Two Akka Cafes set to be launched in Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's home district Mysuru

Mysuru: Two years after being announced in the state budget, two of the three Akka Cafes approved for Mysuru district are now ready for inauguration in the Chief Minister’s home district, Mysuru.

Mysuru Zilla Panchayat is coming up with two premium restaurants including, one at Mysuru ZP office premises in Mysuru city and one at Hunsur taluk; and one classic cafe at Mysuru taluk office premises.

Akka Cafe is an ambitious programme of the state government, announced in the Budget-2024. The programme aims to involve women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to promote women’s empowerment and financial sustainability, while also providing hygienic, high-quality, tasty, and nutritious food at affordable prices.

According to Mysuru ZP CEO S Ukesh Kumar, two Akka Cafes are set to be launched on the Mysuru ZP office premises. One will involve the SHG of Nagawala Grama Panchayat; while the other will be located near Haalagere on the Mysuru-Kodagu highway, involving the SHG of Beejaganahalli Grama Panchayat. Both cafes have been developed at a cost of Rs 15 lakh each.

The women from these SHGs have already received Entrepreneurship Development Training (EDT) from the nodal agency Kudumbashree NRO (National Resource Organisation).

One more to come up soon

Meanwhile, civil work is underway for another cafe at the Mysuru Taluk/TP office premises near Mini Vidhana Soudha, with a project cost of Rs 7 lakh, added Ukesh Kumar.

Proposal for five more sent

Deputy Secretary (Development) of Mysuru Zilla Panchayat, Bhimappa K Laali, stated that a proposal has been submitted to the government to establish five more premium Akka Cafes, each at a cost of Rs 15 lakh. These include, one cafe at the taluk panchayat office campuses of Nanjangud, H D Kote, K R Nagar, and Periyapatna taluks, and one at the Gram Panchayat premises in Talakadu of T Narsipura taluk. He added that the feasibility study has been completed by Kudumbashree NRO, and the project is now awaiting government grants.

District Programme Manager for NRLM, Mysuru ZP, A R Asha said that Akka Cafes are implemented by Sanjeevini, Karnataka State Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (KSRLPS) of Department of Skill Development Entrepreneurship and Livelihood under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).

As per the government order, these cafes should be started in coordination with the local bodies, by involving women SHGs, with a minimum of five members. Classic cafes should be spread over 400 to 500 square feet. Premium restaurants should be spread over 501 to 800 square feet. The buildings should be provided by the local bodies. They should be started on government lands, or on private lands, only if government lands are not available. The SHGs should maintain them.

Funds utilisation

The Government fund should be utilised for infrastructure of the cafe including renovation, flooring, lighting fixtures, storage cabinets, plumbing, installing of CCTV cameras, billing machine, tables, chairs and even for branding.

Women of SHGs should mobilise utensils, ovens, gas cylinders, stoves, mixer grinder and refrigerators for cooking. If the maintenance is good, they can get additional funds under bank linkages or programmes like PMFME (Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises) or CIF (community investment fund) or CSR funds. A district-level committee will assess and grade the performance of the SHGs, every three months.