Adivasi women’s Ippapuvu laddus gain popularity in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Adivasi women from the Bhimabai Tribal Women’s Cooperative Society have turned their traditional Ippapuvu laddus into a city favourite. Once limited to remote tribal belts, these nutritious laddus are now being sold across Hyderabad streets, marking a new chapter in women-led entrepreneurship.
Supported by the state government, the cooperative records an annual turnover of ₹1.2 crore from laddu production and sales. The group earns around ₹3 lakh every month, inspiring several other women’s collectives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently praised their self-reliant efforts during his Mann Ki Baat address. During a visit to Utnoor, Minister Seethakka also lauded the women for their economic empowerment.
₹40 lakh unit set up for production
Recognising the nutritional value of the Ippapuvu laddus, the Telangana government set up a ₹40 lakh laddu manufacturing unit in Utnoor under the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA).
The project, supported by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRICOR), includes 60% government subsidy, 30% bank loan and 10% women’s contribution. Twelve trained tribal women, sent to Yavatmal district in Maharashtra for skill training, now manage production.
Laddus priced between ₹320 and ₹360 a kilo
Following standards set by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), the women prepare laddus with Ippapuvu , peanuts, sesame seeds, jaggery, cashews and raisins, using sunflower oil. Each March, around 150 quintals of Ippapuvu are procured from tribal families in the old Adilabad district and stored in ITDA godowns. Nearly 100 families earn livelihoods from this seasonal collection. Under the Girijan Poshan Mitra scheme, 2,300 kg of laddus are supplied every month to 77 ashram schools in the Utnoor ITDA limits. Additionally, around 900 kg are sold in the open market monthly — priced at ₹320 per kg for schools and ₹360 per kg in retail.
Outlets expand reach to Hyderabad
Sales outlets have been opened at Shilparamam’s Indira Mahila Shakti Kendra and Balapur in Hyderabad. About 15 kg are sold weekly at Shilparamam and 25 kg at Balapur. Tribal women themselves handle the sales at these kiosks. During every Monday Praja Darbar at ITDA premises, a stall is set up to promote the laddus. “Through this initiative, our society achieved an annual turnover of ₹1.2 crore, generating a monthly income of ₹3 lakh for the members,” said Bhagubai, manager of the Bhimabai Tribal Women’s Cooperative Society.
