Siddaramaiah asks officials to follow Akka Cafe model for Indira Canteens

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday directed the officials of the Skill, Employability and Livelihood department to submit a proposal on running Indira canteens by women self-help groups.

During the review meeting of the department, Siddaramaiah directed the officials to submit the proposal for Indira canteens in line with Akka cafes.

Akka cafes were announced in the 2024-25 budget, under which members of the women self-help groups will be given training on running cafes. Impressed with the details submitted by the officials on the functioning of the cafes, the chief minister sought opinion on implementing the same model to Indira Canteens and directed the officials to submit the proposal on the same.

Meanwhile, stressing on the importance of skill training for students, Siddaramaiah suggested the officials take measures to improve the enrollment at the Industrial Training Institutes (ITI). He also instructed the officials to complete the English communication training for ITI students announced in the budget.

The CM further directed the officials to take measures to enrol eligible graduates under Yuva Nidhi scheme and provide them the skill training on priority.

The department has spent Rs 1,235 crore of the Rs 1,864 crore released in the budget.