M.C Sampath, Minister of Industries and D. Jayakumar, Minister of Fisheries and Administration Reforms along with Balakrishnan Velaiah, IPS, Joint Commissioner, North Chennai, Pradeep Yadav, IAS, Managing Director of CMRL, Chennai, Mansoor Ali Khan, Chairman, Mauto Group of Companies and the directors of Gilli Chal, Azhagar Raja and Mohamed Rahmathullah flagged of India’s first fleet of mobile chai outlets built on environment-friendly electric auto-rickshaws at the Saidapet Metro Station premises on 29 December 2020.
Gilli Chai, with its corporate office in Chennai, has launched the first of its kind business initiative. With a gender-neutral employment policy, the workforce includes men, women, transgender, and alternatively abled personalities. This initiative was made possible in collaboration with Mauto Electric Mobility who is a pioneer in the EV industry.
Gilli Chai helps the energetic and enthusiastic ecopreneurs, provides necessary training to run the mobile chai outlets, and create job opportunities across Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Every tea would be served with superior quality with a focus on hygiene at an affordable price for the public.
In the pandemic 2020, while negative vibes like attrition, job cut, revenue losses were common, Gilli Chai has opened up 22 stores which include both static and mobile outlets which is phenomenal growth and the trend is expected to remain the same in 2021 as the company is planning to add 100 more outlets. This was made possible due to the business-friendly environment set by the Government of Tamil Nadu. Besides, the “Pollution-free Tamil Nadu” scheme of the Government of Tamil Nadu and the tax waivers provided for the Electric Vehicles has encouraged the Gilli Chai in bringing out this innovative business model into reality.
While Chai and Chai outlets are common and day-to-day affairs for most of us, Gilli Chai is making a difference through zero-emission vehicles converted into chai outlets. As these autos serve hot chai and other snacks along the streets, the fleet would mostly be managed by the women workforce. The city will see more of these outlets on the bus stands, railway stations, parks, playgrounds, IT parks, and other tourist spots, said Mohamed Rahmathullah, the Managing Director.
In addition to the mobile chai outlets, traditional outlets have been opened in Chennai, Pondicherry, and Dubai. All these outlets see gender neutrality and provide opportunities to alternatively abled persons. For the tea lovers, this would be a one-stop shop to taste more than 50 varieties of tea, traditional tiffin items and so much more, says Azhagar Raja, the Operations Director of Gill Chai.
