Hostel becomes self-reliant by making Bunt masala powders

Mangaluru: The pandemic has hit the economy hard, not only in Mangaluru, but worldwide. A few organisations have been devising their own innovative solutions to bounce back to normal. One such organisation is Buntara Yane Nadavara Mathr Sangha in Mangaluru. The organisation’s Sri Ramakrishna Vidyarthini Bhavan at Lalbagh, a hostel meant for students as well as working women from all communities, has started making traditional Bunt masala powders used in day-to-day cooking.
This came about since hostels are closed since the lockdown was clamped, and the authorities are finding it difficult to maintain the infrastructure as well as pay the salaries of the hostel staff.
It’s no secret that the Bunt community is well known for their hospitality, as many from the coastal district have established hotels and restaurants in other parts of the country, especially in Mumbai. Even videos of actor Shilpa Shetty cooking traditional Tulu cuisines have gone viral on several occasions.
The hostel consists of two cooks, three assistants, four house-keeping staff and two security personnel. Ajith Kumar Rai Maladi, president of Buntara Yane Nadavara Mathr Sangha, and the management committee were of the firm opinion not to fire anyone. However, they had to find a way to pay the salaries of the staff and maintain the hostel.
After discussions with members, the president and the woman members of the committee arrived at a solution—to manufacture traditional Bunt cooking masala powders. This includes the coastal districts’ favourite ‘kori aajadina masala (chicken fried masala)’, 3 in1 chicken masala, royal chicken masala, sambar powder, rasam powder and an exclusive herbal immunity booster kashaya (herbal powder).
Sarika Bhandary, secretary of the hostel committee says, “We operate on a no-profit-no-loss basis. The mess bill is calculated at the end of the month, and shared among the hostellers. In the meeting several suggestions came up, but everyone was for making masala powder. Our members Latha Shetty, Sharmila Shetty and Mamatha Marla are experts in the field of making traditional Bunt style of masala powders, and they voluntarily supported with their recipes.
The women have successfully manufactured 200 kg of masala powders in the first consignment, by maintaining hygiene and taste, and the second batch is ready for sale.
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Making of masala powder by committee members and staff of Sri Ramakrishna Vidyarthini Bhavan in Mangaluru.