Mahila Shakti canteens shut for lack of support

Several Mahila Shakti Canteens (Indira Mahila Shakti food courts) in Kothagudem town have shut down operations, citing financial difficulties and low customer turnout, according to members of women self-help groups managing them. Of the 20 shops created under the scheme, only six continue to operate, while the rest have become non-functional.

The project was set up in the Street Vendor Zone near the district government hospital in Kothagudem municipality, with an investment of approximately ₹20 lakh from the Municipal General Fund. The facility includes 20 shops allocated to self-help group women, selling a variety of foods such as tiffins, bread-omelet, fast food, noodles, vegetables, basic flour-based items, chicken pakoda, chapati, among others.

Women entrepreneurs report that despite working from morning until evening, some shops are unable to generate even ₹500 per day in sales. Several have taken loans from external sources to begin operations, in the absence of formal financial assistance, and are now struggling to pay interest or even keep their shops open due to losses.

Basic amenities are lacking: many shops face unreliable electricity supply, absence of potable water at times, and inadequate utility support. Some shops are opening only during evening hours, utilizing solar power under administrative direction. Affected women have raised concerns over inability to sustain operations without external financial aid or government loans.

Recently, the District Collector visited the food court to assess conditions and advised municipal authorities to consult shop operators to understand ground-level issues and take remedial steps. Municipal Corporation Commissioner K. Sujata has been requested to provide explanations. She has reportedly committed to meeting those in charge of the canteen shops and addressing the problems with appropriate corrective measures.

The Mahila Shakti Canteens scheme was envisioned as part of efforts to enable women from self-help groups to engage in income generation and entrepreneurship. However, in this Kothagudem example, low customer footfall, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of consistent financial support appear to be the primary reasons for the closure of many of the shops.