AHMEDABAD: For those who require a few hundred rotis for a wedding reception or find it burdensome to cook rotis at home, the "roti lane" in the Walled City area of Jamalpur is the go-to place. A dozen-odd families here earn their livelihood by preparing and selling rotis.
While marriage reception orders for rotis do come in regularly, what keeps their business going steady are requirements of the roadside eating joints of the city.
These eateries, along with many hotels, purchase hundreds of rotis from these roti-makers every day. Each family prepares a minimum of 500 rotis on a daily basis.
Interestingly, the now-flourishing roti-making business was not planned, but took off by chance. "Our houses are located along the road and we make rotis sitting just outside our doorstep. People passing by used to inquire if we sell the rotis and that is how we thought of making and selling rotis," said Raisa Aapa Chhipa, one of the roti makers of Jamalpur area of the city.
Raisa Aapa used to work as a domestic help earlier, but roti-making is now her full-time profession. "My two daughters and I make rotis for our living. We make about 500 rotis every day," she said.
When the business started off a little over a decade ago, the families sold rotis for one rupee each. With flour prices constantly on the rise, they increased the price of each roti to Rs 1.50 about five years ago. More recently, about a year ago, some of the families hiked the price of each roti to Rs 2.50, while others still sell rotis for two rupees each.
Ayubbhai Kalujiwala, who sold retail readymade garments at the Bhadra market until a few years ago, now earns his living by making rotis. "The readymade clothes business was not doing well. My family earns more by making rotis," he said.
Firoz Shaikh, who runs a roadside egg eatery in Khamasa area of the city, said he purchases 200 rotis everyday from those who prepare rotis in Jamalpur. "I visit the lane everyday at around sunset and purchase the rotis. Customers prefer rotis instead of bread," he said.
While marriage reception orders for rotis do come in regularly, what keeps their business going steady are requirements of the roadside eating joints of the city.
These eateries, along with many hotels, purchase hundreds of rotis from these roti-makers every day. Each family prepares a minimum of 500 rotis on a daily basis.
Interestingly, the now-flourishing roti-making business was not planned, but took off by chance. "Our houses are located along the road and we make rotis sitting just outside our doorstep. People passing by used to inquire if we sell the rotis and that is how we thought of making and selling rotis," said Raisa Aapa Chhipa, one of the roti makers of Jamalpur area of the city.
Raisa Aapa used to work as a domestic help earlier, but roti-making is now her full-time profession. "My two daughters and I make rotis for our living. We make about 500 rotis every day," she said.
When the business started off a little over a decade ago, the families sold rotis for one rupee each. With flour prices constantly on the rise, they increased the price of each roti to Rs 1.50 about five years ago. More recently, about a year ago, some of the families hiked the price of each roti to Rs 2.50, while others still sell rotis for two rupees each.
Ayubbhai Kalujiwala, who sold retail readymade garments at the Bhadra market until a few years ago, now earns his living by making rotis. "The readymade clothes business was not doing well. My family earns more by making rotis," he said.
Firoz Shaikh, who runs a roadside egg eatery in Khamasa area of the city, said he purchases 200 rotis everyday from those who prepare rotis in Jamalpur. "I visit the lane everyday at around sunset and purchase the rotis. Customers prefer rotis instead of bread," he said.
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