As part of the field visit, the members of the Fifteenth Finance Commission of India visited the Sreesailam Nutrimix Unit, located at Koratty of Thrissur District. It is as the part of the evaluation of the development programmes being implemented in the state, that the finance commission visited the Nutrimix unit. Sreesailam Nutrimix Unit had already been evaluated as the best example of women empowerment activities being implemented. The unit which was started 10 years ago is now producing 1800 tonnes of Nutrimix per month. After analyzing the working of the unit, the finance commission envisions to include the same as a model project in the finance planning programme.

The finance commission included Shri. Aravind Mehta, Secretary, Finance Commission, Shri. Mukhmeet Singh Bhatia, Joint Secretary, Finance Commission, Shri. Antony Cyriac, Economic Adviser, Shri. Bharat Bhushan Garg, OSD Director, Shri. A.S Parmar, Joint Director, Shri. Adithi Pathak, Deputy Director, Shri. Mahesh Kumar, Shri. Pramod Kumar and Shri. Gopalakrishnan ( Assistant Directors). Dr. A Kaushigan,District Collector, Thrissur, Shri. Joy Ilamon, Director, KILA, Shri. S. Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree Mission and Shri. K.V Jyothish Kumar, District Mission coordinator, Thrissur also accompanied the team. The Finance commission also appreciated the activities of Green Army of Wadakkancherry.

Amrutham Nutrimix is the food supplement provided to the children of the age group of 6 months to 3 years. It comes in 500 grams packet. Wheat, Soya Chunks, Bengal gram, Groundnut and Sugar are the basic ingredients . From 2006 onwards Kudumbashree is collaborating with the Social Welfare Department for the supply of Take Home Ration for Supplementary Nutrition to the 33000 ‘Anganwadis’ in the State. The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) provides the Supplementary Nutrition for children in the form of Take Home Ration (THR).An average of 1300 metric tones of Nutrimix are distributed through the Anganavadis every month The Nutrimix powder was developed as per the directions of Integrated Child Development Services Programme. Nutrimix has enabled thousands of rural women to manufacture and supply the nutritional supplement to their children all across the state to reach out to the children who are suffering from the issues of malnutrition.

Kudumbashree women make a coruscating performance at the Trade Fairs organised in the districts to mark the Second Anniversary Celebrations of the Government of Kerala. The trade fairs were organised in 13 districts across the state except Alappuzha by the Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Kerala during May 2018. A sale of Rs 1.24 crore was recorded from the stalls and food stalls set up at the respective district headquarters. The Kudumbashree stalls made noteworthy achievements by becoming best stalls in few districts. In Kannur, Kudumbashree bagged the award for the 'Best Stall in the Non Departmental Category' and Pathanamthitta bagged the 'Best All Round Performance Award'. 'Special prize for the Stalls' was bagged by Wayanad District and Thiruvananthapuram bagged 'Second Prize for the best performance'.

Half of the total number of stalls set up in each districts as part of the trade fair was allotted for Kudumbashree for ensuring the participation of the women entrepreneurs and to help the women get benefited out of the same. 368 stalls and 71 cafe units were alloted altogether in 13 districts.More than 200 women became part of the trade fairs. Kudumbashree had marked its brilliant presence at the events by hosting the food courts delivering unique dishes and with products made by Kudumbashree women entrepreneurs. The cafe units rendered renowned local dishes with all the essence of being at home. The collective social change and empowerment that Kudumbashree had brought about among the women was evident from the success that they had attained during the trade fair. The commercial stalls and food stalls of Kudumbashree got good responses for bringing products with purity, homeliness and quality and was wholeheartedly welcomed by the public.

The Bala Parliament organised by Kudumbashree Mission sets a noteworthy model. Dr. K.T Jaleel, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the Bala Parliament held at Old Legislative Assembly Hall on 30 May 2018. Selected 131 students from 13 districts across the state except Kozhikode took part in the programme. Bala Parliament is being conducted by Kudumbashree Mission starting from 2007 to educate the children and to make them aware and understand the democratic process and its importance.

For the first time, an open forum was arranged to discuss with the selected representatives from the government departments, that the children face in the society. Smt. Prasanna Kumari, Deputy Director, Education Department, Shri. C Rajendran IFS, Forest Department (Deputy Conservator of Forest) Shri. G. Muraleedharan Nair, Deputy Excise Commissioner, Excise Department, Shri. C.J Antony, Acting Chairperson, Child Rights Commission and Dr. K. Sandeep, Deputy Director, Family Welfare Department interacted with the Children and answered the questions of the children.

Shri. Suresh Kumar, Deputy Secretary, Centre for Parliamentary Studies lead a class on 'Why Bala Parliament' at Loyola College on 29 May 2018. Students were divided into different groups and out of them 20 students were identified roles of President, Prime Minister, Speaker, Opposition Leader and Ministers of various departments. After the Bala Parliament, the Balasabha children also visited the New Legislative Assembly Complex.

