Pappu Chaiwala's ingenuity doubles his profit

Kulbat and Nasrin Khan in Lucknow have been in a state of euphoria for the past three months. 
The reason for their joy is their son Pappu Khan who works in Pune as a local chaiwalla and 
whose income has nearly doubled suddenly.  

Fed up of rising prices of cooking gas cylinders, the 19-year-old tea-stall owner from Quarter
 Gate has started making tea on a coal bhatti.  

Khan’s switch has brought back the age old method of cooking and also helped increase his 
profits every month. “I have been able to save more and send more money at home. Till three 
months ago, I used commercial cylinders to make tea every day. I spent Rs1,400 every five days
 on cylinders and today all I have to shell out is Rs200 for 10 days!" said Pappu.
 

When asked how the idea came about, Pappu added, “Tired and troubled by the increasing rates of 
cylinders and limited supply, I decided to think of an alternate method. That’s when I recalled 
the stove and charcoal method that we used back home. I just applied a little more thought and 
that is how bhatti chai was started.” Three months now, Pappu has moved from selling 200 cups 
to 600 cups of tea every day. “The taste and flavour of tea is different and unique. It is nothing
like the regular chai that you get. My income and profits have increased to 70 per cent compared
to what it was,” said Pappu.

The change has not only increased his client base but has also given him the opportunity to open 
new branches.“I plan to expand my branches in the city and I am looking out for spaces. The best 
part is today I don’t have to wait for the cylinder supplier or be worried about refilling it.
All I have to do is get a sack full of charcoal,” said Pappu. Pappu manages the stall and operates 
the bhatti himself. Off late he has been training his younger brother Abdul Khan to take over.