The popular Mumbai’s dabbawala services will soon be recreated by a joint effort of the Durga Brigade and the Forum for Small Scale Industries in Pune to generate women employment.
This decision comes as the demand for good homemade food has spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey showed that just in Pimpri Chinchwad industrial area more than 50,000 people expressed their willingness to subscribe to such services.
The president of Forum for Small Scale Industries Abhay Bhor said that this service will primarily be run by women who would be operating centralised kitchens and delivery services as part of this. The delivery would be done by women on two-wheelers and the centralized kitchen would also be manned by them. While the morning deliveries would be done by women, the evening one would be done by men.
Moreover, the centralized kitchens would be run as per the norms of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). He also said that paperwork for licensing of the premises and for running the kitchen is underway at this moment. Besides, preparations are underway to start at least one cluster by early April.
Bhor said that women who wish to work as cooks in this would have to submit their health certificates before enrolling. With the prolonged closure of schools and colleges, Bhor said many women who supplied dabbas to students have been forced out of work. The aim is to provide employment for such women in our centralized kitchens.
According to a survey, while the demand for home-cooked meals is high, there is a serious lapse in supply. The industrial canteens, which are currently in operation, are not up to the mark and often there are complaints about the quality of food served there, added Bhor.
The service would see the establishment of kitchens in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad for people who would like dabbas deliveries to their homes. Another service would be aimed at office goers and delivery of tiffins to their workplaces.
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