The Magic Of Dabbawala Unfolded - A Mumbai Story
Mr. Manish is a Mumbai Dabbawala authorised speaker / presenter. He has taken many new initiatives to take the Dabbawala organization to new level of excellence. The launch of a website, booking of tiffin boxes via SMS, tying up with many organizations to promote their products through Dabbawala, job placements for educated Dabbawalas, helping needy Dabbawalas and many other initiatives taken by him has been very successful.
As an individual, Manish is a self-disciplined man who is always ready to serve the Dabbawalas. He constantly helps the society in every possible way. What's amazing is that he speaks world class English when he delivers lecture on Dabbawala.
Economic analysis of Dabbawalas:
Everyone who works within this system is treated as an equal. Regardless of a dabbawala's function, everyone gets paid about two to four thousand rupees per month (around 25-50 British pounds or 40-80 US dollars).
More than 175,000 or 200,000 lunches get moved every day by an estimated 4,500 to 5,000 dabbawalas, all with an extremely small nominal fee and with utmost punctuality. According to a recent survey, there is only one mistake in every 6.000.000 (!) deliveries.
The BBC has produced a documentary on dabbawalas, and Prince Charles, honoured us a visit during a recent trip to India. Owing to the tremendous publicity, some of the dabbawalas were invited to give guest lectures in top business schools of India, which is very unusual.
Most remarkably in the eyes of many people from the West, the success of the dabbawala trade has involved no Western modern high technology. The main reason for their popularity could be the Indian people's aversion to Western style fast food outlets and their love of home-made food.
The New York Times reported in 2007 that the 125 year old dabbawala industry continues to grow at a rate of 5-10% per year.
The Mumbai Dabbawala is a 118 years organization. They are engaged in the business of delivering Home made food to the working members of the family at their offices. This is because , in Mumbai the distances are very long and trains are over crowed.
Everyday about 5000 Dabbawalas deliver 200,000 lunch boxes ( 2 lakhs) in the nook and corner of Mumbai. Dabbawala originated during the British rule in 1890 when there office goers felt the need for the home made food. Although this job looks simple , but what is amazing is that this job is done by mostly illiter.67ate Dabbawalas and that too without using any technology. Through their simple and efficient coding system , Dabbawalas are able to deliver Dabbas ( lunch boxes) to the right person at right time. In the recent years , Dabbawalas have took it to fame after Prince Charles , Sir Richards Branson's ( Virgin Atlantis) and many high profile people meet them to know about their working. Dabbawalas became a matter of media attention when they were invited for the Prince Charles marriage.
When Forbes group gave six sigma certificate to Dabbawalas - their work and efficiency was recognized , recently they were given ISO 9000: 2000 for their excellent service.
Dabbawalas have become a simple of hard work , time management , supply chain management success , team work and simple management skills and so much so that now they are invited to deliver lectures and India top management colleges like IIMs and even to foreign universities. Dabbawalas are integral part of Mumbai and everyday they may be seen rushing to ensure time delivery of lunch boxes , so they are a common site on the streets of Mumbai.
But even after this name and fame Dabbawalas take it simple and do what they are best at - Delivering Dabbas on time.
Out of 5000 Dabbawalas, about 85% are illiterate and the remaining 15% are educated up to 8th grade. This way we are not well qualified to teach anyone or for that matter deliver any lecture. In fact we need quality education. However by working for past 116 years will full dedication, time management, no strike gathering experience in logistics - Mumbai Dabbawalas have created as place of their own.
Six Sigma, ISO and many other certificates given to us by external agencies have further corroborated the high quality of work being done by us. The visit of English king - Prince Charles and Virgin chairman Sir Richards Branson has given Dabbawalas much media attention and respect in the society. We may not have any knowledge but we have experience of 116 years. Due to this reason we are invited for lectures by reputed organizations in not only Mumbai or India but outside of India too.
Presentations made by Mr. Manish On Dabbawala:
Indian Institute of Management, Indian Institute of Technology – Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology – Mumbai, Stanford University, Indian School Of Business – Hyderabad, Abu Dhabi (UAE) chapter of Indian Chartered Accountants Association, NUS BINGO - Singapore, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Pepperdine University, Temple University, Western Kentucky University, George Washington University, National Stock Exchange Of India, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals – Mumbai, SAP Labs , GE Money Servicing, Microsoft, HP – Bangalore, ICFAI Business School, B.K. School of Business Management, Gujarat University, Mahindra & Mahindra, Many other Management institutes, government organizations and MNCs in India and the world over.
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