the Kudumbashree project activities in urban CDSs and making the benefits of the projects available to every NHG family member. The sub-committee conveners are active participants in the development activities of urban CDSs by intervening on thematic basis in the matters of social development, infrastructural development, ward council, employment security, micro finance livelihood, etc. The aim is to enable them to work together with the CDS and the Urban Local Body. As part of this, a total of 645 people will be trained, 129 people in each batch.

The training programme consisted of detailed classes on Kudumbashree schemes and question and answer session for clearing the doubts regarding. Detailed training will also be provided on the relevance and importance of sub-committees, various funds available to Kudumbashree and own activities of CDS. In addition to classroom training, outdoor training is also provided to all the trainees in collaboration with the District Tourism Promotion Council. The training is conducted under the leadership of State Programme Managers who manage various projects in Kudumbashree State Mission, City Mission Managers and Kudumbashree Core Training Team members. Shri. N.Jagajeevan, Executive Director, Grameena Patana Kendram, Shri. Sajith Sukumaran, Chief Operating Officer, Kudumbashree National Resource Organization, Shri. A.Jahamgeer, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree  and Shri. P. Kesavan Nair, Former Programme Officer presented various topics in the training programme.

The third batch of training for Livelihood Sub-Committee Conveners will be organized from 6 to 9 March 2023. The fourth batch of training for Ward Sabha and Employment Sub-Committee Conveners will be organized from 11 to 14 March 2023. The training for Micro Finance Sub-Committee Conveners from 16 to 19 March 2023.

'Thozhilarangathekku', the Exclusive Job Fair for Women being held across the state is making notable achievement. 'Thozhilarangathekku' Job Fair is becoming the idea and hope of lakhs of women who are unable to find a job and earn on their own despite having completed graduation and post graduation.

In the job survey conducted by Kudumbashree, 53 lakh job seekers were found. Out of them 58% were women. Therefore, it is with the aim of creating maximum employment for educated women, the Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission (KKEM) is organizing 'Thozhilarangathekku' job fair at the district level for the Government of Kerala.

As of 22 February 2023, 'Thozhilarangathekku' Job Fair has been organized in eight districts. Out of a total of 5210 women participants, 3504 were shortlisted by the companies. 394 employers participated in the fair. A total of 8597 interviews were conducted. 417 job seekers participated in the 'Thozhilarangathekku' Job Fair organized at Alappuzha from 8 am to 5 pm on 22 February 2023. The fair will be held in Kollam (23 February), Thiruvananthapuram (24 February), Kannur (25 February), Wayanad (28 February) and Pathanamthitta (04 March) districts in the coming days.

How to participate in the 'Thozhilarangathekku' Job Fair?

Go to Google Play Store on your phone and type 'DWMS CONNECT'. Check out the 'DWMS CONNECT', the app developed by Knowledge Economy Mission, Government of Kerala. Install it on the phone and complete the profiling by entering information about your education, work experience, skills etc. Apply for the suitable jobs available in the app and attend the Job Fair. Spot registration will also be available at the Job Fair for those who could not complete the registration earlier. For more information and queries, one can contact the nearest Kudumbashree CDS office or Community Ambassador.

Kudumbashree women from Thrissur produced 128 tonnes of vegetables through the 'Polima Puthukkad' Programme of Kudumbashree Thrissur District Mission. Shri. P. Prasad, Minister for Agriculture, Government of Kerala inaugurated the second phase of the cultivation of the 'Polima Puthukkad' Programme, which is progressing with the goal of producing green and safe vegetables, at Kaithavalappil Garden, Nandikkara, Thrissur on 17 February 2023.

Puthukkad constituency has achieved success by implementing the idea of the state government to develop and implement plans to achieve self-sufficiency in the field of food production through the innovative project called 'Polima Puthukkad'. 40,000 Kudumbashree women who are members of 2411 NHGs in eight panchayats of the constituency cultivated 128 tonnes of vegetables in 126 hectares of land!

Shri. K.K. Ramachandran, MLA, Puthukkad Constituency, presided over the function. Awards were distributed to the NHGs who had performed well at the panchayath level and the constituency level in the first phase. The Nanma NHG of Mattathur Gram Panchayath, which cultivated in a land of an acre and 40 cents, came first in the constituency level. Soundarya NHG of Vallachira and Friendship NHG of Nenmanikkara bagged the second and third positions.

