A National Workshop on Elderly Friendly Communities will be organised by Kudumbashree associating with Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) at Mascot Hotel, Thiruvananthapuram on 19 and 20 November 2019. The workshop has been conceived in the context of the challenges posed by demographic transition. Shri A.C. Moideen, Minister for Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala will inaugurate the workshop at Mascot Hotel, Thiruvananthapuram on 19 November 2019. Shri. T.K. Jose IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala will preside over the function. The workshop will conclude with a plenary session addressed by Smt K.K. Smt. K. K. Shailaja Teacher, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Kerala in the afternoon session scheduled to be held on 20 November 2019. Smt. Sarada Muraleedharan IAS, Principal Secretary, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala will chair the plenary session. The technical sessions will feature national and international experiences and various knowledge domains. The National Workshop will bring together the expertise of people specializing on the issues relating to the elderly population together, draw from the experiences of elderly-friendly initiatives across the country and outside, and help develop checklists that would work as practical guides at the field level for local level planning and action.

The workshop will examine the demographic transition that Kerala is undergoing and the challenges that it poses as the proportion of the elderly rises in the state’s population. The social implications of demographic transition and the readiness that the healthcare system has to ensure will be examined at the seminar. There will be sessions that feature the issues of developing a reliable system for geriatric care which will look into specific challenges of mobility and active ageing.The workshop will also examine the social justice dimension of ageing and health care for the elderly by throwing light on the vulnerable sections of the society. It will probe dementia as a special topic as the condition poses specific challenges to elderly care in general and healthcare in particular. Technological challenges and trends in assistive technologies will also be discussed. The workshop will deliberate on the emerging ‘care economy’, exploring the economic and social challenges and opportunities in care-giving and palliative care. Different models from the public sector as well as not-for-profit and private sectors will be examined. Various models that have emerged in the sector through local government initiatives will be presented and discussed as part of this. The workshop is expected to help in developing new strategies and programmes for moving towards elderly-friendly communities.

The participants of the workshop would include experts, administrators, agencies and institutions working on issues relating to the elderly, elderly-care, palliative care, and nursing care. Local governments and Kudumbashree Community Development Societies with experience in running similar programmes will be invited to share their experiences at the workshop.

State Level Inauguration of Snehitha Calling Bell Week was held at Punartham Auditorium, Elavankonam, Thiruvannathapuram on 15 November 2019. Shri. A.C Moideen, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the programme. Shri. I.B Satheesh, MLA presided over the function. Shri. S. Harikishore IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission explained the Snehitha Calling Bell Programme. Snehitha Calling Bell Week would be observed at all Kudumbashree neighbourhood groups from 15-21 November 2019.

Snehitha calling bell is an innovative programme which aims to ensure protection and security of individuals who are living alone or at isolated place. The programme started to focus on senior citizens as the crime against people who are living alone has increased in some areas. Kudumbashree has started the programme state wide in the financial year 2018-19. By observing Snehitha Calling Bell Week, Kudumbashree aims at arranging these activities and ensure public support for this initiative.

Snehitha gender help desk holds the responsibility of the implementation and monitoring of the Snehitha Calling Bell programme. Snehitha identifies the individuals who are isolated in the society and people who are distressed and no one to look after them. The NHGs in the respective areas holds the responsibility of taking care of the isolated person/persons. The health volunteer or any member of the NHG will be visiting/contacting them once in a day. This will help to avoid the atrocities and violence against aged and those who are living alone. And also this will help to provide any other support immediately if needed. Kudumbashree conducts house visits to identify the support beneficiaries of the program on regular basis. A set of questionnaire has been prepared and used for data collection. Kudumbashree also conducts the need assessment study among the support beneficiaries and try to fulfill the needs in convergence with various departments. Kudumbashree have also conducted medical camps for the support beneficiaries across the state. The Snehitha calling bell beneficiaries are also linked with ‘Pakalveedu’ which will help to build rapport and it is a recreation activity too.

