After 'She Auto', Kochi will soon have 'She Shops'

KOCHI: Close on the heels of city traffic police launching the ' She Auto' service, the Kochi corporation has initiated yet another project to empower women.

The civic body is all set to launch the ' She Shop' project on International Women's Day on March 8.

The project will be implemented by the civic body with the support of Kerala State Women's Development Corporation (KSWDC).

A She Shop is essentially a food kiosk that will be run by women as part of the poverty eradication programme.
These shops will serve food cooked in hygienic conditions from a centralised kitchen. This would be supplied by women in electric autorickshaws at select points.

The local body will identify women, who are in need of financial support, and let them run kiosks at places identified by the corporation. The project will use corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds.

The food will be prepared without using whole flour (maida) or added colours, and oil will be used sparingly for cooking.
"Only healthy food will be supplied under the project. Around 150 autorickshaws will be deployed in the first phase, which will be launched on March 8. Existing kiosks, run by women, will be renovated under the project. We have not identified the site to set up the centralised kitchen. Waste generated at these shops will be utilised to produce biogas," mayor Soumini Jain said.

KSWDC will decide on the menu, provide training to interested women entrepreneurs and monitor the environment-friendly project. The corporation will give licences to set up kiosks and approve locations for the same.

The menu will include snacks made from 'raagi', banana, 'aval', 'navara' rice and bamboo rice. Specially packed beverages and snacks specific to the state will be available at these kiosks along with mini meals and executive meals. The kiosks will be jointly owned by selected women entrepreneurs and the corporation.