Smt. G.S Amrida, Programme Officer, Social Development, Kudumbashree Mission welcomed the gathering and Dr. K.R Shaiju, Thiruvananthapuram District Mission Coordinator extended Vote of Thanks. The prime objective of constituting Balasabhas is to prevent inter-generational transmission of poverty through capability enhancement of children. Small Learning Groups for experimental and systematic learning, opportunities for understanding democratic process, participation in conserving environment, enabling children to unfold the intricacies of collectivisation are the basic focal points of Balasabha.

Honey jack, a venture from Kothamangalam producing value added products from Jack fruit is being a big hit. A group of 5 youth from Kothamangalam municipality of Ernakulam district started an enterprise with the value addition of Jack fruit and branded the same. Launched on 1 January 2018, the unit is producing different products made out of Jack fruit and branded the product as Honey Jack. They are producing jack fruit Jam, jack fruit chips, jack fruit puttu powder, jack fruit avalosunda, jack fruit coffee powder, jack fruit chutney, jack fruit murukku, dry jack, jack fruit pickle, jack fruit pulp, ripe jack fruit vacuum fried chips etc. The unit is also making jack fruit pulps, passion fruit pulps, jack fruit juice, passion fruit juice, guava juice, mango juice, water melon juice, pineapple juice and grape juice, lime ginger squash, birds eye chilly squash, gooseberry- birds eye chilly mixed squash and nutmeg candy as well.

The team include 5 members. Jithesh P Cherian is the Chairman of the unit. Jaison Chacko, Georgekutty Peter, Anoop Manoharan and Jismon Joseph are the other members of the unit. The team wanted to launch an enterprise that was unique and has viability under NULM project. When they came to know about the NULM project, they approached the City Mission Management Unit (CMMU) and discussed their idea on value addition of Jack fruit. As a result, they attended the Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) & skill from accredited agencies and submitted project before the task force.

Initially,the banks didn’t sanction loan for the group and later Indian Overseas Bank sanctioned Rs.10 lakhs as loan. They availed a shop on rent and started the unit. The unit participated in different food fests and Kudumbashree exhibitions which resulted in developing the brand name and able to generate more orders from outside the Urban Local Body. The unit is having an average sales of Rs 2.5 lakhs to 3.5 lakhs a month. The unit is marketing their products in 3 districts and is planning to conduct Jack fruit fest in the Urban Local Body to sensitize the various products that can be produced using Jack fruit. The unit is one of new enterprise model of the Urban Local Body. Jackfruit was designated state fruit by Government of Kerala in 2018.

Transgenders, who were considered outcast by the society till recently, is now coming to the forefront with the confidence in themselves. Nicy Chips, a first of its kind Micro Enterprise unit was launched by a group of transgenders from Aanakulam of Kannur district. Nicy Chips is the venture of Nanma NHG group. They are manufacturing and selling 5 different types of chips from banana, potato and are selling in the market. A start up fund of Rs 1 lakh was handed over to the team by Adv. A.N. Shamseer, MLA recently.

In the initial stage, the team started selling through home shops and because of the quality of the products they prepare, Nicy Chips are of high demand in the market. Even a few supermarkets have shown interest to sell Nicy Chips in their shops. Nicy Chips are also undertaking bulk orders as well. An average of 2,000 kg of Chips are sold in a month, even though the business is mainly done focusing on trade fairs inside and outside Kerala. The response they received while take part in the Trade fairs at Delhi, Maharashtra and Rajasthan are adding more confidence to them. Sandhya is the president and Sona is the Secretary of the Micro Enterprise unit. Sneha, Maya, Saumini, Aparna, Jasmine, Reema Satheeshan, Sanana and Laisa are the other members of the unit. On getting motivated from the Nicy Chips Micro enterprise unit, many more transgender groups have shown interest in launching such ventures. The team is planning to expand their venture and redesign the packing to gave their product more attractive look.

Safari Driving School of Malappuram cannot be considered a mere driving school. It bears the saga of a woman who dare to make a difference through her life. Smt.Rejina from Malappuram and her team are engaged in providing training to women who wanted to learn driving or to get driving as a means of livelihood. The concept of Women drivers or driving teachers was not at all acceptable in a district like Malappuram. It was during such a period that Smt. Rejina came forward boldly to start her driving school. The women were usually reluctant to get into the field due to the existing social conditions. Smt. Rejina came into the sector boldly availing linkage loan from Kudumbashree Mission. Her efforts soon became successful with the highlight that its a woman who had been teaching driving to other women. This made her driving school ‘Safari driving school’ even more famous.

Smt. Rejina teaches women to ride two-wheeler and four-wheeler and helps them in getting the license and thereby she helped women to acquire driving skill at affordable cost. She conceived the idea from the awareness session of City Mission Management Unit of NULM to utilize the linkage loan for income generation activity alongside personal consumption. She is proud that she has been able to provide training to 128 women so far and is earning Rs. 40,000 per month and is having the confidence to repay the amount within three years. She is also able to avail interest subsidy. Smt. Rejina is one of the best examples of women entrepreneurship as she chose a sector where many women were afraid to attempt.