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Businessman starts chikoo parlour to help tribals

Mahesh Churi, an electronic engineer started the parlour which produces food items made from sapota (chikoo) fruit

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Mahesh Churi with his team at a food festival with their chikoo products
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A businessman in Dahanu's Bordi village has taken up a first of its kind initiative to help the tribals by setting up a chikoo parlour.

Mahesh Churi, an electronic engineer started the parlour which produces food items made from sapota (chikoo) fruit. Dahanu tehsil which is 150 km from Mumbai produces chikoo more than anywhere else in the state.

The chikoo parlour, which started six months ago, has 20 tribals who make around 50 kg daily of chikoo food items like chikoo barfi, katli, modak, pedha, halwa, milkshake powder, toffee, jam, pickle, ice cream, among others.

Churi, who is an exporter of electronic goods always wanted to donate Rs 5 lakh annualy for the welfare of Bordi villagers. However, instead of financing, he came up with the idea of providing additional revenue to the village. "After extensive research over five years, I started production of over 15 food items made up of chikoo. Presently we sell 25 kg of chikoo-based products daily, which is a big achievement for the Bordi villagers.

"The chikoo products are getting largely popular in metro cities like Mumbai and Pune and in the next few months I plan to set up an exclusive plant and machinery for production and employ more villagers which will give them revenue", Churi said.

While the chikoo sweets can be stored only for a week, the other products like milkshake powder, jam, pickel are storable upto six of months. Churi and his team also regularly participate is festivals through which they have gained popularity.

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