Providing food and accommodation and earning livelihood: Success Story of the Amenity Centre of Malayalappuzha

Amenity Centre, launched by a few Kudumbashree women at Malayalappuzha, a village outside the city suburbs of the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala.  The Amenity Centre arranged food and accommodation for everyone who come to Malayalappuzha including the pilgrims to Malayalappuzha Devi temple. The Amenity Centre is named as ‘Mount Inn Amenity Centre’. The Mount Inn Amenity Centre was a unique micro enterprise which was launched by a group of 10 Kudumbashree members from Malayalappuzha Panchayath.

Launch of Amenity Centre

The idea of Amenity centre was formulated when it was planned to make use of the vacant unoccupied buildings or places under state government’s ownership for extending livelihood for Kudumbashree members. Café Kudumbashree Restaurant also functions along with the Mount Inn Amenity Centre, which is located near to the Malayalappuzha Devi Temple.

The Amenity Centre was launched on 1 November 2014 at the building of District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), Pathanamthitta which was built as an amenity centre for the pilgrims who come to Malayalappuzha Devi Temple as part of the pilgrimage.

Ten women from different neighborhood groups of Malayalappuzha Panchayath were selected and were given training in café management and were given the charge of the Amenity Centre.

How it works?

Other than the canteen, Mount Inn Amenity Centre have accommodation services and conference halls. An amount of Rs.3 lakhs was taken as loan out of which Rs.1 lakh was given by Kudumbashree Mission as subsidy.  Then a proposal was submitted to District Panchayath as a project and it was approved. The District Panchayath gave Rs.5.50 lakhs and District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), Pathanamthitta spent Rs.6 lakhs for constructing bathrooms and kitchen. Later two of the members got another job and they left the group. Smt. Sujatha Anil, Smt. Latha Prakashan, Smt. Sheeba Prasad, Smt. Pushpa Lakshman, Smt. Leela Shashankan, Smt. Latha Manoj and Smt. Latha Kumari are the other members of the group.  Each of the member is getting Rs.10,000- Rs.15,000 from the Amenity Centre as income. They also save an amount from the monthly sale of Mount Inn Amenity Centre for the renovation activities and for meeting the daily expenses.  The rush increases at   Mount Inn Amenity Centre during the festive season of Malayalappuzha Devi Temple.  The training programme for all government departments including Kudumbashree Mission are being conducted at Mount Inn Amenity Centre.

Rs 300 is the daily tariff of an Air Conditioned Double Room with attached Bathroom.  Air Conditioned Dormitory has a total of 24 beds and Rs 150 is the tariff for one bed per day.  Air Conditioned guest room with double bed and attached bathroom costs Rs 1500 for a day and the Air Conditioned conference hall which can occupy 80 persons costs Rs 2500 per day. Rs 2000 is the daily tariff for the non-Air Conditioned Conference Hall which can occupy a total pf 50 persons.

The women from Malayalappuzha has therefore proved that act right when the right opportunity arrives can bring in drastic changes in one’s own life.  The Amenity Centre of Malayalappuzha can be considered as one of the best examples of the unity and self-confidence of Kudumbashree Women. It is sheer confidence that brought the micro entrepreneurs of Mount Inn Amenity Centre to greater heights. By extending opportunities to many women like the entrepreneurs of Mount Inn Amenity Centre, Kudumbashree Mission is giving wings to the dreams of many and helping them fly !