Takers innumerable are making a beeline for the Rs 20-a-meal lunch parcel sold by three members of the Kudumbashree. They can be had from the Janakeeya hotel run by three enterprising women and it’s located right in front of the Edathala panchayat office in Aluva where more than 300 parcels are up for grabs every day. What’s packed inside is a delectable spread of rice, thoran, chammanthi, pickle, sambar and fish gruel. Pay a little extra for a “special”, Rs 20 for a piece of fried fish and Rs 15 for an omelette.
The popular enterprise, initially named Kudumbashree Vanitha Canteen, came up three years ago under the initiative of the trio KK Vasanthy, Rumisha Koyan and Pavithra Biju. It transformed itself into the Janakeeya Hotel right from the day the government declared its special noon meal scheme during lockdown 1 when the COVID tightened its grip over the state.
The women declare that their intention is to serve food that’s tasty, healthy and clean.
The small enterprise fetches decent returns with which the women keep their home fires burning. They are able to sell food at very reasonable rates thanks to the subsidy they get. There used to be a few tables and chairs where folks could sit down to a meal. But once the Edathala panchayat too came under the containment zone, sit-downs were no more allowed. Thus came the parcels. Drivers, labourers and migrant workers are their most valuable customers.
The trio was also part of the common community kitchen during the COVID stage one days. The hotel also sells lemon, mango, garlic and banana pickles.