Kudumbashree join hands with Save the Children for a Capacity Building Initiative on 'Resilient & Climate Smart Children in Kerala'. The main objective of the initiative is to strengthen resilience of children through awareness and knowledge sharing and preparedness and training. The awareness and knowledge sharing section includes modules on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) basics, Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) basics, Child Protection concepts, Child Rights concepts and play method module with session plans and instructions for facilitator.It also has colouring books on disaster themes. The six disaster themes include cyclone, flood, fire, tsunami, earthquake and drought and each disaster has six preparedness key messages with posters to colour.

The preparedness and training section include child and their family’s own safety planning tool, Hazard Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis (HVCA)- School safety and Hazard Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis (HVCA)- School safety. The child and their family’s own safety planning tool is a child friendly tool whereby child can make a safety plan for themselves and their family. The Hazard Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis (HVCA)- School safety is a child friendly and participatory method of risk analysis and preparing safety plan. First Aid training for children includes training on life saving skills (basic, age appropriate). It is planned to complete the co-creation of modules in workshop mode, training of Trainers (ToT) for resource persons, complete the translation and printing of module and the district / block level training by resource persons by December 2019 and the first aid training and the further trainings by resource persons at district/ block with Balasabha by March 2020.

'Save the Children', a global non-profit organisation founded in the year 1919 is India's leading independent child rights NGO, which run programmes in the remotest corners of India and urban areas to provide quality education and healthcare, protection from harm and abuse and life-saving aid during emergencies to children.

As part of regularizing the street food vending business, to ensure safe and hygienic food joints, Kozhikode Corporation provided licenses to street vendors at the Kozhikode Beach. The licences are provided under National Urban Livelihood Mission, implemented by Kudumbashree in Kerala. Shri. Thottathil Raveendran, Mayor, Kozhikode Corporation, handed over the licences to the street vendors at the programme held at Kozhikode beach on 4 November 2019. It is the first of its kind initiative in the state. Special vending zone is set up for the street vendors and so they can continue their business in the new space allotted by the Kozhikode Corporation.

There are 27 vendors engaged in vending business on the side of Kozhikode beach road, and they will therefore be shifted to a vending zone marked on the beach to carry out their business. The new vending zone was set up to streamline the street vending activities and legalize the same to ensure dispute free ambiance and restrict unauthorized street vending activities. Though they had been issued identity cards, its for the first time licence is being issued to them. Three public taps are installed at the new location so that street vendors need not cross the road to fetch water to prepare the food. The vendors stack up the generated waste daily at the collection point near the Kozhikode beach Hospital. They would also handover the generated waste to Kudumbashree units for disposal. Kudumbashree units would therefore be able to earn an income from disposing the waste.

Financial assistance was provided to the flood affected Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) and the entrepreneurs who attended the Saras Fair held at Chengannur and were affected by the devastating Kerala floods during August 2018. Shri. A.C Moideen, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the state level programme of providing financial assistance at the function held at Government Engineering College, Chengannur, Alappuzha on 8 November 2019. Shri. Saji Cherian, MLA presided over the function. Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree explained the project in detail to the public.

A total of 13 crores was granted by the Government of Kerala for the flood affected entrepreneurs and women farming groups. More than 500 rural entrepreneurs from 29 states and 7 union territories had came for attending the Saras Fair which was planned to be held at Chenganur from 14-23 August 2018. And when the floods hit Chenganoor, the entrepreneurs were rescued and were moved to safer places. It is as part of rehabilitating and rebuilding their lives that the Government had issued Rs 13 crores for them. Loss of Rs 6 crores were estimated for the 25 entrepreneurs who took part in the Saras fair and 25,000 hectres of land were submerged during the floods and a loss of Rs 7 crores were estimated.

Kudumbashree received the Digital Transformation Award from Governance Now, the premier publication on public policy and governance during their 3rd Digital Transformation Summit & Awards held at The Lalit, New Delhi on 6 November 2019. Kudumbashree received the Digital Transformation Awards 2019 in Poverty Alleviation and Skills Development for Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY), Destitute Free Kerala Project and Mobile Application and Website for Monitoring Micro Enterprises. Shri Vinit Goenka, Member, Governing Council of CRIS; Member- IT Task Force, Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways and Shipping, Government of India and Shri. S.N Tripathi, Director, Indian Institute of Public Administration presented the awards to Smt. Suchithra.S, State Programme Manager, Micro Enterprises, Shri. Jomon.K.J, State Assistant Programme Manager,Social Development and Shri. Leo Pole.T, State Programme Manager, DDUGKY. The award is conferred under end-to-end digital service in e-Governance for the most innovative and effective projects which have demonstrated excellent usage of technology for creating maximum impact with respect to demonstrating e-governance.

