In parts of Mylapore and Mandaveli, tender coconuts are offered at half the prevalent price. G. RAMESH meets the man who made this possible

Two years ago, near Vridhachalam, Jayakumar had a tender coconut for the unbelievable price of Rs. 20. For anyone living in Chennai, that is half the price prevalent in the city.

Today, Jayakumar brings 4,000 tender coconuts to Chennai every day, and ensures that they are sold at Rs. 20 each.

For two years, Jayakumar, an M.Com graduate, has been involved in this business, which requires him to buy coconuts from Puducherry, Cuddalore, and Marakkanam and having them sold in parts of Chennai, including Mylapore, Mandaveli, Egmore, and Royapuram.

He employs 20 people, each paid a monthly salary of Rs. 10,000.

Each of these workers goes to an assigned area to sell the tender coconuts.

It is mandatory that the seller place a placard on the cart that bears Jayakumar’s phone number and a direction to the customers to call him if the seller exceeds the fixed price for a coconut, Rs. 20.

On the question of profits, Jayakumar says: “Sometimes I even incur a loss, but that doesn’t matter. For me, this venture is more about doing something good than making profits. That does not mean I don’t want to make a profit from it, though. If it is profitable, I will use the money to provide jobs to more people. My goal is to be able to offer tender coconuts at Rs. 20 all over Chennai,” says Jayakumar.

He understands that for this to happen, more people have to come on board. He is surprised when people who are desperately looking for jobs don’t want to be a part of the venture. He says he is sometimes betrayed by vendors: some of them have taken advance money from him and never returned.

Jayakumar has taken such things in his stride as the price he has to pay for his mission.

Contact Mr. Jayakumar at 9382725035.