Zilla Panchayat CEO K.R. Nandini in front of an Akka Cafe in Pandavapura.
Mandya district is all set to inaugurate its first Akka Café on June 5 at the Pandavapura Taluk Panchayat premises.Presiding over a district-level committee meeting on the implementation of Akka Cafés at the Zilla Panchayat office, Mandya Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Nandini K.R. said that six Akka Café canteens, to be managed by women belonging to National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) self-help groups, are being established across the district.She said the initiative aims to provide clean, tasty and affordable food in rural areas while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for women self-help groups engaged in the ready-to-eat food service sector.Ms. Nandini said Akka Cafés have been constructed in Pandavapura, Srirangapatna and Malavalli taluks in the first phase, while facilities have also been developed in Mandya, Maddur and Nagamangala taluks under the second phase.The government is providing the necessary infrastructure and financial assistance to encourage women entrepreneurs from self-help groups. While the Pandavapura unit will be inaugurated on June 5, the Akka Café at Srirangapatna is scheduled to be launched during the second week of June. Officials have been directed to ensure that the remaining cafés become operational by July.The cafés will be entirely managed by women from self-help groups and will function with technical support from the Kudumbashree National Resource Organisation. The outlets will serve hygienic and quality food at affordable prices, with staff in uniform and strict adherence to cleanliness and sanitation standards. Catering services and digital payment facilities will also be available, while regular monitoring and evaluation will be undertaken to ensure efficient operations, according to a press release. Published - June 04, 2026 08:15 pm IST
