The last date for submission of entries for the sixth season of 'Kudumbashree Oru Nerchithram' Photography Competition has been extended till 15 May 2024. Images depicting various activities of Kudumbashree are considered for the competition. There are special prizes for the general category and NHG members/Auxiliary group members who participate in the competition.

A cash award of Rs 25,000 will be awarded to the best photograph in the general category. The second best photograph will receive a cash award of Rs. 15,000 and the third best photograph will receive a cash award of Rs. 10,000. Also five people will get a consolation prize of Rs. 2000 each. In the NHG/Auxiliary category, the best photograph will receive a cash award of Rs. 25,000, the second best photograph will get a cash award of Rs. 15,000 and the third best photograph will receive a cash prize of Rs. 10,000. There is also a consolation prize of Rs. 2000 each for five people. The full form of notification with details is available at the website link www.kudumbashree.org/photography2024.

Images can be sent based on Kudumbashree related topics like Kudumbashree NHG meetings, various enterprise activities and agricultural activities carried out by NHG members, activities of Kudumbashree Balasabhas and BUDS Institutions.

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

Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission's Nilambur Tribal Premier League Football is a big hit. Yuva Gangs Ravens Bhoomikuth became the winners of the 3rd Nilambur Tribal Premier League Sevens Football Tournament organized as part of Nilambur Tribal Special Project. 35 youth clubs from various Scheduled Tribe villages of the district participated in the tournament. The tournament was held at Nilambur Azad ground on 9-10 March 2024.   Yuva Gangs defeated Varadempadam Dynamos Rock Star by a one-sided goal in the final on 10 March 2024.

Shri. Jafar Kakkooth, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree District Mission presented the trophies for the winners. Shri. Rijesh V.S, District Programme Manager, Shri. Sanu K.K, Co-ordinator, Nilambur Tribal  Special Project, Shr. Jiju K, Ms. Kalpana P.K,  Assistant Project Co-ordinators and  Ms. V. Vasantha and Ms. Mini Sujesh, CDS Chairperson participated in the programme.

Honours
Best Player of the Tournament – Harilal (Dynamos Rock Star)
Top Scorer - Sinu (Black Army Chembankolli)
Best Goalkeeper - Abhilash (New Gangs Ravens)
Best Defender – Satish (Dynamos Rock Star)
Best Emerging Team - Naduvazhi High Range Devil Karimbu.

'Aishwarya NHG', an ST NHG from KodomBelur Panchayath of Kasaragod district has set a new a model. They have built their own building in conjunction with the 22nd anniversary of their NHG. The building was constructed by using Rs. 80,000 raised by 19 members of the Aishwarya NHG in Vengachery. The most important of these is the amount of Rs. 20 that each of the members invested for the building every week. Panchayat allotted the land. This building will also serve as a Children's library for the Balasabha members. Also, this building will be used for the mushroom cultivation activities currently being carried out by the NHG and for the newly started umbrella manufacturing activities.

Ms. Sujatha Babu (President), Ms. Leela Babu (Secretary), Ms. Radhika V, Ms. Latha Radhakrishnan, Ms Janaki (Sub Committee Conveners), Ms. Kalyani Chandran, Ms. Savitha V.K, Ms. Karichi Maani, Ms. Omana C, Ms. Thambayi Madhavan, Ms. Karichi Krishnan, Ms. Ramani Narayanan, Ms. Karichi Kottaan, Ms. Vellachi, Ms. Kalyani Kumaran, Ms. Manju Mohanan, Ms. Beena Sajeevan, Ms. Meenakshi joined together in the meeting  held under the leadership of Ms. Leela Babu (Secretary)on 10 March 2024 and Ms. P. Sreeja, President, KodomBelur Panchayath. 

Ms. Bindu Krishnan, CDS Chairperson, Shri. V Chandran, Head of the Hamlet, Ms. Suma Jayan, CDS Member, Ms. Sreeja Rameshan, ADS Secretary also took part in the programme.

Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission in collaboration with the Kerala State Housing Board's Grihasree Scheme is to provide houses to 75 needy families under each Kudumbashree CDS. In the Sneha Veedu project run by Kudumbashree CDSs, along with the funds collected by the CDSs, financial assistance as part of the Grihasree project will be used for the construction of houses. CDS contribution to Snehaveedu project has been paid and the construction of beneficiary houses has been started.

A meeting of these 75 beneficiaries was organized at Malappuram Trade House on 2 March 2024. Shri. P.P. Suneer, Chairman, Kerala State Housing Board inaugurated the programme and Shri. Jafar Kakkooth, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission presided over the function.

Shri. Noushad C.H, Councilor, Malappuram Municipal Ward was the special guest of the function. Ms. Mini, Chairperson, Chelembra CDS, Ms. Krishna Jyothi, Chairperson, Porur CDS extended their greetings. Shri. Haskar K.S, District Programme Manager, Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission welcomed the gathering and Shri. Mohammad Kattupara, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator. Kudumbashree Malappuram District Mission delivered the vote of thanks.

Maha Sangam was organized for Kudumbashree members of Kannada region at Manjeswaram, Kasaragod on 13 March 2024. Shri. Jafar Malik IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree inaugurated the 'Spoorthia Chilume - 2024' (Spring of Inspiration) Sangam organized under the aegis of Kannada Special Project under the leadership of Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission.

Organized as part of International Women's Day celebrations, there were gender classes, tug-of-war competition and entertainment programmes. Ms. Gean Lavina Monteiro, President, Manjeswaram Grama Panchayat and Shri. T.T. Surendran, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission were the Chief Guests of the programme.  
Shri. Haridas D, Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission welcomed the gathering and Ms. Jayashree, Chairperson, Manjeswaram CDS delivered the vote of thanks.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) - LIFE is a scheme implemented by Central and State Governments in collaboration with Municipal Corporations with the objective of providing 'Housing for All'. Till date, 1,32,327 beneficiaries have received approval for construction of houses. Construction of 1,12,563 beneficiary houses has been started and 86,338 houses have been completed. Kudumbashree is the nodal agency of the project in Kerala.

Meetings with the project beneficiaries were organized in various municipalities of the state with the objective of approving the best convergence activities and livelihood models done as part of the project and providing services including pension to the beneficiaries through the help desks of the related departments. Various activities like felicitation of the members of the beneficiary families who achieved personal achievements in areas like examinations, art-sports competitions and awareness classes on subjects like home literacy were organized as part of the Meeting. It is also noteworthy with the presence of Assembly Speaker, Ministers, MLAs, Mayors and other dignitaries in the meetings.

So far around 17,000 beneficiaries have participated in the beneficiary meeting activities which started in the second week of February. As part of the beneficiary meeting, the information of the beneficiary family members who need skilled vocational training and those who are interested in starting self-employment enterprises were also collected. It was found that 418 persons required vocational training and 394 persons were interested in starting self-employment enterprises. Necessary interventions are being made for them.

A building permit camp and awarding of contracts were also organized as part of the Beneficiary Meeting to speed up project implementation. As part of the Beneficiary Meeting, building permits were issued for 438 new houses and contracts were signed with 249 beneficiaries. Signature campaigns, exhibitions including pictures of completed houses, medical camps were also organized in various municipalities as part of the meetings.

Rangashree Dramas become the main attraction of Beneficiary Meetings

The dramas performed by Kudumbashree's Rangashree teams became the main attraction of the Beneficiary Meetings. Rangashree teams performed plays as part of Beneficiary Meetings in 78 municipalities. Through these dramas, the themes of timely completion of houses, cost-effective construction of houses and upliftment of living standards have been effectively conveyed to the beneficiaries.

