Tradition to tech: Here’s how Mumbai's dabbawalas are embracing change

Montages in films based in Mumbai recurrently feature a scene of a crowd in motion at a suburban railway station often picturising grandeur stations like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Even in the crowd one community could be distinguished and they are the dabbawalasClad in a white outfit with a Gandhi cap the dabbawalasrsquo story often unfolds amid the cityrsquos cacophony the community has become a symbol of the cityrsquos cultural identityWho are the dabbawalasDabbawalas are a cohort of lunchbox deliverymen who navigate through Mumbais labyrinthine streets with clockwork precision and their modus operandi is simplecollect homecooked meals from thousands of homes and deliver them to the officer workers across the wide expanse of the city and its suburbsThe semiliterate or illiterate workforce through an intricate system of alphanumeric codes collect sort and distributes lakhs of meals across the city every day using bicycles hand carts and the sprawling local train networkHistory of the DabbawalasThe community has a unique history which began nearly 130 years ago and started with the desire of a Parsi banker who wished to eat homecooked meals at his workplace He first entrusted the responsibility to Mumbairsquos firstever dabbawala Over the years the community thrived and could fulfill the hunger of almost 200000 MumbaikarsWhat began as informal work was streamlined to its presentday operations by Mahadeo Havaji Bachche who began the system with 100 dabbawalasStruggles during lockdownThe dabbawalas that have a rich legacy though are struggling to make ends meet especially since the pandemic Numerous reports surfaced after the lockdowns documenting the struggles faced by the communityRecounting the same Ramdas Karvande the chief of the Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association says that the community is still largely facing the brunt of the pandemic He pointed out that from a population of 5000 the dabbawalas in the city today are not more than 2000ldquoMany people left the city to go back to their villages during lockdowns announced by the government Even after the restrictions were lifted since many were still working from home not everyone has returned to the cityrdquo Karvande notedHe elaborated ldquoSince the number of customers has significantly reduced some dabbawalas have been working other gigs Some either have taken up work as security guards or they also have registered as delivery executives for the online delivery or courier appsrdquoKarvande said that some of them had to resort to other means of earning livelihood since their work as dabbawala has not been generating enough money to help them sustain themselvesThe dabbawalas noted that during the lockdowns they survived on the grains they grew on their farms donations received and government assistanceResilience despite struggles to make ends meetHowever there are still a few who have not taken up other jobs and continue to be dabbawala When quizzed why Shantaram Gargote said ldquoNot all of us are well educated or trained for other vocational work which leaves with little scope for alternative work opportunities We before COVID hit made at least Rs 15000 to Rs 20000 which was enough to sustain however since postpandemic the income has dropped by 50 per cent and we at most make Rs 10000rdquoHe lamented that one has to keep going at it and work to put food on the table for their family ldquoWe are still doing it because itrsquos all we know and we also grew to love this workrdquo Gargote who has been working as a dabbawala for 25 years saidBut for some itrsquos also a means to preserve tradition Another dabbawala told midday that he is the third generation of dabbawalas ldquoWe believe that delivering lunchboxes is not a job itrsquos a service we are doing to our community Therersquos a saying that one who feeds others first and then eats is a noble individual and thus we have been continuing this work for three generationsrdquoDespite the lockdown shutting their entire business the community is still resilientOther challenges facedAs mentioned previously the dabbawalas have majorly relied on public transport facilitiesndashespecially the local trains and continue to do so However changes to the local train schedule due to the addition of airconditioned train services are affecting their workAlso readLocal train experience Frustration mounts for Mumbai commuters using AC local trainsWith the introduction of airconditioned local trains a dabbawala noted that their functioning is being affected and there have been discrepancies ldquoThe railways have recently increased the airconditioned local services which has landed us in a pickle We cannot travel in those locals since it does not have a luggage compartment and it is not feasible for us either to board the train with the amount of baggage we carryrdquo he pointed outHe said that the Railway authorities should consider having a dedicated luggage compartment in AC locals He urged that metro officials should consider adding a dedicated compartment so all avenues of public transport are accessible to themHow have they fared in digital timesFood delivery applications which were a rage in the market have taken a few lunches off the dabbawalas plate with many opting to lsquoswiggyingrsquo whatever they wantWith the digital advancement things have become a little more difficult for them to sustain expressed Shantaram ldquoWith the food delivery apps like Swiggy and Zomato deliver hot food rather swiftly This has put a dent in our customer baserdquo he expressedHowever others remained optimistic that even if reduced their customer base is steadyShantaram further stated that the technology has also helped them a lot He said that the customers can now contact the dabbawalas using WhatsApp or their website The digitisation has enabled them to reach a wider audience he points outWhile Karvande added that they are also thinking of starting pickup and drop services for grocery items he said discussions are underway to understand how they can realise the idea through digital means wherein a dabbawala can also be assigned to deliver the customer items they want to be brought from general storesldquoWe want to bring back the dabbawalas who are still in their native places and thus we are planning to start our kitchen and we will deliver the food we make there Work for the kitchen has almost begun and it should open soonrdquo Karvande who has been working as a dabbawala for three decades saidAlthough they admit that it has been a boon and bane for the dabbawalas some noted that not everyone is techsavvy or can afford to buy a smartphone which are the hurdles they have to overcome to completely accept and adopt digitisation