Jobless, young electrical engineer brews tea business

Jobless, young electrical engineer brews tea business

Jobs Offered Just ₹7K, So Chose To Start Tea Biz

Yogesh.Chawda

Ahmedabad:  17.12.2020

A young engineering degree holder is drawing many eyeballs for his tea stall with a catchy name -- ‘engineer ni cha’ (engineer's tea) near the busy RTO circle here.

Ronak Raj (27), who recently opened the chai kitli, holds an electrical engineering degree from Gujarat Technological University (GTU). He says he turned to brewing tea instead after he failed to find jobs which earned him enough to make ends meet.

“My first job after graduation earned me Rs 7,000 per month, which was not sufficient to make ends meet. I chose to become an engineer hoping for a better career and life but guess the degree is no guarantee for a well paying job any more,” said Ronak, a resident of Meghaninagar.

Disillusioned with private pay packages, Ronak decided to secure a government job. He prepared and appeared for many competitive exams between 2016 and 2020 for jobs in the banking sector, state government, staff selection board and the Gujarat high court, among others. “Even though I made it to the merit list a few times, my appointment was not secure,” said Ronak, who was left in a lurch soon after 2020 began as a number of exams got cancelled due to the pandemic.

Ronak Raj (R) at his tea stall near RTO circle in Ahmedabad

‘Tea stall gives good returns’

Finally, Ronak decided to chase the dream of a well-paying job and brew his own concoction of success literally. “I am 27 and it doesn’t feel right to subsist on father's income. After researching many small businesses, I realised setting up a tea stall won’t take too much capital but promised good returns as people of Ahmedabad are tea-lovers,” said Ronak.

Ronak lost his mother a decade ago and lives with his father, a pan shop owner, along with his sister, Mayuri, a diploma engineering graduate who is currently pursuing MBA degree. She helps Ronak run the tea stall.

“Tea is an integral part of Amdavadi culture. of a certain culture in this city. People didn't stop drinking tea even during a pandemic,” said Ronak who pooled Rs 20,000 to start his teastall along with sister and cousin brother.

Ronak serves freshly brewed flavourful tea at Rs 15 a cup with two biscuits alongside. Mayuri runs the stall in the evening after college lectures get over online. Since they started, they did manage to sell around 85 cups of tea each day.

“My tea-stalls name piques the curiosity of many people who ask if we brew some special tea. We share our story proudly and most people come back to support us," said Ronak.