UDHAGAMANDALAM: INDCOSERVE, the apex body of sixteen industrial cooperative (Indco) tea factories in the Nilgiris, has roped in indigenous tribal communities to market its teas while providing livelihood opportunities to them.
The cooperative launched five ‘Indco Tea Vandis’ to market teas by the tribals.
According to Supriya Sahu, CEO, Indcoserve, given the popularity of the district with tourists from India and abroad, the business of tea and food being sold through mobile vans is certainly bound to create a niche place for itself.
The five ‘Indco Tea Vandis’ are being operated by ‘Aadhimalai’, a producer company – incorporated in 2013 – of indigenous people from the Nilgiris with more than 1,600 members.
“These ‘Tea Vandis’ are the first of its kind anywhere in the cooperative sector. While we provide the trucks, the operational part is in association with the Toda tribal community to create livelihood opportunities for them,” Sahu said.
Before launching the project, a thorough research done by the Indcoserve across the country suggested that the future of the food truck business seemed bright with their projected revenue growth at a rate of 3.7% in the next five years. Their research further revealed that the meals on wheels concept has made its presence customary in Indian big cities and the need for it is rapidly increasing.
The Special Area Development Programme (SADP) supported the ‘Tea Vandi’ project and the Indcoserve also put its own resources.
A central kitchen in Ooty and the food prepared is distributed to the Tea Vandis. Besides prepacked Indco tea, the Vandis sell varieties of tea and millet cookies and millet murukkus besides honey and amla candy. It also sells freshly prepared food.
Currently four of the ‘Vandis’ are positioned at vantage locations like Govern Botanical Garden (GBG), shooting mund and main bus stop in Ooty while the fourth is located at Coonoor bus stand.