Thrissur Schoolgirls Build Beauty Brand, Kerala Eyes Spa Law and Coffee House Seeks Revival
Two school-age sisters from Peramangalam near Thrissur are turning their free time into entrepreneurship, building a beauty brand called Aesthetic with lip balms and perfumes. Meanwhile the Kerala government is weighing new legislation to regulate the state's spa industry amid reports of sexual exploitation, while the iconic Indian Coffee House cooperative founded by AKG looks toward a new chapter under the UDF administration.
🤝 Indian Coffee House Cooperative Eyes New Chapter Under UDF Government
The Indian Coffee House in Keralam, the cooperative enterprise started by legendary communist leader A.K. Gopalan, known as AKG, is looking toward a new era under the United Democratic Front government. According to a report in The New Indian Express, the cooperative is evaluating its operational practices and recruitment standards under the changed political dispensation. Among the notable details emerging is the institution's minimum qualification requirement: job applicants must have completed Class X schooling, though passing the examination is not listed as mandatory. The Indian Coffee House is a historic institution in Kerala, with its main building prominently situated at Thampanoor in Thiruvananthapuram. The cooperative, which AKG helped establish as a workers-run enterprise, has long served as a cultural landmark across the state. With leadership having shifted to the UDF, stakeholders and observers are watching to see how management and staffing practices at the cooperative may evolve under the new political climate. The report, published by K S Sreejith in The New Indian Express on 24 October 2026, frames the situation as an opportunity for a fresh beginning at an institution that has been central to Kerala's social and civic fabric for generations, suggesting expectations of reform or reinvigoration at the workers' cooperative. [2]
🏢 Thrissur Sisters Kanishka and Ekanshka Build 'Aesthetic' Beauty Brand While in School
Two school-age sisters from Peramangalam, a locality near Thrissur, are making a name for themselves in the beauty industry while still attending classes. Kanishka and her younger sister Ekanshka have been manufacturing and selling beauty products for approximately two years under their brand, which they have named Aesthetic. The products they produce include lip balms and perfumes, items they craft and market independently as young entrepreneurs. ETV Bharat reported on the sisters' story in its offbeat segment, noting that the two are balancing their academic responsibilities alongside this unusual entrepreneurial journey. The report was filed from Thrissur by journalist Manikandan P A. The sisters are students at Vidyavihar Kakkassery, according to the accompanying image description. Their venture represents a rare example of young women in Keralam combining formal education with hands-on business enterprise at an early age. The Aesthetic brand has reportedly been active for two years, suggesting a sustained commitment to their product line. ETV Bharat published the story on October 2, 2026, drawing attention to a homegrown entrepreneurial spirit taking root among the youth of Thrissur district, with the sisters demonstrating that ambition and creativity can find expression even within the routines of school life. [6]
Kerala Government Weighs New Spa Law After Sexual Exploitation Complaints
The government of Keralam is weighing new legislation to regulate the operation of spas across the state following a rise in complaints relating to sexual exploitation in such establishments. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala is at the forefront of this policy discussion, according to a report in The New Indian Express. The minister has observed that spas are being established across Keralam under the Shops and Establishments Act without proper adherence to legal requirements, creating conditions that have enabled abuse and exploitation. The proposed legislation would introduce specific regulatory mechanisms to govern how spas are permitted to operate, closing the gap between the existing legal framework and the practical realities of the industry. The move reflects broader concerns about an industry that has expanded rapidly without adequate oversight or accountability. By bringing spa regulation under a dedicated legal framework, the state government aims to address the structural conditions that have allowed exploitation to occur. The New Indian Express reported the story on October 20, 2026, citing Home Minister Chennithala's comments and the government's stated intent to present a formal legislative response to the issue of sexual exploitation in what the minister described as unregulated spa establishments operating across the state. [10]
Sources: [2] The New Indian Express · [6] ETV Bharat · [10] The New Indian Express