Kudumbashree have developed a mobile application and website for monitoring the development of our 21,696 micro enterprises, which was started on Aug 2018. Netroxe IT solutions Pvt. Ltd, a start-up agency, helped Kudumbashree to develop this mobile app. The main aim of the application was to ensure the sustainability of the micro enterprises. Micro Enterprise Consultants (field level staff) has done a onetime survey to enter the basic details of all enterprises by using the mobile app. They had visited each and every enterprises to collect the data and done the geo-tagging of the enterprises. Block level/ District level officials verified the data and approved the same in timely manner. Every month, the monthly turnover, marketing updation, programme participation, convergence details etc are updated.

Kudumbashree, with its advanced social experimentation, ascertained that ultimate poverty is multi pronged and hence the approach had to be changed while addressing their needs. This led to the chalking-out of a new scheme called ASRAYA - Destitute Identification Rehabilitation and Monitoring programme, where the beneficiaries are identified through a nine point indicator directly by Kudumbashree neighborhood groups and their criteria are then rechecked by the Local Self Government Institutions who then prepares tailor made projects suiting each beneficiaries' need. This scheme was revamped in 2017 as Destitute Free Kerala Campaign (DFK).The beneficiary identification for Asraya was done through paper survey, which consumed lot of time and money and had given way for intrusion of ineligible beneficiaries to the scheme as well. With the prime motive to check such illegal infiltration and to make the beneficiary identification process more transparent, development of a mobile platform was devised. The digital application was officially launched on 19 October 2017. With the launch of a digital platform, Kudumbashree was able to create a digital data base of the poorest of the poor or destitute is available with the Local Self Government Institutions (LSGI) and Government, got a facility to upload the photograph of the beneficiary showing their current living status, became able to geo-tag the location of each beneficiary, easy retrieval of the components/ services required for each beneficiary was made possible and the compilation of projects at LSGI giving priority to DFK beneficiaries became easy. This helped in developing working projects that are pro-poor and also the progress in meeting the requirements was also easily monitored.

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), the skill training and placement program of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and Kerala State (Kudumbashree) occupies a unique position amongst other skill training programmes, due to its focus on the rural poor youth and its emphasis on sustainable employment through the prominence and incentives given to post-placement tracking, retention and career progression. Kudumbashree has devised an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software which follows a three-tier concurrent monitoring system involving Project Implementing Agencies (PIA), State and Central Government, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), System complies for SOP and Monitoring daily activities. Trained v/s target, assessment and certification, placement achievement v/s target, mobilization, due diligence, on-time Inspections, training centre utilization, default actions against the PIA based on the issues, SMS alert system, financial data, standard forms, geo-tagged training centers, candidate tracking, dynamic reports and static reports were the marketing parameters and the Program Implementing Agencies (PIA’s), Kudumbashree, Central Technical Supporting Agencies (CTSA), Ministry of Rural Development, students, district officials, block officials, Community Development Socities (CDS) and various Government Departments of Kerala are the key beneficiaries.

The 3rd Digital Transformation Summit & Awards Conference of Governance Now was supported by Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India, Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.

Some participants of Arangu 2019 substantiated that age is just a number for them. Smt. Komalavalliyamma, aged 80, from Alappuzha district and Smt. Mariyam Pennamma aged 64, from Kottayam and Smt. Vijayam Gopalakrishnan aged 62 hailing from Idukki district of Kerala just proved that age is nothing but a number for them. Komalavaliyamma took part in Thiruvathirakali competition whereas, Smt Mariyam Pennamma and Smt.Vijayam took part in the poetry recitation (senior) and Folk Dance (senior) respectively.

