Pookode Lake, a major tourism destination in Wayanad, will now attract a new brand of tourists — seafood enthusiasts. A kitchen outlet, which was opened on Sunday, will serve seafood cooked in tribal style. The outlet, opened with an aim to empower Wayanad’s tribal women, was inaugurated by Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Tribes P.K. Jayalakshmi.
The project was launched by Pookode Lake Fish Activity Group, a tribal self-help group of the Society for Assistance to Fisherwomen (SAF), under the Theera Maithri project of the Fisheries Department. This is the first such unit in the State under the project.
“Many tribal segments in the district are known for their superb culinary skills, but they are seldom showcased. These dishes are not readily available for tourists,” says B.K. Sudheer Kishan, Assistant Director Fisheries Department says.
Since the government has restricted fishing rights in Karapuzha and Banasurasagar reservoirs to the members of tribal fishermen cooperative societies, the unit will be able tap the potential of inland fish wealth and ensure a sustainable income to the community, he adds.
Six trained Paniya tribal women near Pookode will be employed under the project. If the project turns out to be a success, the department will open more units in other tourism destinations in the district.
“We will provide a wide spread of tribal cuisine such as ‘kallupittu’ and dishes prepared with wild tubers,” Saritha, president of the unit says.
The department had allotted Rs.6 lakh as working capital for the project, apart from space for the unit on the lakeshore, Mr. Sudheer Kishan says.
