Mangaluru: In a pioneering move, Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat is set to take its women-run food initiative to the next level with the launch of Akka Cafe Trucks—a first-of-its-kind mobile café model in Karnataka. The effort aims to extend the reach of Akka Cafes and bring affordable, home-style food to more people across the district.
The initiative builds on the success of two existing Akka Cafes—one operated by the Adiparshakti Women SHG in Ujire and another by Snehasanjeevini Women SHG at Munnoor in Ullal. Both cafés, run by women self-help groups under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), have received strong public response.
ZP CEO Narwade Vinayak Karbhari explained that women SHGs will be supported with up to ₹15 lakh in financial assistance—₹7 lakh earmarked specifically for purchasing trucks and covering operational expenses. “The scheme for Akka Cafe Trucks was recently announced, and we received an official circular last week. We are now in the process of finalizing suitable spots in the district,” he said.
Proposals are being prepared to station food trucks near hospitals and other high-footfall areas. Additionally, a request has been placed to open an Akka Cafe at the Kukke Subrahmanya Temple premises. The Kutumbasri National Resource Unit will conduct feasibility studies for new outlets, after which proposals for more locations will be sent.
The financial performance of the existing cafes has been encouraging. The Ujire outlet records daily transactions of ₹9,000–12,000, while the Munnoor unit averages ₹5,000–7,000.
“The aim of this initiative is not just to provide food but to create a sustainable livelihood model that empowers women through SHGs,” the ZP CEO emphasized.