Keralam’s Samridhi@Kochi eatery row: LDF alleges ₹25-lakh dues; UDF counters with ₹2-crore liability
Both fronts trade charges over pending subsidy dues
The United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala are engaged in a dispute over pending subsidy dues related to Samridhi@Kochi, a budget eatery managed by the Kochi Corporation. The LDF claims that the UDF council is responsible for undermining Samridhi by launching the Indira Canteen at Edappally in March 2026, using Samridhi as the source for food, staff, and other facilities.
The LDF alleges that Samridhi is now owed over ₹25 lakh in subsidies, as the corporation has failed to reimburse the difference in expenditure between the Indira Canteen and Samridhi. According to the LDF, the average daily revenue of the Indira Canteen is around ₹65,000, while its expenditure is about ₹1 lakh. The salaries of Kudumbashree staff employed with Samridhi are also delayed, often beyond the 10th of each month.
On the other hand, the UDF's Mayor V.K. Minimol accused the LDF of exaggerating the situation, stating that the corporation had left behind subsidy arrears exceeding ₹2 crore when the UDF came into power. The LDF further alleged that the corporation had failed to mobilize CSR funding of ₹1 crore for the second unit of Samridhi, which was planned for Fort Kochi ahead of the elections.
The Corporation has mobilized CSR funding of ₹3 crore to cover the subsidy dues owed to Samridhi and to establish a central kitchen. The Mayor also clarified that the corporation has not delayed any salaries and even paid an Onam bonus and cleared water supply dues to the Samridhi kitchen using the corporation's own funds.
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