Minister for Women and Child Development and Udupi district in-charge Laxmi Hebbalkar inaugurated a new Akka Cafe at Malpe Beach on Saturday, in Udupi.

The café was established to empower women’s economic self-reliance. Speaking after inaugurating the cafe, Ms. Hebbalkar said, “Society can develop only when women are economically strong. Akka Café is not just a restaurant; it is a symbol of women’s hard work and self-respect.”

This innovative project has been implemented in collaboration with Udupi zilla panchayat under the Sanjeevini scheme of the National Rural Livelihood Mission. This Akka Cafe is being run by the Nidhi Sanjeevini Swasaha Sangha of Kalianpur.

The women themselves have taken a step towards economic self-reliance by taking complete charge of the cafe. The attractively designed mobile cafe will provide local food items to tourists visiting Malpe Beach. Snacks, burgers and local dishes will be available here.

Member of Legislative Council Manjunath Bhandari, Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa, zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer Prateek Bhayal and others were present.