Mumbai's Dabbawala.
By roshigo58
@roshigo58 (4859)
Pune, India
October 10, 2012 5:46am CST
I read some interesting information about dabbawals of Mumbai. Dabba means lunch box. we can see these dabbawals on the stations with number of dabbas of same size. In Mumbai a small army of 'dabbawalas' picks up 3000000 lunches from houses and delivers them to students, managers and workers every working day at their desks. 12.30 pm. on the dot. Served hot, of course.
Mumbai's dabbawalas association is streamline organization with with 5000 semi literate people providing quality door to door service.
After customer leaves for work, the lunch is packed into a tiffin box provided by dabbawalas. A color codeed notation on the lid identifies its owner, destination and dabbawala. OOnce the dabbawala has picked up the tiffin, he moves fast using a combination of bicycle, trains and his two feet.
Their amazing coordination, speed and perfection have attracted the attention of reputed international organizations like the BBC and Forbes. the former nade a documetry about dabbawals and the latter carried a detailed article. What is rather interesting is that there is no managerial layers or explicit control mechanism, and zero ducumentation. There are no employers or employees, each dabbawala is a shareholder and entrepreneur.
People in Mumbai are lucky and they can have hot and fresh meal from home.
Have you watched dabbawalas on Mumbai railway station? Do you have such system in your city?
2 people like this
9 responses
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
10 Oct 12
That's awesome! Proves what enterprising humans can do! I hope no government agent comes in trying to 'improve' it! Because then it will fall apart!
1 person likes this
@ladygator (3465)
• United States
10 Oct 12
Isnt that the Truth! Our economy is falling apart and the part that bothers me the most is that so many people are hungry, homeless and unable to just live at a sustainable level. To have lack in this is inhumane if as I see it.
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
11 Oct 12
Hi, Folowerchilde,
There is no need to interfere of government to improve this system. Thank you for the response.
Hi, ladygator, You are right. There are many people who are poor and they can't fulfill the basic needs of the life. Thank you for the response.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
10 Oct 12
Yup, they are also being taught as a part of some MBA curriculum in some major universities of the world. I believe it is a unique business idea and that is what has made them known internationally.
And by the way, their food is quite good and home made kind of. So anyone who doesnt go well with hotel food can afford them as they are economical too.
1 person likes this
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
11 Oct 12
Hi,
These dabbawalas don't prepare food. They just collect food from the houses and provide it to the destination. Thank you for the response.
@sylvia13 (1850)
• Nelson Bay, Australia
10 Oct 12
The Dabbawala seems like a fantastic idea and one that is needed in many countries too! No wonder it has attracted so much attention, as it is truly amazing coordination, speed and perfection!
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
11 Oct 12
Hi,
It is really fantastic idea. This system is available in only Mumbai. I think other states of India should also try to apply this system. Other countries should learn and try this. Thank you for the response.
@anklesmash (1412)
•
10 Oct 12
I had heard about the Dabbawala's before now through the BBC.What they do is absolutely amazing getting all those meals to different places all over the city with a failure rate less than one mistake in every 6 million according to the statistics I have read.I also read that when Prince Charles visited them when he came to India he had to fit in with their schedule because their timing is too precise to allow any flexibility.
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
11 Oct 12
Hi,
you are right. Prince Charles is very much impressed by the working of these dabbawalas. He invited some dabbawalas to his wedding. Thank you for the response.
@voldrox (7191)
• India
11 Oct 12
Hi there,
Yes, I have seen a small documentary on this, they work with elegant efficiency. One of the most efficient I have to say, and they never misplace the tiffin boxes and are always on time, it's interesting to see how they manage so much but they do and do it quite well for that. It's isn't expensive and the working party gets to eat home cooked food at the right time. Yes they is no governing body, the deliverer himself does all the things and I makes me wonder where did this all start from? I think the need to deliver home cooked food must have brought, coz if the people managed with outside food I guess they wouldn't have might not have tried receiving food from home. Among such busy streets they manage to deliver their packages in time without delay. I don't know if this happens in another part of India though.
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
12 Oct 12
Hi,
You are right. Dabbawalas work with elegant efficiency. When Prince Charles came to visit India he was very much impressed by this system. He invited dabbawalas to his wedding ceremony. This system is available only in Mumbai. Thank you for the response.
1 person likes this
@santhoshkumar8 (29)
• India
11 Oct 12
I think "Pizzawalas" and "Macdonaldwallas" are looting. They will sure overcome the dabbawallas and dabbawallas will might lose their jobs. Because "cafteriawallas" almost bankrupted the chaiwallas. What I mean is introduction of foreign industry in India is making the local business people hard to do business.
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
11 Oct 12
Hi,
I don't think that dabbawalas will lose the business because pizzas and other fast food is very costly and this system is very useful for middle class families. They can not afford costly food in restaurants. Thank you for the response.
@ladygator (3465)
• United States
10 Oct 12
This sounds like a very amazing system that adds to the health of the community. Its one of the many things that could be implemented to spread health and ensure that everyone is eating a well balanced meal each and every day. The whole method that's implemented to feed and help families have enough food is failing at a high speed right now.
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
11 Oct 12
Hi,
Yes, it is very amazing method and everyone gets homemade food. This also reduces the spending on hotels. Thank You for the response.
@alottodo (3056)
• Australia
10 Oct 12
I never heard of Dabbawala before but sounds very interesting...fresh food delivered to workers is a very good choice indeed! here we have a similar system as well where a small van goes to a working site and sell lunches to workers at a reasonable price.
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
10 Oct 12
Hi,
A system of a small van going to a working site and selling lunches to workers at a reasonable price is also very good system but it can not provide homemade food. Thank you for the response.
@bhabycatch013 (9150)
• Philippines
10 Oct 12
hi roshi,
I watched on AFC about dabbawallas
Despite Mumbai is a busy city that offered many restaurants and fast food it is good to know that more Indians preferred a home cooked meals which is healthy and not expensive ones.
happy mylotting
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
10 Oct 12
Hi,
You are right. Homemade food is good for our health and food from restaurants is more costly. Thank you for the response.