The NHGs that won Awards in the CDS level includes

1. Puthukkad (Vijayashree, Shreyas, Tulasi)

2. Alagappanagar (Devi, Jeeva, Devishree)
3. Mattathur (Nanma, Puthuma, Kairali)
4. Nenmanikkara (Sauhrudha, Pratheeksha, Aishwarya)
5. Thrikoor (Udaya, Shanti, Angel Rose)
6. Varantharapilly (Sneha, Anashwara, Sneha)
7. Vallachira (Soundarya, Thalir, Rupashree)
8. Parappukkara (Sreelakshmi, Navodaya, Bhagyashree).

The project is being implemented through the effective convergence of local bodies, Kudumbashree, Department of Agriculture, Co-operative Institutions and Employment Guarantee Scheme. Kudumbashree's Agri Nutri Garden scheme also provided assistance to the members. The first phase was started on 24 October 2022. The main objectives of Polima are food security, making barren land cultivable, increasing interest in agriculture, terrace cultivation etc. The Representatives of Three-tier Panchayath, Co-operative Bank Presidents, Kudumbashree officials, representatives of other departments and NHG members participated in the function.

The last date for submitting the entries to the Vlogs & Reels Competition being organized in connection with the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Kudumbashree has been extended till 6 March 2023. Vlogs and reels on any projects, activities, initiatives of Kudumbashree will be considered for the competition.

Cash award of Rs. 50,000 will be given for the best vlog. Whereas cash award of Rs. 40,000 will be given as second prize and Rs. 30,000 will be given as third prize. Cash Award of Rs. 25,000 will be given for the best reel whereas cash award of Rs. 20,000 will be given as second prize and cash award of Rs. 15,000 will be given as third prize. Consolation prizes will also be given for best entries. In addition to cash award trophies and certificates will be awarded to the winners.

The vlog should not exceed 5 minutes and the reels should not exceed 1:30 minutes. An applicant can submit one or more videos. The copyright of the video belongs to Kudumbashree and Kudumbashree shall not be responsible for any copyright claims or seeking approval from any authority. Videos can be prepared in English and Malayalam.

The videos selected by the primary jury will be uploaded on the official YouTube, Facebook and Instagram of Kudumbashree State Mission. 30 percent weightage will be given to views. The winners will be determined based on concept, content, videography and views weightage.

To know more details including the conditions, visit - www.kudumbashree.org/reels2023

Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission's Nilambur Tribal Premier League Football made a hit. 'Poolakkappara Yuvadhara Football Club' (FC) has won the Premier League for the second year in a row. Nilambur Tribal Premier League Football was launched under the leadership of Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission, under the auspices of the Nilambur Scheduled Tribes Special Project and Scheduled Tribes Sustainable Development Project.

'Poolakkappara team' beat 'Chembankolli Black Army team' in the final match held at Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Stadium, Chanthakunnu, Malappuram on 13 February 2023. After the first and second leg matches and the shootout were tied, 'Poolakkappara team' retained the title by toss. Shri. Rajesh from 'Poolakkappara Yuvadhara Football Club' became the man of the match in the final and Shri. Nidhish from 'Poolakkappara Yuvadhara Football Club bagged the best defensive player award. Shri. Satheesh from Black Army was selected as the Best Goalkeeper. Shri. Sreejith from Nilambur YFC shone as the top scorer in the league in which 32 teams participated. Shri. Jithu of Black Army Chembankolli was selected as the Player of the League and Shri. Sajimon of Yuvadhara was selected as the Emerging Player. 

Shri Jafar K. Kakkooth, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission awarded the trophy and prize money to the winners. R.P. Mithin Lal (Circle Inspector, Janamaithri Excise Edakkara), Dr. Aswathi Soman (Medical Officer, Govt. Mobile Dispensary, Nilambur), Shri. Manjith Arjundas, Sports Council Representative and State Kabaddi Coach, Shri. Rijesh V.S, Shri. T.P. Shafeeq, Shri. C.R. Rakesh, Shri. C.T. Naufal, District Program Managers, Kudumbashree, Shri. K.K. Muhammed Sanu, Co-ordinator, Nilambur Scheduled Tribes Special Project, Shri. Shyamjith Palakkayam, CEO, Thoduva Community Foundation, Ms Faseela, Co-ordinator, Keystone and  Ms. Ajitha, Representative, Mahila Samakhya were also present at the programme.

Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission organized 'Aadithalam'- Balasabha District Level Tribal Festival. 360 Children from 28 Local Self Government Institutions from the district took part in the festival and gave away a unique and new experience for Kannur assuring that the tribal art would never fade away. The 'Aadithalam', the Balasabha District Level Tribal Festival was held at Thokkilangad Higher Secondary School, Koothuparamba on 11 February 2023.

Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission organized  'Aadithalam', the Balasabha District Level Tribal Festival with the aim of promoting the creative abilities of children from Scheduled Tribe community. A total of 21 events were held in the five venues, including Kokkamanthikali, Mangalapatt, Punamkothu Patt, Thudimutt and Thudi, the unique tribal art forms. Alakode CDS won the overall title by scoring 55 points. Payyavoor CDS won the second position and Ulikal CDS the third position. Veda Girish representing Kottiyoor CDS and Arjun from Padyam CDS were selected as 'Kalaratnam' (Gems of the Arts Festival) of the Festival.

Shri. Binoy Kurian, Vice President, District Panchayath, Kannur inaugurated the festival. Shri. Sandeep Kumar IAS, Sub Collector Thalassery, Shri. Kalamandalam Mahendran, Ms. V. Sujatha Teacher, Shri. V. K Suresh Babu, Elected Representatives also attended the function. Shri. K.P. Mohanan, MLA, distributed the prizes to the winners during the valedictory function.

Rangashree members participated in National Theatre Workshop for Women organized as part of the International Theatre Festival of Kerala (ITFOK) at Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), Thrissur from 7 to 12 February 2023. The workshop was led by Shri. M.K. Raina, Ms. Anuradha Kapur and Ms. Neelam Mansingh, Theatre Experts in National Level. The Rangashree members learnt  from them the unknown levels of theatre and improved their excellence. 

The workshop started with Shri. M.K Raina's class on the making of structures. When the camp members made different shapes out of paper according to their imagination and recreated those shapes with their own bodies, they learnt many important lessons in body acting. He also shared with the camp members the idea that an artist should be socially conscious and politically aware. Ms. Anuradha Kapoor started her lessons through theatre games that help develop human values like love, care and reciprocity. Ms. Neelam Mansingh Chaudhary led the camp on 11 and 12 February 2023.  A total of 51 people including two members of Attappady Community Theatre Group and 28 Rangashree team members participated in the camp.

Rangashree is the theatre group of NHG members formed by Kudumbashree with the aim of strengthening the presence of women in the fields of art and culture. These Community Theatre groups of Kudumbashree are being used to deliver messages that enable social transformation. Rangashree also provides a great opportunity for NHG members who are interested in acting and art. There are Rangashree teams in each of the 14 districts.

A group of Balasabha members from Muliyar CDS of Kasaragod district flied to Thiruvananthapuram. A total of 11 Balasabha members flied to Thiruvananthapuram as part of 'Akashath Oru Kutti Yathra' (A small journey in the sky), the special programme organized by Muliyar CDS for the Balasabha members. 11 children who passed the test conducted for the Balasabha members who wanted to travel by air were selected for the trip and they flew to Thiruvananthapuram from Kannur International Airport on 8 February 2023. The group of children who made this air journey consisted of Visruth Prabhakaran, K. Krishnanenthu, C.K.P Sanith, V. Maya, K.R. Shivaraj, Aditya Sathyan, T. Prajwal, B. Siva Krishna, Vidhu Vijay, Rishikesh and Deeksha.

The group left Muliyar in a vehicle arranged by the panchayath and reached the Kannur airport. From there they took a flight to Thiruvananthapuram. The team arrived in Thiruvananthapuram and visited many places like the Kerala Legislative Assembly, Museum, Veli and Zoo in two days.

