A significant page in the history of the Kudumbashree Mission, is how Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described Mahila Mall, the first mall in the country with an all-women crew, at its launch in Kozhikode on Saturday.
“By taking up all facets of running a business — production, distribution, marketing and execution, Mahila Mall and Kudumbashree have set a new Kerala model of women empowerment. These women have proved that they are not behind anyone and have been successful in conveying the message to society,” Mr. Vijayan said.
He lauded the 100-odd women entrepreneurs at the mall for their original ideas. “It may not be surprising for the people of Kerala that Kudumbashree has come up with such a venture. But this will be a model for the country and world will be keen to know more about it,” he said.
The 36,000 sq ft mall located on Bank Road in Kozhikode city is the biggest venture of any Kudumbashree self-help group so far, set up at a cost of ₹5 crore. It has around 100 shops, around 75 of which are by Kudumbashree workers. Besides, there are 25 stalls in Micro Bazar, which is a permanent exhibition centre for small-scale Kudumbashree products.
What it sports
The mall’s enterprises include a food court, game zone, beauty parlours, boutiques, jewellers, and craft shops. There is a mini- supermarket, a diagnostic centre, a family counselling centre, day-care centre, a rooftop restaurant, women’s bank, an office of the Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation, an IT unit and car wash. The mall is managed by the Kudumbashree Unity Group registered under the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation Kudumbashree CDS.
Other facilities
Minister for Local Self-Governments A.C. Moideen opened Micro Bazar while Labour Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan opened ‘Ummachinte Adukkala,’ the cafe-cum-restaurant. Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran opened the chocolate cake making unit while Health Minister K.K. Shylaja inaugurated the family counselling centre. Minister for Ports Kadannappally Ramachandran opened the Kudumbashree training centre while actor Surabhi Lakshmi launched the mall website.