Nighoje, Pune: This is the story of some enterprising members of Tanishka Foundation and how they seized the opportunity to start a successful revenue-generating activity.

Nighoje is a non-descript village with a population of 4000 near Chakan industrial area, about 30 kms to the north of Pune. Ever since Chakan turned into a major industrial and automobile manufacturing hub, thanks to several measures by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), the surrounding areas also saw a slew of supporting economic and developmental activities. Nighoje’s population also grew to 10,000, with workers and employees taking up residence there.

Chakan’s sprawling 12,000-acre industrial complex is currently home to some of the top multinational companies including Volkswagen, Hyundai, Mercedes Benz, Mahindra & Mahindra, GE, Bharat Forge, Forbes Marshall and Bridgestone.

Even as the companies provide canteen facilities to their staff, canteen contractors outsource certain food items like chapatis, pickles and papad.

Sixty-year old Seetabai Yelvande, a senior member of the Tanishka Foundation from Nighoje, sensed an opportunity in such outsourced contracts. She discussed her idea with other group members, at a monthly Tanishka meeting. Seetabai told them that they could supply chapatis and papads to company canteens and earn some money. Four women instantly showed willingness. The first meeting thus set the ball rolling.

Led by Seetabai, all of them started gathering information. They visited the District Industries Centre, which welcomed the plan and directed them to a company in Yerawada which manufactured chapati and papad making machines. The women visited the company to see the machine for themselves and got a quotation.

Raising money was the next step. Some contributed from their personal savings, others sold or mortgaged their jewellery. All of them collectively raised over Rs 7 lakhs.

The chapati machine was bought and the actual work started. A unit from Alandi placed its first order of 1,300 chapatis. The completion of the order had its share of good and bad experiences, which made the women wiser. Initially, they had bought readymade wheat flour for chapatis. But that affected the quality of chapatis, and the entire stock of the wheat flour was wasted.

The group then started purchasing the wheat at wholesale rates, carrying the head-loads themselves for a distance of two kilometres. They subsequently received another order to supplying 1000 chapatis daily, to a nearby company.
Seetabai says that she and another member get up at 4.30 am everyday, to prepare 25 kgs of dough. The other four members report for the work by 6 am and roll chapatis by 9.30 am. The packed chapatis are then delivered to the company by a delivery boy, specially employed for the job.

They get back to their own domestic chores afterwards, and return to the unit again in the afternoon. This time is utilized for papad-making.

Seetabai says, “We have now received an order for 10,000 chapatis. We will require more capital, and additional workforce of 15 women to complete the order.”
The chapatis are sold for Rs three each, (the wholesale rate is Rs 1.50), while papads are available at Rs 50 for a quarter kg.