Mobile fish canteens to be launched across Mandya soon

The Hindu

21-07-2025

Mobile fish canteens, named as 'Akkana Mane Meenoota', will soon be launched across Mandya district, as part of the efforts taken up by the Zilla Panchayat, Fisheries Department, and the Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation (KFDC).
The fish canteens developed under Sanjeevini National Rural Livelihood Mission were aimed at empowering women economically.
Chief Executive Officer of Mandya Zilla Panchayat K.R. Nandini said there were abundant opportunities for inland freshwater fishing in Mandya district. As part of the initiative, sea food products will be sourced through KFDC at affordable rates.
The 'Akkana Mane Meenoota', loosely translated as 'fish meals from sister's house', will also help create awareness about the nutritional benefits of fish consumption among the public, while providing hygienic and tasty meals.
To start with, women from 11 Self Help Groups aspiring for self-reliance and economic progress have been selected by the Zilla Panchayat.
While the Fisheries Department had provided 11 'Matsya Vahini' vehicles for the project, the selected women will be given training by the Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETI) on how to operate electric vehicles and prepare high-quality fish products. They will be get uniforms that will help instill a sense of professionalism.
'In a few days, the women will begin serving fish products at affordable rates to the public,' said Ms. Nandini.
The mobile canteens are expected to complement Akka fish canteens, which will be set up in areas that record a high footfall and at tourist destinations in the district.
Ms. Nandini said the Akka fish canteens will enable tourists visiting Mandya to relish quality fish products at affordable rates.
Plans were afoot to set up the canteens at 13 places across the district, including five in Malavalli taluk, two each in Srirangapatna, Pandavapura and Mandya taluks, and one each in K.R. Pet and Nagamangala taluks.
With 11 Akkana Mane Meenoota mobile canteens and 13 Akka fish canteens, these 24 fish canteens will soon begin operating across the district, providing employment to at least 100 women, who will be establishing self-reliant enterprises, thereby improving not only their family's standard of living, but also emerging as successful small entrepreneurs, said Ms. Nandini.
Minister for Agriculture N. Cheluvarayaswamy, who is also the Minister in charge of Mandya district, inspected the mobile fish canteens on Monday. MLAs Ravikumar Ganiga and Udaya M., Deputy Commissioner Kumar, and Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi were present.