Karnataka government launches ‘Akka cafes’ to empower women in Dharwad district | Hubballi News

HUBBALLI: The Karnataka government has sanctioned two Akka Cafés for Dharwad district under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). One café will be established in Dharwad city, while the other will be set up in Kalghatagi taluk. Aimed at promoting social and financial empowerment for women, the initiative will eventually expand across the state. The Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat committees will select the best self-help groups (SHGs) to manage the cafés, which are expected to commence operations soon.
According to sources, the government announced in the 2024-25 budget that women-run canteens will be set up to provide affordable local food in both rural and urban areas. Under the Skill Development and Livelihood Department, these cafés will be branded as Akka Cafés.
In Dharwad, the café will be located at the old Department of Mines and Geology building, behind the Department of Information and Public Relations. The second café will be established on the Taluk Panchayat premises in Kalghatagi taluk. Alteration work for the Dharwad café has already begun, with the Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) overseeing its setup.
Government funding and implementation
Vinod Kanti, NRLM District Programme Manager, told TOI that the district has been allotted two Akka Cafés. The government has sanctioned Rs 15 lakh for the Dharwad café and ₹5.80 lakh for the Kalghatagi café. The KRIDL will complete the setup at the earliest, he added.
Kanti further explained that a committee has been formed to select SHGs to manage the cafés. The committee will choose the best SHGs to serve the public and government programmes while also ensuring that high-quality food is provided. The food quality will be reviewed every three months. Currently, there are 8,012 women’s self-help groups in the district, with around 70 SHGs engaged in catering services. Two of these groups will be selected to operate the Akka Cafés.
Public reaction
A visitor from Dharwad, Ramesh Guled, welcomed the initiative, stating that a canteen had been opened at the DC Office in 2020 but later shut down. He noted that visitors and workers have been facing difficulties due to the lack of a canteen, and the Akka Café will provide much-needed food services.