Though, Komalavaliyamma's team hadn't bagged any prize, they stole the hearts of the audience. Komalavaliyamma came from Thakzhy CDS of Alappuzha district. Her team performed Thiruvathira in its traditional way, where the women sing and dance by themselves in a circle. Komalavalliyamma herself trained her team. She had started practicing Thiruvathira from the age of 12 and she restarted performing Thiruvathira once stopped after her marriage, from the stages of Kudumbashree Mission and Kerala State Literacy Mission. Smt. Mariyam Pennamma from Kottayam had bagged third prize in poetry recitation. She is the active member of Kudumabshree for the last 20 years. She had special love for poetry from her childhood itself. Mariyam Penamma is the most senior one among the participants of poetry recitation (senior) competition. She recited the poem-Kattupoovu of Vinod Poovakkod and bagged third prize. Smt. Vijayam Gopalakrishnan hailing from Idukki bagged first prize in Folk Dance(Senior) competition. Vijayam had stole the hearts of the audience by infusing traditions and ethnic elements into her dance.

Arangu 2019 was kickstarted when Shri. A.C Moideen, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the festival at Palakkad on 1 November 2019. Arangu 2019 was held at 6 venues in Palakkad district from 1-3 November 2019. Kasaragod District bagged the award for the best performance at Arangu Art Festival with 128 points. Kannur and Kozhikode district came in the second and third place with 93 and 65 points respectively. Arangu 2019 had undoubtedly showcased the inherent talents of women of all ages from different parts of the state.

Kudumbashree's Art Festival 'Arangu' showcased the inherent talents of Kudumbashree Women. Kasaragod District bagged the award for the best performance at Arangu Art Festival with 128 points. Kannur and Kozhikode district came in the second and third place with 93 and 65 points respectively. Arangu 2019 was kickstarted when Shri. A.C Moideen, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the festival at Palakkad on 1 November 2019. The three day Arts Festival took place at the 6 venues named Karuthamma (Govt. Victoria College, Palakkad), Indulekha (Govt. Moyans LP School, Palakkad), Suhara (Fine Arts Society, Palakkad), Nanimistress (Govt. Victoria College Auditorium, Palakkad), Sumithra (Govt. Victoria College Auditorium, Palakkad), Chemmarathi (Govt. Victoria College Ground, Palakkad). The Mime and Drama Competitions were held at Chembai Memorial Government Music College, Palakkad.

1904 women from 14 districts across the state took part in 34 competition items. The competitions were arranged in Junior and Senior sections. Those within the age limit 18-35 came under the junior section and those above 35 years were considered in the Senior section. Light Music, Fancy Dress, Mappila Pattu, Mono Act, Folk Dance, Mimicry, Elocution, Recitation, Drawing (Pencil), Poetry Writing, Drawing (Water Colour), Story Writing, Cartoon, Collage, Kathaprasangam, Group Song, Group Dance, Folk Song, Drama, Oppana, Margamkali, Thiruvathira, Skit, Mime and Shinkarimelam were the 34 competition items in which the women competed with each other.

More than 2500 Kudumbashree women took part in the procession organised prior to the inaugural function. Kudumbashree members from Palakkad district handed over the cheque of Rs.18,51,000 to Shri. A.C Moideen, Minister for Local Self Governments, Government of Kerala towards Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) during the inaugural function. The Art Festival became an opportunity for the women to present their artistic talents before the society. Arangu 2019, the three day Arts festival of Kudumbashree Mission had indeed stolen the hearts of the art lovers of Palakkad.

Kudumbashree's Art Festival 'Arangu' was kick-started at Palakkad. Shri. A.C Moideen, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the festival at Palakkad on 1 November 2019. Shri. K. Krishnankutty
Minister for Water Resources, Government of Kerala presided over the function. Shri. S. Harikishore IAS, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission introduced Kudumbashree's Art Festival- 'Arangu' to the public. The Art festival is organised by Kudumbashree Mission in association with Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala. More than 2500 Kudumbashree women took part in the procession organised prior to the inaugural function. Kudumbashree members from Palakkad district handed over the cheque of Rs.18,51,000 to Shri. A.C Moideen, Minister for Local Self Governments, Government of Kerala towards Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) during the function.

