Labour Minister and district in-charge, Santosh Lad, emphasized that the newly launched Akka Cafe will serve as a cornerstone for the economic empowerment of women belonging to self-help groups.
He delivered these remarks during the inauguration of the Akka Cafe, strategically located near the Dharwad Zilla Panchayat, on Saturday. This particular cafe is proudly operated by the Kamadhenu women’s self-help group from Kabbenur village.
The Minister highlighted that the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, and Livelihood, under the umbrella of the National Livelihood Mission, is actively pursuing various programs aimed at reducing poverty in both urban and rural areas. The Akka Cafe stands out as a pivotal initiative designed to financially strengthen women.
To further encourage women’s participation in various livelihood activities, the State government introduced the Akka Cafe scheme in its 2024-25 budget. This scheme has sanctioned the establishment of 50 ‘Cafe Sanjivini’ (Akka Cafe) outlets across Karnataka, all of which will be exclusively run by women. Dharwad district is among the regions where these impactful cafes are now taking root.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by numerous dignitaries, including Navalgund MLA N.H. Konaraddi, S.R. Patil (President of the District Guarantee Scheme Implementation Authority), Bhuvanesh Patil (Chief Executive Officer of Dharwad Zilla Panchayat), Superintendent of Police Gunjan Arya, and Rajashree Pawadi (President of the Kamadhenu self-help group), among other prominent personalities.
Following the traditional ribbon-cutting, Minister Lad and the other attendees explored the food preparation facilities and enjoyed sampling the delicious cuisine prepared by the women.
Dharwad district had submitted proposals for two such cafes under the Akka Cafe scheme. Both proposals received government approval, and necessary grants have been disbursed after suitable locations were successfully identified.
A dedicated seven-member committee, led by the Joint Director of Food and Civil Supplies, has been formed to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of this valuable scheme.