Sambalpur: Age is just a number for this 73-year old woman from Jhaduapada in this town who surprised everyone by carving a niche for herself in a male’s domain of food catering business, a report said.
The woman identified as Santoshini Mishra, wife of late Gopal Krushna Mishra, has not only earned a name for herself but has been able to provide livelihood to over 30 persons in the town.
She is a much sought after person to cook food and related services.
At a time when men and women of her age lead the life of a recluse, she has defied age to become self-reliant – an example for others to emulate. She dishes out tasty food to people and in return earns money for herself and others in her team.
She is known as Santoshini Nani in the town and can cook any type of food depending on the choice of the organiser which has helped her earn the love and affection of people in the area.
She has been doing this work for 50 years and can prepare food for over 5000 people at any given point of time. Her team comprises 30 men and women who help her in preparing food, cutting vegetables, grinding spices and catering food to the invited guests on the basis of order.
However, her entry into the business was not at all smooth. She was initially confined to the four walls of her home looking after her two sons.
However, things took a turn after her husband Gopal Krushna Mishra was afflicted with heart problem while the earnings from a betel shop– their only source of livelihood– fell short to fully meet the family expenses.
She decided to supplement her husband’s income and entered into food catering business. Soon food prepared by her became a talk of the town for its distinct taste and she started getting more orders from people.
Her husband died eight years back but by then she has established herself as a person to depend on for good food. Her two sons are settled but she does not like to ask for money from them and vows to continue working till her last breath.
PNN