They reached the Kudumbashree State Mission on 9 February 2023 and visited Shri. Jafar Malik IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree and handed over the future work report of the Balasabha. They also shared their dreams, travel plans and studies with the Executive Director. Ms. Khairunnisa, CDS Chairperson, Muliyar CDS, Shri. Binumon N, Member Secretary, Muliyar Panchayath, Shri. Sreenesh, Balasabha Resource Person and Ms. Sakina P.S,CDS Accountant accompanied the children. The accommodation for the team was arranged by KSEB Employees Union. Muliyar CDS raised  the travel expenses for the programme through sponsorships and other activities. The Balasabha children returned to their home with the joy of realizing many of their childhood dreams.

Kudumbashree and SLBC (State Level Bankers Committee) organized One Day Workshop to ensure better banking services for 3 lakh Kudumbashree NHGs in the state and Entrepreneurs at Mascot Hotel, Thiruvananthapuram on 8 February 2023. 

Shri. Jafar Malik IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree said that in addition to emphasizing existing livelihood schemes to provide sustainable income to NHG members, more emphasis will be placed on financial support and financial literacy activities in the next financial year. Equal importance is being given to the activities to bring the members of the newly formed Auxiliary Groups to better careers. The foundation of Kudumbashree is the micro savings scheme and related activities. In his welcome address, the Executive Director said that a financial literacy campaign would be organized for NHG members to avoid unscientific loan transactions and achieve accuracy and precision in financial transactions.

Rs. 8029 crores in various banks of the state belong to Kudumbashree NHGs. The remaining amount after disbursing the internal loan is given interest in savings bank account. Kudumbashree has also raised the suggestion of providing more interest on this investment. Shri. Sreekumar, Deputy General Manager, Canara Bank and SLBC representative said that they will consider whether this can be implemented as per the current guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India. Apart from this, Kudumbashree made discussions with various bank representatives on the challenges faced by banks in providing linkage loans to NHGs, the difficulties faced by existing entrepreneurs and the members of newly formed Auxiliary Groups in getting self-employment loans, relaxation in existing procedures for opening new accounts and providing linkage loans to NHGs, and the services of banking correspondents to speed up the loan process.

Shri. Anil P Antony, Director, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering.  Shri. Anishkumar, State Programme Manager, Kudumbashree made a presentation on the various livelihood projects implemented by Kudumbashree in the state aiming at Local Economic Development, projects requiring bank loans for entrepreneurs and Centrally Sponsored Projects. Shri. P. Mohannayya, National Resource Person, NIRD, Shri. Abhishek Goswami, Mission Manager, NRLM-NIRD spoke at the function. Various bank representatives, Kudumbashree Programme Officers and State Programme Managers  participated in the programme.

The 'Noorang' Harvest as part of Thirunelly Tribal Comprehensive Development Project in Wayanad was held in a festive mode. The Noorang Harvest was held in the Irumbupalam Hamlet of Ward 9 of Thirunelly Panchayath of Wayanad. The Noorang project was designed with the aim of conservation, seed production and distribution of tubers, which had a permanent place in the food resources of the tribal group, and imparting knowledge about tubers to the new generation.

A total of 130 varieties of potatoes were harvested as part of potato cultivation by ten women of three Kudumbashree groups in Irumbupalam on 4 February 2023. The harvest festival was inaugurated by Shri. O.R. Kelu, MLA, Mananthavady Constituency inaugurated the harvest. Shri. P.V. Balakrishnan, President, Thirunelly Panchayath presided over the function. Ms. Saumini. P, CDS Chairperson, Thirunelly welcomed the ceremony. Shri. P.K. Balasubramanian, Kudumbashree District Mission Co-ordinator, Wayanad delivered the keynote address.

Shri. Sunil Kumar KP (Range Officer, Tholpetty), Dr. Anil Kumar (ADA, Mananthavady), Ms. Vimala BM (Block Panchayath Member) and Ms. Jayesh. V (Kudumbashree District Program Manager-Tribal), Ms. Rukkiya Sainuddin (Standing Committee Chairman, Thirunelly Panchayath), Ms. P.J. Manuel (Potato Conservationist) and Shri. Sunny Kalpetta (Public Activist) paid their felicitations. Shri. Sai Krishnan T.V. (Co-ordinator, NRLM Thirunelly) delivered vote of thanks. 150 people participated in the Harvest Festival.