Akka Cafe to help women become self-reliant opened on ZP premises in Belagavi

Government to open 50 Akka Cafe outlets manned by women SHGs, empowering women and promoting self-reliance.

The government will open at least 50 Akka Cafe outlets in the State that will be completely manned by women members of self-help groups (SHGs).

These are being set up under Sanjeevini under National Rural Livelihood Mission.

They will work towards empowering women, Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Department Sharan Prakash Patil said in Belagavi on Thursday.

He was speaking after inaugurating the first Akka Cafe on the zilla panchayat premises behind the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

The Belagavi cafe is being run by Grameen Kart SHG, promoted by the Mahesh Foundation.

The Minister said that it is an innovative scheme to provide income to self-help groups. A subsidy of about ₹15 lakh is being provided for the management of the cafes. The government is implementing schemes that will make women self-reliant and help them integrate into the mainstream in all sectors. He urged women to become self-reliant using such schemes.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Women and Child Welfare said that an Avasar shop has been set up on the Sambra Airport premises for selling and displaying products manufactured by SHGs. She urged Belagavi residents to make use of the outlet.