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

The number of Kudumbashree-run Janakeeya hotels in Kozhikode has fallen sharply from 102 to 72, with six outlets shutting their doors during the current financial year alone, as dwindling subsidies take their toll on the community dining initiative.

Launched in 2020 under the State government's Hunger-free Keralam programme, the hotels were designed to provide residents with a traditional meal for just ₹20, making affordable nutrition accessible to low-income groups across the district.

The steady contraction of the network signals growing financial strain on the women-led self-help collectives that run the outlets under the Kudumbashree mission, with operators struggling to remain viable as subsidy support declines.