In November 2023, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) inaugurated a ‘Sea Food Plaza’ at Mahim Beach, run by 14 Self Help Groups (SHGs) comprising women from the local Koli community. The plaza has seen massive footfall and is now considering expanding to other sea-side locations.
The BMC’s initiative at Mahim Beach aimed to provide gainful employment to local women through the establishment of a weekend ‘Sea Food Plaza’. The 14 SHGs, each comprising an average of 10 women, were given assistance by the BMC to set up the stalls, with a revolving fund and soft loans. The women have been serving Koli-style seafood cuisine to customers on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and have seen a tremendous response from both locals and tourists.
Advocate Vedika Patil, BMC’s Community Development Officer, mentioned that the plaza has recorded over 30,000 footfalls in just three months, leading to demands for it to become a daily affair. The plaza operates with a focus on quality and hygiene, with strict directives from the BMC to maintain food standards and cleanliness.
The initiative not only provides employment opportunities for local women but also promotes tourism in the Mahim area. Furthermore, the plaza has now teamed up with an online food delivery app to cater to a wider customer base.
The success of the ‘pilot project’ has prompted the BMC to consider establishing similar plazas at other sea-side locations in Mumbai. With beaches like Girgaum Chowpatty, Worli, Dadar, Juhu, Versova, Marve, and Gorai in mind, the initiative is set to provide a platform for local women to showcase their culinary skills while further enhancing the city’s tourism offerings.
