Mangaluru: Who doesn’t like panipuri? Panipuri, once considered to be a popular North Indian snack, is now in demand across the country. Its influence is also strong in the Coastal areas of the State.
Panipuri is a favourite of all people from young to old. However, there is no panipuri without puri. The lovers of this chat item are sure to be disappointed if the puri is not supplied as per the demand.
Here is a person, who carved success for himself, all thanks to puri. Once a bus driver, he started a panipuri manufacturing unit which is now on the path to success. Manoj, a resident of Darandakukku in Puttur Taluk of Dakshina Kannada District and working as a bus driver, is now a successful panipuri businessman. Manoj currently has set up a panipuri manufacturing unit in various parts of the district, which is making good profits from panipuri.
For the last four years, a middle-class family, led by Mohini and her son Manoj has been running a panipuri manufacturing small-unit at Darandakukku in Puttur. Manoj was a City bus driver in Mangaluru. After working as a driver for nearly five years, he returned to his native Village, Darandakukku in Puttur, and started working as an autorickshaw driver. On this occasion, he found that there was a high demand for puri. As a rickshaw driver, he supplied Puris weighing 3 to 4 kilos a day.
Manoj then bought a panipuri manufacturing machine about two-and-a-half years ago. He started making panipuri in a shed near his house in his little plot. He quit his job as a rickshaw driver and started running a full-time business of making puris. He started making around 40 kgs of puris a day and found a good market for his products in Puttur, Sullia, Subrahmanya, Kadaba and other places. Now he is making around 70 kgs of puri every day and has found a new light in life.
Manoj is supported by his wife Dhanya and mother Mohini. Assistance has been provided by SELCO to install a solar-powered panipuri-making machine. The total cost of the puri manufacturing machine is Rs. 3 lakh and a grant of Rs. 70,000 has been received from Selco Foundation. The remaining amount was collected with the help of a bank loan. Apart from the solar-powered panipuri-making machine, the room where he makes panipuri has also been renovated with a full grant of Rs 5.50 lakh from the Selco Foundation. The business has not only increased his income but has also given employment to 5 more people.