Kudumbashree's 'Quick Serve', the professional teams are trained to perform various tasks in urban homes and offices across 16 cities in the state. They do various jobs like housework, elderly-child care, inpatient care, car wash, house cleaning etc with a professional approach. The State-level inauguration of 'Quick Serve' teams trained to use modern machines was held in Thiruvananthapuram on 8 March 2024. There are more than 300 members in all the teams.

Cities where Quick Serve Teams have started and  their contact numbers:

Thiruvananthapuram
1. Neyyattinkara - 8547215197
2. Thiruvananthapuram Corporation - 8848455400 / 7012656760

Alappuzha
3. Kayamkulam - 9526634480
4. Alappuzha Municipality - 8848220645

Kottayam
5. Kottayam Municipality - 8281043868

Ernakulam
6. Kalamassery - 8129124869

Thrissur
7. Guruvayoor - 9544052463
8. Irinjalakuda - 9037786583
9. Chalakudy - 8281036794

Palakkad
10. Palakkad Municipality - 9995775490

Kozhikode
11. Vadakara - 8075904709

Kannur
12. Mattannur - 9745214639
13. Payyanur - 8547262439
14. Koothuparamba - 9497300552
15. Anthoor - 8075892695

Kasaragod
16. Neeleswaram - 9847000798 / 9746872398

The 'Ma Care Centres' of Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission are solving the problems of teenagers who leave the school compound during breaks for various purposes like for buying pen, pencil, snacks, juice and get addicted to drugs. Kudumbashree Kasaragod District Mission is implementing this activity in collaboration with the District Panchayat, Police, Excise Departments and School PTAs with the objective of making the schools of the district drug free.

As part of the project, the first 'Ma Care Centre' was started at Government Higher Secondary School, Chayyoth in Kinanoor Karinthalam Panchayat on 9 May 2023. So far centres have been started in 11 schools. The aim is to start 'Ma Care Centres' in 29 schools of the district. The work of the centre is coordinated by a ten-member monitoring committee comprising the school headmaster, PTA president, CDS chairperson and ward member.

The 'Ma Care Centre' Scheme is a continuation of the Vimukthi scheme, Yodhav Scheme implemented by the Government and the Surakshashree scheme implemented by the Kudumbashree District Mission with the aim of completely eradicating drug use among teenagers. Various juices, tea, coffee, ilayada, salads, sandwiches etc. are available through 'Ma Care Centre'. Also, study materials like books, pen, paper, pencil etc. are also available in these centres.

Shri. M.B. Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department and Excise Department, Government of Kerala announced one day Work From Home for Kudumbashree Staff in the time of Menstruation. He was inaugurating the Women's Day Celebrations of Kudumbashree during the function held at Mount Carmel Convention Centre, Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram on 8 March 2024.

The Minister said that Kudumbashree should be able to rewrite the verdict of social life like they rewrote the fate of the lives of women. Kudumbashree, which was started as a poverty eradication mission has now transformed as an important means of empowerment during these years. Kudumbashree has played an unparalleled role in the social, financial and political empowerment of women in Kerala. Kudumbashree has always been keen in ensuring the security of women in the society. Kudumbashree has rendered commendable service in ensuring women's safety and gender equality in the social sphere of Kerala.  He added. The Minister also launched the 'Gender Point Person' Concept of Kudumbashree.  

The campaign theme for this year's Women's Day is 'Inspire Inclusion.' Nowadays exclusion, marginalization an discrimination is ongoing in the name of gender, religion, caste,  language etc nationally and internationally. And this theme is relevant in the current social scenario. The Minister added.  

Shri. Jafar Malik IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree welcomed the gathering. Dr. Sharmila Mary Joseph IAS, Principal Secretary, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala presided over the function. She also launched the 'Quick Serve' the professional team for various services in urban areas and launched the logo of 'Quick Serve' and also distributed the ID cards for the 'Quick Serve' Executives. Dr. T.K. Anandi, Former Gender Advisor to Government of Kerala distributed the ID cards to the Gender Point Persons.

