Bengaluru: What began as a local effort to share Kalaburagi’s iconic Jolada rotti has grown into a powerful movement blending tradition, women’s empowerment, and smart branding. The Kalaburagi Rotti Utpadakara Sangha, a women-led cooperative launched in 2024, now includes nearly 1,000 women, has generated ₹50 lakh in revenue, and is expanding rapidly — from Bengaluru to soon Hyderabad, Pune, and even overseas.
For Sharanamma, a 39-year-old homemaker, joining the initiative changed her life. “We got subsidies for rotti-making machines. Now, we earn ₹200 a day making rottis from home using maize sourced from outside,” she said. Villages around Bankuli and Kalaburagi have joined in, making the rotti a true community enterprise.
The big break came when Prime Minister Narendra Modi spotlighted the initiative during his Mann Ki Baat programme. Since then, online orders have surged from across India — from Delhi to Kerala — and franchise outlets have opened in Bengaluru and Kalaburagi.
International expansion is also on the horizon, with exports to the US, UK, and West Asia under process. Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Tarannum noted that 3,000 orders are received daily via Swiggy and Zomato, with spikes during weddings and temple festivals.
The Sangha is also diversifying — adding sunflower seed chutney and groundnut chutney powder to its offerings. Yet, scaling further requires seed funding, branding grants, and processing infrastructure to meet demand while maintaining quality.
Still, the spirit is high. “Even when profits are low, they take our rottis. That gives us hope,” Sharanamma said.