Udupi: Civil supplies minister Rizwan Arshad on Saturday inaugurated Akka Cafe, a joint initiative of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (Sanjeevini) and the Udupi zilla anchayat, on the Brahmagiri-Kinnimulki road in the city.Speaking on the occasion, the minister stated that Akka Cafe is a significant project for women’s economic empowerment and that it is a matter of pride that it is being entirely led by women. By becoming entrepreneurs today, women are giving a new dimension to economic independence. He said it is a symbol of women’s self-respect.The new cafe, which has started near Nairkere Road in Brahmagiri, Udupi, is being run by women of the Ujwala Sanjeevini Self-Help Group of Manipura Gram Panchayat.The Minister said healthy, pure, traditional coastal-style food items and snacks will be available to customers at highly affordable rates at Akka Cafe. He added that, beyond being just a dining spot, it is a unique platform that introduces the cooking skills of grassroots women to society and provides a solid foundation for their lives by creating a viable market for locally prepared items.Karnataka Coastal Development Board chairman MA Gafoor, Udupi Urban Development Authority chairman Dinakar Heruru, Udupi District Guarantee Schemes Implementation Committee chairman Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, deputy commissioner Swaroopa TK, zilla panchayat CEO Prateek Bayal, SP Hariram Shankar and others were present.Rizwan Arshad also inaugurated the ‘Illu’ Foods masala powder manufacturing unit of the Udupi Sanjeevini Mahila Kisan Producer Company, an initiative of the zilla panchayat, at the Doddangudde Shivalli Horticulture Farm.
