The Aajeevika India Food Court will indulge the taste buds of visitors at the National SARAS Mela that begins at the Kanakakkunnu Palace grounds on Wednesday. The food court is organised by the Kudumbashree National Resource Organisation (NRO) with the support of the Adebha Institute for Food Research and Hospitality Management (AIFRHM) under the Kudumbashree.
The 15,000-sq.ft. food court will bring together over 100 food-service woman entrepreneurs from 12 States who will share their traditional food culture.
From street favourites such as gol gappa (panipuri) and varieties of chaat kebabs to traditional delicacies such as litti chokha makhana kheer and jalebi rabri (Bihar), momos and wachipa (Sikkim); chicken matka biryani, bamboo chicken, chicken champai, Khowmo Tongtep and smoked chicken and fish (Arunachal Pradesh); biryani and sweets such as potherekulu and sunnundaalu (Andhra Pradesh); Hyderabadi dum biryani (Telangana); fusion dishes such as Mushroom pitha, mushroom cookies, steamed sticky rice with mushroom curry (Assam), an array of dishes will served during the 12-day event.
Other dishes that will on offer include makke di roti and sarson da saag (Punjab); chingdi malai and bhapa ilish, bhetki paturi (West Bengal); neerdosa, shavige with banana rasayana, Mysore masala dosa (Karnataka); fish, chicken and Mutton thali and sol kadi (Maharashtra); and Thalassery honey grape juice, nannari milk serbet, Malabar special chattipathiri, muttasurka, thattilkutti dosa, kappa and fish curry, chicken mandi (Kerala).
Transgender groups under the Kudumbashree will also participate. The food court aims at creating acceptability for self-help group-based food service units and products and mainstreaming them by providing support under the Aajeevika brand, says the Kudumbashree.
More than 200 women entrepreneurs from 19 States participated in the national-level Aajeevika India Food Courts organised by the Ministry of Rural Development and the National Rural Livelihoods Mission in 2019, 2021, and 2022, and generated a revenue of more than ₹1.92 crore.
Taking into account its potential to emerge as a platform for rural woman entrepreneurs, the Aajeevika India Food Court is one of the highlights of the SARAS Mela in the city as well.
