Mumbai's Dabbawalas - An Entrepreneurial Success Story

The Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers' Charity Trust had a very flat structure with only three levels, the Governing Council, the Mukadams¹¹ and the Dabbawalas (Refer Exhibit I). From the Governing Council, a President and a Secretary were elected. The Governing Council held meetings once a month which were attended by the Mukadams and Dabbawalas. At these meetings, the Dabbawalas discussed their problems and explored possible solutions. The problems could be with the police, municipal corporation, customers, etc. They also adjudicated disputes among Dabbawalas using their own system. The Trust collected Rs.15 from each Dabbawala every month to maintain a welfare fund...

The Dabbawalas have been in service for more than a hundred years, surviving the many changes in the city of Mumbai. However, the changing environment was threatening the survival of the Dabbawalas. "The second generation does not want to get into this business as the returns are not much," said one Dabbawala.²² Some Dabbawalas felt that there was danger of the business eventually dying out as they are unable to attract new recruits from within their families and relatives who had traditionally been their main source of recruitment...