Kozhikode's budget meal network shrinks as Janakeeya hotels fall from 102 to 72

The number of Janakeeya hotels operating in Kozhikode has fallen sharply, dropping from 102 to 72 as subsidy support for the Kudumbashree-run initiative dries up. Six of those closures have occurred within the current financial year alone, marking an accelerating decline in the network.

Launched in 2020 under the State government's Hunger-free Keralam initiative, the hotels were designed to serve traditional meals at the heavily subsidised price of ₹20, bringing affordable nutrition within reach of low-income residents. The scheme is run through Kudumbashree, the women-led self-help enterprise network.

The contraction raises concerns about food security for those who depended on the low-cost outlets, and about the viability of the broader programme without sustained financial backing.