<p>The house of a septuagenarian couple in Mangaluru’s Chilimbi wears a peaceful look. The stillness of the warm morning is free from the sounds of the whistles of pressure cookers or the din of vessels being washed. “We are also spared from the rigorous process of planning, preparing and cooking breakfast and other meals for just the two of us,” says a relieved Dr V Srinivas Talithaya. He happily collects the tiffin carriers that have their breakfast, as they are being delivered at their doorstep by Latha Udupa’s cloud kitchen. </p>.<p>“I usually get up at 3 am, and sometimes at 2 am, if I have to make kadabu for breakfast,” says Latha Udupa, who delivers food to over 250 people. “The majority among my customers are elderly people and patients,” she adds.</p>.<p>Elsewhere in the city, 84-year-old Harold (name changed) had subsisted on a diet of bread and rusk after his wife had passed away, 18 months ago. It was during this time that Olin Lasrado’s ‘Regi’s Tiffin Services’ came to his rescue. “He relishes all the dishes, cooked in the Mangaluru Catholic cuisine style, and orders even when he is visiting his daughters’ homes,” says banker-turned-entrepreneur Olin. </p>.<p>Cloud kitchens serving the elderly collect Rs 120 to Rs 250, depending on the location, type of cuisine and dishes per person, per day. “Barring two customers, I deliver breakfast and lunch to my customers. Most people eat the same dishes for dinner,” says Latha. </p>.<p>Dakshina Kannada has an elderly population (people aged above 85 years) estimated at over 36,082, according to the district election office. Many of them live with physical disabilities. Thus, the number of women entrepreneurs serving the elderly has been increasing, says District Industries Centre (DIC) Joint Director Gokuldas Nayak.</p>.Peddling a cherished taste.<p>“The food has to be customised and should be of high quality with minimum spices,” says Usha Nayak of US Foods. Usha and her sister, Basty Sandhya Shantharam Shenoy, run the cloud kitchen, which has been delivering food since 2016.</p>.<p>“Of the total 540 women entrepreneurs in the district, 352 are in the food sector,” says District Industries Centre (DIC) Joint Director Gokuldas Nayak.</p>.<p><strong>Encouraging women entrepreneurs</strong></p>.<p>“Women-owned ventures face many challenges,” says Reema Jenifer D’Silva, who completed her PhD earlier this year on women entrepreneurs in the food sector in the district. </p>.<p>Reema says entrepreneurs earn a profit in the range of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh annually. But seasonal fluctuations, pricing of raw materials, high commission charged by delivery agents, and a struggle to achieve work-life balance eat into their savings. Many entrepreneurs have said that availing loans from banks and marketing were critical challenges, says Reema, who had surveyed 60 entrepreneurs as part of her study. Another entrepreneur admitted paying 10 times the cost to obtain an FSSAI licence, through an agent. </p>.<p>The survey also revealed that women entrepreneurs have strong communication skills and often give priority to a customer-centric approach. </p>.<p>Dr Srinivas agrees, adding that Latha cooks any dish on request and even prepares sweets and north Indian dishes for relatives who come to visit them.</p>.<p>Why did these women take up business in the food sector? Reema found that entrepreneurs were drawn to the industry due to a passion for cooking.</p>.<p>Latha says she loves cooking for elderly people, as they consider her a member of the family. </p>.<p>The development of women-run enterprises is essential for creating jobs and spurring social and economic progress. Karnataka is placed sixth among states with the highest number of women entrepreneurs (6.78%). </p>.<p>“In order to encourage women to become entrepreneurs, the DIC should set up a help desk and legal support for them. Subsidies for kitchen equipment, setting up incubation centres and facilitating registration will boost growth and help women entrepreneurs to cut down on costs,” says Reema. </p>.<p>The information on the centre and government-sponsored schemes for women entrepreneurs (12 schemes in the food processing sector) is uploaded on the website, and workshops on schemes are also conducted at regular intervals, Gokuldas adds. </p>.<p><strong>Survey findings</strong></p>.<p>• Only 18% of women entrepreneurs had availed govt schemes</p>.<p>• 28% of women liked to work alone and did not like to open branches</p>.<p>• 43% of women entrepreneurs were in the age group 35-50 years</p>.<p>• 63% of women entrepreneurs were graduates</p>.<p>• 35% of women entrepreneurs were from non-business backgrounds </p>
