Kudumbashree’s Janakeeya hotels shrink in Kozhikode as subsidies dry up

…The supply of rice at subsidised rates through Supplyco outlets was also discontinued in March this year. The hotels had earlier received rice at ₹10.90 a kg, with each unit eligible to procure up to 600 kg a month. “ With the withdrawal of both forms of support, several units have either stopped serving the ₹20 meal or shut down altogether. Some outlets have increased the price of a meal, with certain Janakeeya hotels reportedly charging up to ₹50 ,” said V.S. Reeja, a Kudumbashree entrepreneur from Pavangad who was earlier associated with the project. According to her, the number of people employed through the initiative has also declined from around 500 to…

…renewed government intervention to keep the remaining units viable. They said continued government support was essential if the hotels were to provide meals at affordable rates without incurring unsustainable losses. “ The closure of Janakeeya hotels has also raised concerns over the future of the programme that was initially envisaged as a social welfare initiative combining affordable food with livelihood opportunities for Kudumbashree members ,” said a former coordinator with the Kudumbasree Mission. She pointed out that several lower income groups who had been depending on the fair meals supply scheme would also suffer with the gradual closure of Janakeeya…