Mandya opens first Akka Café to empower women entrepreneurs

Mandya: In a big step towards promoting women’s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment, the first Akka Café in Mandya district was inaugurated on Friday at the premises of the Pandavapura taluk panchayat.

The café was inaugurated by Melkote MLA Darshan Puttanaiah, who urged the public to make the best use of the facility. He said the initiative would not only provide quality and affordable food to customers but also serve as a platform for strengthening women’s financial independence and self-reliance. Since the café is being managed entirely by women, it will play an important role in empowering rural women and enhancing their livelihood opportunities, he added.

Zilla panchayat chief executive officer KR Nandini said that six Akka Café canteens are planned across Mandya district under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). The cafés will be operated by women belonging to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and will offer hygienic, nutritious and affordable local cuisine to the public. She explained that the initiative is aimed at strengthening women-led enterprises in the catering and food service sector, while generating sustainable income opportunities for SHG members. The govt is extending infrastructure and financial support to ensure the successful establishment and functioning of the cafés.

The project is being implemented in two phases. In the first phase, Akka Cafés are being established in Pandavapura, Srirangapatna and Malavalli taluks. The second phase will cover Mandya, Maddur and Nagamangala taluks. Preparations are under way to inaugurate the Srirangapatna Akka Café in the second week of June, and officials have been instructed to make the remaining centres operational by July.

The cafés will serve traditional breakfast and meal varieties prepared using quality ingredients while adhering to high standards of cleanliness and food safety. In addition to food services, the centres will offer catering facilities, support digital payment systems, and be subject to regular monitoring and evaluation, the CEO said.