The Kerala Women’s Cooperative Federation (Vanithafed) has launched 'Soothikamithram’, a project that offers scientific Ayurvedic care for pregnant women, new mothers, and infants. The initiative is being carried out in partnership with Departments of Cooperation and AYUSH, along with the National AYUSH Mission.

As part of the project, a three-month certificate course will be conducted to train selected women in Ayurvedic-based prenatal and postnatal care. The training will be provided through the National Institute of Training in AYUSH under the guidance of the National AYUSH Mission.

In the first phase, 140 women aged between 20 and 50, with at least a 10th standard qualification, will be trained through women’s cooperative societies across Kerala. Details of those who successfully complete the course will be made available on an online portal for public access.  The project will also be implemented through government agencies, Kudumbashree, and other related institutions.

After training, participants will find opportunities in hospitals, maternity centers, home-care services, and other related enterprises. To streamline services, Vanithafed will also set up an online labor bank to connect trained workers with those who need their services. The federation will collect 5% of the workers’ income as a service fee. This amount will be used for the continuation of the project’s activities. By reviving traditional Ayurvedic practices, Soothikamithram aims to raise the standard of maternal and infant care while also creating new avenues of employment and financial security for women.