Balod Graduate Converts Old Auto into Mobile Food Stall After BCom, Earns Daily via Street Food Venture After graduating with a BCom degree, Pokhan Lal Sahu from Chhattisgarh's Balod transformed his family's food venture by converting an old auto rickshaw into a mobile chaat cart. While many graduates seek conventional corporate or public sector employment, a young entrepreneur in Chhattisgarh has taken a different route by revitalising his family food business. Pokhan Lal Sahu, a resident of Nipani village in Balod district, chose to expand his ancestral street food trade rather than searching for an office job after completing his Bachelor of Commerce degree. Today, his mobile food setup has established a steady customer base across several rural and semi-urban markets in the region. Taking Over the Family Trade 11 Years Ago The street food initiative was originally founded by Pokhan Lal Sahus father. Around 11 years ago, Pokhan assumed full operational responsibility for the enterprise. Although he had completed his higher education in commerce, he saw sustainable long-term potential in expanding the existing family business rather than pursuing employment elsewhere. Over the last decade, he gradually scaled the operations by introducing efficiency and catering to changing local preferences. Investing One Lakh Rupees to Build a Mobile Setup To differentiate his venture from regular static roadside stalls and expand his customer outreach, Pokhan purchased an old auto rickshaw. He invested in modifying the vehicle into a fully functional, mobile chaat unit. The total expenditure, including the acquisition of the vehicle and its custom fabrication, amounted to approximately 1 lakh rupees. This mobile model allows him to travel seamlessly between different village markets without being tied down to a single rented space. Signature 20-Rupee Fry Chaat and Daily Operations The mobile cart specialises in chaat and gupchup, drawing steady footfall throughout the day. His signature offering is a distinctive fry chaat, priced at 20 rupees per plate. To make this dish, the key ingredients are thoroughly fried before being assembled into chaat, creating a specific texture and flavour profile that sets it apart from conventional street snacks. Operating daily from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM across four to five neighbouring weekly markets, the venture generates daily earnings exceeding 3,000 rupees. What this means for you This venture illustrates how low-cost innovation and mobility can turn a micro-level family trade into a sustainable commercial livelihood in rural regions. • Self-employment pathways: Educated individuals can launch flexible mobile retail units with modest capital instead of waiting for corporate jobs. This provides immediate income stability and local employment independence. • Affordable consumer choices: Local consumers gain access to distinct street food options priced at just 20 rupees per serving. This keeps quality snacks accessible within modest rural spending budgets. • Market reach flexibility: Operating on wheels enables micro-entrepreneurs to serve four to five different village markets on rotation. Customers in smaller settlements get regular food services directly at their local market squares. • Modernising ancestral trades: Applying small structural upgrades to existing family setups helps increase daily turnover significantly. It demonstrates a practical roadmap for scaling micro-enterprises in tier-3 and rural areas. Why this happened The decision stemmed from a strategic choice to scale an existing family business rather than pursuing low-yield corporate jobs. • Leveraging an existing foundation: Rather than entering a competitive job hunt after graduation, Pokhan chose to develop the street food trade established by his father over 11 years ago. This provided immediate operational stability. • Need for geographic mobility: Operating from a single fixed point restricted potential customer volume. Investing one lakh rupees to modify an auto rickshaw solved this by allowing daily travel to multiple local markets. • Product differentiation and pricing: Creating a specialized fry chaat preparation sold at an economical 20-rupee price point ensured strong repeat demand among local market-goers. Questions & Answers 1. Where is Pokhan Lal Sahu from? Pokhan Lal Sahu is a resident of Nipani village in the Balod district of Chhattisgarh. 2. What is his educational background? Pokhan Lal Sahu holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree. 3. How much did it cost to set up the mobile auto cart? It cost approximately one lakh rupees to purchase the old auto rickshaw and convert it into a mobile chaat counter. 4. What is the price of the special fry chaat at his stall? The signature fry chaat is priced at 20 rupees per plate. 5. What are his operating hours and estimated daily income? He operates from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM across four to five weekly markets, earning over 3,000 rupees daily. Inspiration & Lessons Pokhans entrepreneurial journey highlights the value of modernising grassroots trades through practical innovation. • Take pride in family trade: Holding a formal degree should not deter anyone from scaling an ancestral occupation with fresh ideas. Education can be used to improve business efficiency rather than merely chasing office jobs. • Frugal mobility over heavy overheads: Modifying a second-hand vehicle into a mobile stall eliminates costly commercial rent while maximizing daily market reach. • Focus on value and distinctiveness: Offering a distinct preparation like fry chaat at an accessible price of 20 rupees proves that volume-driven, affordable pricing creates loyal customer bases. https://trendkia.com/en/chhattisgarh/bcom-ke-bada-naukari-chhori-purane-to-ko-modiphai-kara-balod-ke-yuvaka-ne-shuru-kiya-chalata-phirata-chata-sentara-39773 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.