Women-run mall to open shortly

Kozhikode: A women friendly, women-run, shopping mall viz., 'Mahila' (meaning woman in Malayalam) will be open to the public in October. Deputy Mayor Meera Darsak inaugurated the administration office of the mall at a soft function on Wednesday. The mall is a project of the Kozhikode Corporation Kudumbashree, in association with the District Kudumbashree Mission. The opening of the Kukdukbashree Mahila Mall, as its full name goes, will also coincide with the 20th anniversary of Kudumbashree, Kerala's women's collective promoting wide-ranging women's enterprises and civic utility activities.

The five storeyed building, having a total space of 36, 000 square feet, will have a micro bazar in the basement floor - where 26 counters operated by small scale entrepreneurs will function. 80 rooms will be operating in the ground, first, second and third floors. The promoters informed that only 10 rooms remained to be leased. Techno World Training Centre, Family Counselling Centre, Women's Cooperative Bank counter, Women's Development Corportation help desk, she-taxi help desk and kiosks, all run by Kudumbashree, will be functioning in the fourth floor.

State-owned enterprises like Milma and Khadi Board have already occupied their space in the mall.

An electronic play zone covering an area of 3,100 square feet has been arranged in the fifth floor. A food court will be set up in the roof garden. ATM counters and prayer rooms are also arranged.

Though the inauguration of the building was scheduled for the last week of September, the function was postponed to October due to flood disasters. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the mall. Prominent women leaders of different parts of the country will take part in the function.

The organisers claimed that the mall will figure in Limca book of records as a fully women-run facility. Administration, security and all other services are operated exclusively by women.

Welfare Affairs Committee Chairman Anita Rajan presided over the function. Kudumbashree CDS Chairperson N. Jayasheela, TK Geetha, O. Rajitha, Thayyil Moideen and others spoke. Kudumbashree Project Officer MV Ramsi delivered the welcome address and Unity Group secretary K. Vijaya paid vote of thanks.