FAVOURITE LIJJAT PAPAD: THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF 7 WOMEN
Lijjat means (tasty in Gujrati) and Papad is a thin, crisp and round flatbread. Many of us have eaten this lijjat papad once in our life, so while eating have you ever wondered, that behind this lijjat papad there is an incredible yet inspirational story.
THE BEGINNING:
It all began in 1959, in Girgaum in Mumbai. Seven Gujrati women talking to each other on the terrace, the reason for an informal meet is to reduce the financial strain on their respective families by starting means of livelihood but they are semi-literate and have no experience in running a company. So they started using the only one skill they know: “COOKING”.
Rs 80 LOAN TO 800 CRORE BUSINESS:
They started with the production of 4 packets of papads. They started selling the papads to a known merchant in Bhuleshwar, a popular market in Mumbai. In the next 3-4 months, the team grew to 200 and the co-operative opened its second branch in Wadala. The annual sales came up to Rs 6,000, a big amount back in 1959. Almost 62 years later, the venture that began with seven women has now turned into India’s oldest all-female cooperative that employs close to 45,000 women. Lijjat even started exporting its product in the United Kingdom, The United States, and other countries.
INTERESTING FACTS about Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad:-
They have members from every community, every language and every religion.
They didn't spend resources on hiring a marketing team or publicist, they instead channelled all its energy towards QUALITY CONSCIOUSNESS.
Another important fact about this institution is that NO MALE can become a member and no male employee whether working or honorary or on a salary basis has voting rights.
The Founders of Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad:-
Seven women with no special skills but a strong determination to earn dignity as individuals went ahead to make a successful business, doing what they knew best -Rolling Papads.
Jaswantiben Popat
Jayaben Vithalani
Parvatiben Thodani
Ujamben Kundalia
Banuben Tanna
Chutadben Gawade
Laguben Gokani
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT:
The main objective of this institution is the empowerment of women by providing them with employment opportunities. Women empowerment refers to increasing and improving the Social, Economic, Political and Legal Strength of the women, to ensure equal- right to women, and to make them confident enough to claim their rights, such as: Freely live their life with a sense of Self- Worth, Respect and Dignity.
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