This Onam, Kudumbashree will deliver sadya all over Kerala

Kushalakumari V.K. has just delivered Karkidaka kanji to customers in Cheruthana panchayat of Haripad block in Alappuzha district. Her day starts very early if her Kudumbashree catering unit, named Ruchikkoottam, is supplying lunch or snacks orders on a day. And this Onam, she prays, will be a busier one for her six-member unit if all goes to plan.

This year, the Kudumbashree has become an active player in the Onasadya catering scene in the State. With its catering units and entrepreneurs a common sight at fairs and festivals, running canteens and streetside eateries, and bagging awards at food-related events outside the State, the Kudumbashree is making sure it capitalises on the growing demand for Onasadya in the days leading up to Thiruvonam and even on the big day.

Hoping to grab a slice of the ever-growing Onasadya pie, the Kudumbashree has made arrangements such as call centre numbers to take pre-bookings in all districts and blocks.

Kushalakumari says the sadya orders have started trickling in, but they are likely to see a significant uptick next week, particularly from offices looking to top off their celebrations with a lavish sadya. Her Onam menu has 18 dishes, including two payasams, all for ₹200. Slight tweaks can also be requested, she says.

In Punnapra south, Geetha Babu and Sulabha Shaji who have been in the business not very long have started getting orders related to ‘Vikasanotsavam’ events being organised in each ward in connection with Onam. Though a rural area where not many households order sadyas, they hope orders related to celebrations elsewhere in the run-up to Thiruvonam will fetch them a decent income.

The Kudumbashree is banking on orders from government and private institutions, banks, educational institutions, and residents’ associations, besides from households. The quality tag associated with the Kudumbashree food entrepreneurs should bring in more orders and more income for the women, it hopes.

Customers can choose the dishes they want not to mention payasams or ask for more than two payasams if they so wish. The sadya will be served on the traditional plantain leaf. The sadya prices can range from ₹150 to ₹300 depending on the number of dishes.

The mission is also making available the option of serving the sadya for orders of more than 25. All the customers need to do is make an additional payment.

Vegetables and fruits produced by the Kudumbashree farming groups and food products made by its microentrepreneurs will be used in the Onasadyas, says the Kudumbashree State mission.