Situated in the heart of Gogalpada, in Nawapur Taluka of Nandurbar district in Maharashtra is the “Yahamogi”Mess Centre. “Yahamogi” aptly named as is worshipped as the Goddess of Food among the Nandurbar’s tribal community.
Naina and Vinod Gavit are the proud owners of Yahamogi mess centre. Their story is one of determination, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. Their journey began amidst challenges but evolved into a thriving business that uplifts their community. Originally from Gujarat, Naina got married in Gogalpada, where they faced early hardships. Vinod worked tirelessly in a small shop in Surat for over four years, learning the ropes of business and honing his bargaining skills. Despite the toil, the couple returned to their village during the COVID- 19 pandemic, which came as a turning point that sparked their entrepreneurial journey.
With savings amounting to 40 to 50 Rupees daily from a modest tea shop, they took a leap into the food business. Starting a Mess food business can be a rewarding venture, especially given the growing demand for affordable, home style meals. Here Naina took this great opportunity, by starting with breakfast staples like puri bhaji, pav vada etc and later on added to mess food items like khichdi, veg thali etc. They catered not just to locals, but also to travellers passing through Khandbara village. Their strategic location along a busy road enabled them to start a mess centre , serving bank staff, teachers and other professionals with home cooked meals.
Naina’s dedication and thirst for knowledge led them to educate themselves on various aspects in sustaining their food business. This included quality control- maintaining standards of food quality and hygiene. They followed some best practices like:
Personal Hygeine- handwashing, wearing of clean clothes
Kitchen cleanliness – regular cleaning, sanitization, waste management
Legal compliance- Food licenses
Customer Awareness- encouraging feedback from the customers on food quality and safety. This way they ensured prompt service and address customer complaints effectively.
Financial management- they keep track of expenses, revenues and profits.
Today, Yahamogi Breakfast and Mess Centre stands as a becon of success in Nawapur Taluka. Their daily earnings range between 4000 to 5000 rupees, a testament to their hard work and the trust they have earned from their growing customer base.
Naina’s and Vinod’s success shows that or rather proves that a ‘new breed of business’ is emerging, one that prioritizes sustainability, flexibility and a laser focus on niche markets- the micro entrepreneurs. These lean, often bootstrapped ventures are not aiming for world domination, they are aiming at profitability, purpose, and a manageable life style. And they are changing the landscape of entrepreneurship. The rise of ‘solopreneurs’ and the increasing number of individuals pursuing micro businesses point to a broader shift towards smaller, more independent businesses.
The rise of the micro business like “Yahamogi” is not just a passing trend, it represents a fundamental shift in how we think about entrepreneurship. It is a democratization of business, empowering individuals to pursue their passions, build sustainable livelihoods, and contribute to the economy in meaningful ways. Through their successful journey, Naina and Vinod exemplify the transformative power of persistence and entrepreneurial spirit in turning adversity into opportunity, enriching not just their own lives but also contributing positively to the economic fabric of their community. ( Article contributed by Sofy Mathew, Board Member, YouthAid Foundation)
