LIJJAT PAPAD

What makes Lijjat Papad’s journey so unique is not just its rags-to-riches tale. It was truly, built by India.

“It was a movement of women, by women and for women,” says Swati R. Paradkar, president of the Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad.

It started in 1959 when seven women from a densely-populated area of South Mumbai called Girgaum gathered on the roof of a building to make four packets of papads. The group started with a borrowed capital of `80 and now, nearly six decades later, Lijjat papad is the combined effort of 45,000 women “members” across 82 branches, generating an annual turnover of `1,600 crore.

These members are joint co-owners of the institution, which is governed by a central managing committee comprising 21 members drawn from its ranks. “We are growing at 8-10 per cent per annum. We have plans to increase number of branches to 100 and scale up our strength to 50,000,” Paradkar adds.

The organisation, which is recognised by Khadi the Village Industries Commission as a village industry, retains just less than two per cent of its net profit for future business needs. Remaining cash is distributed amongst members.

When asked about the company’s success formula, Paradkar says, “All our members are from the grassroots and know local requirements. That is how we diversified into other products such as traditional masala, appalam and detergents.”

The company now exports its products to UK, USA, Middle East, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Holland, Japan and Australia.

The first group started with a capital of `80. Nearly 60 years later, Lijjat involves the efforts of 45,000 members across 82 branches