The CDS Chairpersons along with the dignitaries launched the 14 Rachna Memoir Books from the districts. The awards for the Best GRC and Best Snehitha Gender Help Desks were also distributed to Nanniyode GRC, Thiruvananthapuram, Vazhayoor GRC, Malappuram and Snehitha gender help desk, Malappuram respectively.

Ms. Vidhu Vincent, Cinema Director, Ms. Shylaja P Ambu, Cine Actress, Rtn. Vijayaraja Mallika, GC Member, Kerala Sahitya Academy were the chief guests of the function. Ms. Geetha Nazeer, Governing Body Member, Kudumbashree, Ms. Smitha Sundareshan, Governing Body Member, Kudumbashree, Ms. Rakhi Ravikumar, Ward Councilor, Ms. Sindu Sasi, Chairperson, CDS1, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Ms. Vineetha P, Chairperson, CDS 2, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Ms. Shyna A, Chairperson, CDS 3, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Ms. Beena P, Chairperson, CDS 4, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation also took part in the function.  Ms. K. S Bindu, Director, Kudumbashree delivered the vote of thanks.

A Seminar was held on the topic- 'Interventions and challenges related to gender-based violence' by the representatives of various departments.  A talk on 'Mental Health – Emerging Trends, Challenges and Solutions' was done by Dr. Arun B Nair, Mental Health Expert, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram.

An art performance by Rangashree members and Auxiliary Group Members, Dheeram Karate Performance and experience sharing of the beneficiaries of Snehitha Gender Help Desk, Gender Resource Centre was also held prior to the inaugural function.

16 Kudumbashree NHG members from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Community visited Rashtrapati Bhavan and Amrit Udyan on 8 March 2024, International Women's Day. Their visit to Delhi was as part of the opening of Amrit Udyan and Rashtrapati Bhavan to the public. As part of it, approval was given for women self-help groups in all states and Union Territories of the country for visiting the same.

Since last year, women belonging to Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes have been selected to visit Rashtrapati Bhavan and Amrit Udyan under the leadership of the National Rural Livelihood Mission. On that day, Kudumbashree had taken 15 women of the CDS leadership to visit Delhi. This year, 15 people from Scheduled Tribes and one from Scheduled Castes were selected for the visit. The team reached Delhi on 7 March 2024 and visited Qutab Minar, Red Fort, Rajghat, India Gate, Birla Mandir and Kerala Bhavan.

The NHG Members who visited Delhi are as follows:

Kasaragod

1. Thankamani. P (Darshan NHG, Kinanoor Karinthalam Panchayat)

Kannur
2. Sini C.K (Vandanam, Aralam)

Kozhikode

3. Vineetha P.K (Kottoor Panchayat)

Malappuram
4. Valsala P.C (Ashwas, Mampad)

Wayanad

5. Sindhu K. K (Devika NHG, Thirunelly Panchayat)
6. Sajitha. A. J (Thennal, Panamaram)

Palakkad

7. Radha. M (Attappady Sholayur Panchayat)
8. Vanitha. M (Dhanashree, Pattanchery)
9. Bindu K (Anamika NHG, Peringottukurissi CDS Chairperson)

Thrissur
10. Anita. MM (Avani, Puthur)

Ernakulam

11. Sukumari Soman (Athira, Kuttampuzha)

Idukki
12. Libby Shaju (Snehadeepam, Udumbannur)

Kottayam

13. Bijimol Shaji (Aswathi, Thalanad)

Pathanamthitta

14. Raji. P Ramachandran (Tarangini, Vadasserikkara)

Kollam
15. Vimala. O (Samadarshini, Kulathupuzha)

Thiruvananthapuram

16. Neetu S.R (Sri Shasta, Tholicode)

The team including Shri. Manoj B.S, State Program Officer, Kudumbashree Tribal Section, Shri. Prabhakaran M, State Programme Manager (Nodal Officer) and Ms. Sarika S, State Assistant Program Manager gave leadership to the Delhi visit. The team returned to Kerala on 12 March 2024.