<p>The house of a septuagenarian couple in Mangaluru’s Chilimbi wears a peaceful look. The stillness of the warm morning is free from the sounds of the whistles of pressure cookers or the din of vessels being washed. “We are also spared from the rigorous process of planning, preparing and cooking breakfast and other meals for just the two of us,” says a relieved Dr V Srinivas Talithaya. He happily collects the tiffin carriers that have their breakfast, as they are being delivered at their doorstep by Latha Udupa’s cloud kitchen. </p>.<p>“I usually get up at 3 am, and sometimes at 2 am, if I have to make kadabu for breakfast,” says Latha Udupa, who delivers food to over 250 people. “The majority among my customers are elderly people and patients,” she adds.</p>.<p>Elsewhere in the city, 84-year-old Harold (name changed) had subsisted on a diet of bread and rusk after his wife had passed away, 18 months ago. It was during this time that Olin Lasrado’s ‘Regi’s Tiffin Services’ came to his rescue. “He relishes all the dishes, cooked in the Mangaluru Catholic cuisine style, and orders even when he is visiting his daughters’ homes,” says banker-turned-entrepreneur Olin. </p>.<p>Cloud kitchens serving the elderly collect Rs 120 to Rs 250, depending on the location, type of cuisine and dishes per person, per day. “Barring two customers, I deliver breakfast and lunch to my customers. Most people eat the same dishes for dinner,” says Latha. </p>.<p>Dakshina Kannada has an elderly population (people aged above 85 years) estimated at over 36,082, according to the district election office. Many of them live with physical disabilities. Thus, the number of women entrepreneurs serving the elderly has been increasing, says District Industries Centre (DIC) Joint Director Gokuldas Nayak.</p>.Peddling a cherished taste.<p>“The food has to be customised and should be of high quality with minimum spices,” says Usha Nayak of US Foods. Usha and her sister, Basty Sandhya Shantharam Shenoy, run the cloud kitchen, which has been delivering food since 2016.</p>.<p>“Of the total 540 women entrepreneurs in the district, 352 are in the food sector,” says District Industries Centre (DIC) Joint Director Gokuldas Nayak.</p>.<p><strong>Encouraging women entrepreneurs</strong></p>.<p>“Women-owned ventures face many challenges,” says Reema Jenifer D’Silva, who completed her PhD earlier this year on women entrepreneurs in the food sector in the district. </p>.<p>Reema says entrepreneurs earn a profit in the range of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh annually. But seasonal fluctuations, pricing of raw materials, high commission charged by delivery agents, and a struggle to achieve work-life balance eat into their savings. Many entrepreneurs have said that availing loans from banks and marketing were critical challenges, says Reema, who had surveyed 60 entrepreneurs as part of her study. Another entrepreneur admitted paying 10 times the cost to obtain an FSSAI licence, through an agent. </p>.<p>The survey also revealed that women entrepreneurs have strong communication skills and often give priority to a customer-centric approach. </p>.<p>Dr Srinivas agrees, adding that Latha cooks any dish on request and even prepares sweets and north Indian dishes for relatives who come to visit them.</p>.<p>Why did these women take up business in the food sector? Reema found that entrepreneurs were drawn to the industry due to a passion for cooking.</p>.<p>Latha says she loves cooking for elderly people, as they consider her a member of the family. </p>.<p>The development of women-run enterprises is essential for creating jobs and spurring social and economic progress. Karnataka is placed sixth among states with the highest number of women entrepreneurs (6.78%). </p>.<p>“In order to encourage women to become entrepreneurs, the DIC should set up a help desk and legal support for them. Subsidies for kitchen equipment, setting up incubation centres and facilitating registration will boost growth and help women entrepreneurs to cut down on costs,” says Reema. </p>.<p>The information on the centre and government-sponsored schemes for women entrepreneurs (12 schemes in the food processing sector) is uploaded on the website, and workshops on schemes are also conducted at regular intervals, Gokuldas adds. </p>.<p><strong>Survey findings</strong></p>.<p>• Only 18% of women entrepreneurs had availed govt schemes</p>.<p>• 28% of women liked to work alone and did not like to open branches</p>.<p>• 43% of women entrepreneurs were in the age group 35-50 years</p>.<p>• 63% of women entrepreneurs were graduates</p>.<p>• 35% of women entrepreneurs were from non-business backgrounds </p>