Kudumbashree - Serving food and earning livelihood: Success Story of A-One Kudumbashree Hotel

There exist a Kudumbashree enterprise group located at Melukavumattam town of Kottayam district of Kerala, which serves delicious food to all. The hotel is run by Smt. Jalaja Shaji, Smt. Pushpalatha Babu and Smt. Lali Mathew, three Kudumbashree women from different neighborhood groups functioning under Melukavu Panchayath CDS. Those who have once visited their hotel, would undoubtedly make a visit to their hotel again. It is the trust they built over the time and the quality of the food they serve that attract everyone to their hotel.

Evolution of A-One Kudumbashree Hotel

The three women met each other for the first time during an enterprise training held as per the direction of Smt. Mariya Fernandez, the then CDS Chairperson during 2015. After the 15-day training, they took part in the payasamela held at Nagambadom ground at Kottayam town and received greater appreciations. And then, they made the decision to start an enterprise of their own. A-One was evolved as a canteen at the Melukavu Panchayath. The enterprise was started after receiving a bank loan of Rs 1.90 lakhs. When they have started getting good reviews, they shifted to a better building so as to expand their venture. Kudumbashree Kottayam District Mission had given financial assistance of Rs 90,000 as technology fund.

When they started getting more customers, the hotel was shifted to a rented building at Melukavumattam town near the police station.  They had taken cash chitty and bank loan to rent the building and they are confident enough that they would be able to pay back the same. The hotel has the capacity to occupy 50 persons at a time. As the hotel is situated in the town, their sales had increased accordingly. As many tourists are coming to the hotel because of the good reviews. The hotel functions from 7 AM to 8 PM. They have 4 staff to support them too. They are also catering orders receiving from outside as well. A-One is also actively participating in the food fairs organized by Kudumbashree and other organizations. They are getting an average monthly income of Rs 15000 after all their expenses including repayment and the salary of their staff. They had proved that it is possible to face any challenges in life if we have the courage to face it.

It is purely the self confidence in oneself that made these women start and success in such an enterprise. When Kudumbashree Mission supported them wholeheartedly, they succeeded in their enterprise and is moving forward.