The three day Arts Festival will take place at the 6 venues named Karuthamma (Govt. Victoria College, Palakkad), Indulekha (Govt. Moyans LP School, Palakkad), Suhara (Fine Arts Society, Palakkad), Nanimistress (Govt. Victoria College Auditorium, Palakkad), Sumithra (Govt. Victoria College Auditorium, Palakkad), Chemmarathi (Govt. Victoria College Ground, Palakkad). In addition to this, Drama Competitions would be held at Chembai Memorial Government Music College, Palakkad.

1904 women from 14 districts across the state will take part in 34 competition items. The competitions are arranged in Junior and Senior sections. Those within the age limit 18-35 would come under the junior section and those above 35 years would be considered in the Senior section. Light Music, Fancy Dress, Mappila Pattu, Mono Act, Folk Dance, Mimicry, Elocution, Recitation, Drawing (Pencil), Poetry Writing, Drawing (Water Colour), Story Writing, Cartoon, Collage, Kathaprasangam, Group Song, Group Dance, Folk Song, Drama, Oppana, Margamkali, Thiruvathira, Skit, Mime and Shinkarimelam are the 34 competition items in which the women would compete with each other.

Shri. Balamurali IAS, District Collector, Palakkad, Shri. V. K Sreekandan M.P, Smt. Prameela Sasidharan, Chairperson, Palakkad Municipality, Padmashri Shivan Namboodiri, Renowned Koodiyattom Artist, Shri, Mundoor Sethumadhavan, Famous Writer, Smt. K.P.M Pushpaja, Governing Body Member and other dignitaries also attended the function. Shri. Shafi Parambil, MLA welcomed the gathering and Shri. P. Saithalavi, District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree Palakkad District Mission extended vote of Thanks. 'Arangu'- Kudumbashree's Art Festival is being an opportunity for the women to present their artistic talents before the society.

Palakkad is all set to host Kudumbashree Mission's Arts Festival 'Arangu' which is proposed to held at Palakkad from 1-3 November 2019. Shri. A.C Moideen, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala will inaugurate the festival at Govt.Victoria College, Palakkad on 1 November 2019. The registrations for various programme items are progressing at Hotel Gazala, Palakkad.

The three day Arts Festival will take place at the 6 venues named Karuthamma (Govt. Victoria, Palakkad), Indulekha (Govt. Moyans LP School, Palakkad), Suhara (Fine Arts Society, Palakkad), Nanimistress (Govt. Victoria College Auditorium, Palakkad), Sumithra (Govt. Victoria College Auditorium, Palakkad), Chemmarathi (Govt. Victoria College Ground, Palakkad). In addition to this, Drama Competitions would be held at Chembai Memorial Government Music College, Palakkad.The stage arrangements of the different venues are almost completed.

1904 women from 14 districts across the state will take part in 34 competition items. The competitions are arranged in Junior and Senior sections. Those within the age limit 18-35 would come under the junior section and those above 35 years would be considered in the Senior section.  Light Music, Fancy Dress, Mappila Pattu, Mono Act, Folk Dance, Mimicry,  Elocution, Recitation, Drawing (Pencil), Poetry Writing, Drawing (Water Colour), Story Writing, Cartoon, Collage, Kathaprasangam, Group Song, Group Dance, Folk Song, Drama, Oppana, Margamkali, Thiruvathira, Skit, Mime and Shinkarimelam are the  34 competition items in which the women would compete with each other.

A competition  was held for designing the logo for Arangu Arts Festival. The logo designed by Shri. Muhammed Safuvan, Student of Azharul Uloom Islamic College, Aluva, Ernakulam was selected as the logo of Arangu Arts Festival from the 13 entries received during the competition.The logo was designed incorporating the ideas of Freedom, Equality and Participation. The Arts Festival would be an opportunity for the women to present their artistic talents before the society. The Arts festival is organised by Kudumbashree Mission in association with Local Self Government Department.  More than 2000 Kudumbashree women would take part in the procession which is proposed to be held prior to the inaugural function.