India’s vibrant food landscape just reached a historic milestone as Kandivali, Mumbai, became home to the country’s first all-women operated clean street food hub. The “Mauli” hub, inaugurated on August 17, 2025, is setting a new standard for food safety, entrepreneurship, and women’s empowerment—fusing traditional flavors with modern health and hygiene.
Key Highlights
Inaugurated by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, the Mauli Clean Street Food Hub is completely managed by women from local Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Vendors have undergone formal training in food safety under the FSSAI’s Eat Right India initiative, ensuring every morsel is safe, hygienic, and high quality.
This initiative is a partnership with FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India), MCGM (Mumbai Civic body), and State government, contributing to women’s economic independence and healthier community eating.
Empowering Women, One Plate at a Time
The Mauli hub uniquely combines livelihood for women with the formalization of the street food sector—an area often dominated by informal, male-run enterprises.
SHG women have received special training under the Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) program, making them confident, certified food entrepreneurs.
Beyond earning dignity and income, these women are becoming symbols of local entrepreneurship, inspiring more participation and recognition for women in public business spaces.
The model demonstrates how women-led businesses can be at the forefront of food innovation, safety, and cultural preservation.
Championing Clean and Safe Street Food
The hub’s design and processes reflect India’s renewed focus on public health. Each food stall adheres to strict standards of cleanliness, food handling, and customer safety.
The FSSAI’s Eat Right movement, which supports over 13 lakh trained vendors and 405 certified hubs nationwide, ensures the Mauli hub sets a gold standard—raising the bar for all Indian street food.
A diverse range of hygienic, affordable delicacies is on offer—from classic vada pav and misal to millet-based health dishes—connecting tradition with nutritional awareness.
Community, Culture, and Urban Development
This latest hub is also an engine for local pride and neighborhood transformation. It sits alongside other flagship initiatives in North Mumbai aimed at skill development, affordable housing, public cleanliness, and tourism.
Minister Goyal urged further digital integration, regional labeling, and tourism tie-ups, positioning the hub as a potential blueprint for 100+ similar projects across India.
Plans also include citizen feedback, influencer collaborations, and green upgrades—making cleanliness, healthy eating, and fair pricing accessible to all.
A Vision for Viksit Bharat 2047
Inaugurated close to Independence Day and Krishna Janmashtami, Mauli symbolizes a new era for Swadeshi strength. The initiative reflects Prime Minister Modi’s vision of “turning 140 crore dreams into reality” and moving India closer to the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.
Beyond taste, this hub places India’s street cuisine on a global stage as a symbol of dignity, safety, and entrepreneurial empowerment.
Conclusion
The launch of Mauli—the first-ever all-women clean street food hub—in Kandivali is far more than a culinary milestone. It is a dynamic convergence of health, gender equality, and urban renewal, establishing Mumbai as a leader in next-generation food culture and community-led development.
Source: FinTechBizNews, Press Information Bureau, Deccan Herald, AIR News, August 17-18, 2025
