The convenience and variety offered by roadside food vendors on push carts dotting the city has fuelled the continued growth of the street food sector.
The vendors with their pushcarts loaded with local tiffins like idli, dosa and vada come to the rescue of hungry souls who are in a hurry to leave for office in the morning rush hour. In the evenings, it’s time to snack on punugu, bajji or masala vada.
But most people wash this food down their gullet with a twinge of guilt — for allowing unhealthy food to go inside them.
The Municipal Corporation, in partnership with the Axis Bank Foundation and local NGO Vasavya Mahila Mandali (VMM), aims to usher in healthy food carts and street vending. The idea is to provide assistance and micro loans to women from marginalised sections and encourage them to sell healthy food.
New food habits
Fifty-year-old Guramma Gandra sells tiffins on a pushcart at Ranigarithota in the morning hours. Her puris, idlis and dosas sell like hot cakes from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Soon Guramma will be introducing raagi idlis, a healthier option. “We have asked her to replace the ‘four-idli per plate’ pattern with three raagi idlis with a banana. To get the customers used to the new option, she can start with one raagi idli. We don’t want them to lose their business. It may take a little time for people to get used to new food habits but over a period, many would understand its importance,” says Keerthy B., technical support manager of the VMM.
The Axis Bank Foundation is extending a financial support of ₹25 lakh for the implementation of the scheme under which a group of 135 beneficiaries have been identified.
Kantibaktu Durga, a vegetable vendor, also from Ranigarithota area, is happy with a recent addition in her vegetable collection. Sprouts packaged in tiny plastic bags sold in the morning along with vegetables have found many takers. “People come early in the morning to buy them as they are not available in this locality. The number of users has been growing by the day,” she says.
Sustainable livelihood
“Through the project, we are trying to promote sustainable livelihood by means of healthy and hygienic food vending. This would increase their income levels, improve their financial and digital literacy, their participation in family’s decision-making,” said Ms. Keerthy.
Most beneficiaries are widows, single women, HIV-affected families and mostly in the 18-45 age group. Municipal Commissioner J. Nivas will formally launch the scheme next week.
