Kudumbasree workers in jeopardy, claim recovery of losses non-feasible with new order

Thrissur: The government has recently decided to discontinue the Rs 10 subsidy previously extended to the 'Janakiya' hotels operated by Kudumbashree. The rationale behind this decision was attributed to the fact that the subsidy had been introduced to deal with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the circumstances brought about by the pandemic have now abated, the government has withdrawn the subsidy, says the official order.

However, this project was in reality launched during the first Pinarayi-led government massive ‘hunger-free’ Kerala campaign. It was in the 2020-21 state budget that the ‘Janakiya’ hotels were announced with the promise that no person would starve in Kerala. This is being refuted by the local self-government that claims this was a Covid pandemic necessitated project. 

Around 6,000 Kudumbasree workers are now in jeopardy after the government’s withdrawal from this dream project. They allege that the decision to remove the subsidy and increase the price of meals to Rs 30 will do more harm than good. 

The hotels that stand on the verge of shut down due to the hike in prices of food substances and gas cylinders will gain no profits from this initiative but will rather lead to further crisis, the workers allege. Many people including school, college students who depend on these hotels for their lunch-time meals failed to show up for the last few days. 

This sudden withdrawal comes under the circumstances when the government owes lakhs of rupees in subsidy to Kudumbasree, dues that piled up over a period of eight months. There is no mention regarding the dispersion of the same in the order. 

Although the subsidy has been withdrawn, the authority to decide the prices is still under the purview of the Kudumbasree district missions. As per the order, the civil supplies department will continue to ensure that subsidized raw materials are provided to these hotels. However, since the quality of the Rs 10.90 per kg rice is low, most of the hotels resort to buying relatively expensive rice from other sources.

Kudumbasree workers also say that even if the local self-government pays the electricity, rent and water bills, it is still unviable for Kudumbasree to recover its losses. Hence they demand that the government give them the authority to regulate the price of meals.