Considered one of the most disciplined and punctual and successful organisations in the world, the Mumbai Dabbawallahs have become the symbol of the concept of delivering home-made food at clock-work precision across thickly populated Mumbai.
Pawan G Aggarwal, the CEO of the century-old Association, who spoke to over 400 students of SNR Adarsh College and MARC Business School in the City on Wednesday. He said since its inception in 1890, the dabbawallahs had not struck work even once or faced any police case, despite having to delivering two lakh food containers every day.
Trustworthy
He discussed at length the management model of the supply chain and said that people of Mumbai trust the dabbawallahs so much that they won’t hesitate to send jewellery.
The dabbawallahs are also knownfor their punctuality. Aggarwal stressed the age old idea of ‘work is worship’. “In Mumbai, the dabbawallahs do not work keeping money in mind, but look at ensuring customer satisfaction. The sincerity and passion with which they execute their jobs is the key to the successful history of the organisation,” said Aggarwal.
So what is the eligibility criterion to join the Dabbawallahs? Not 70 per cent in any examination, but the ability and willingness to carry 70 kilograms every day.
Tap the potential
V Premraj Jain, secretary SRN Adarsh, shared the hope at the end of the lecture that Bangalore has the potential to execute such projects and future managers should learn from the dabbawallahs.
Aggarwal gave away the symbolic white topis worn by every dabbawallah to all students in both colleges.