Years ago, the promotion of Lijjat Papad used to come on Doordarshan or in the theater, whose rabbit was very much liked by everyone. As soon as the name of papad came across the country, everyone used to remember Lijjat papad. This company started with an investment of only Rs 80 years ago, today it does a turnover of Rs 1600 crores. The company’s Jaswantiben Popat was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of the Government of India by the President. During the program organized in Delhi, 91-year-old Jaswantiben Popat accepted the award sitting in a wheelchair.
Jaswantiben Popat, a native of Gujarat and settled in South Mumbai for years, thought of turning his and his local friends’ cooking skills into their livelihood. Other women also joined him. The goal of all the women was clear but what she had not yet thought of what to make. The women borrowed Rs 80 from Chhaganlal Parekh, a member of the Servants of India Society and a social activist. Chhaganbhai bought a papad making company which was running in loss from Lakshmibhai Das. After that he built the necessary infrastructure. This is where Lijjat Papad started.
Gradually Lijjat expanded as a cooperative system. Initially younger girls could also join, but later the minimum age limit for admission was fixed at eighteen years. In three months, about 25 women joined the task of making papads. Women bought some utensils including utensils, cupboards, stoves for business. At the end of one year in March 1960, the annual sales of the organization reached Rs.6196. Broken papads out of the papads that were made during the day were distributed among the neighbours. This work of women got a lot of publicity through articles in local newspapers. This publicity greatly helped in increasing his membership. By the second year of its formation, 100 to 150 women had joined the group, and by the end of the third year, it had grown to over 300 female members. Papad Housing Industry has expanded starting with seven members. The space on the terrace started falling, so it was decided that the sisters would take the kneaded dough home and make papad.
An attempt to set up a branch in the Malad suburb of Mumbai in 1961 failed, but the home industry still had a name to offer. After brainstorming, name suggestions were sought. A reward of Rs 5 was announced for those who selected the suggested name. The name suggested by Dheerajben Ruparel was liked in the competition and the women-run household industry was named ‘Lijjat’. In July 1966, the name Lijjat was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. In the same month, on the recommendation of Chhaganbapa, the chairman of Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Ucharang Rai Dhebar himself inspected the taste. In September 1966, the Commission formally recognized Lijjat as a unit associated with the “Grain and Pulses Industry Group Process” under the Khadi and Village Industries Act. It was also known as “village industry”. The commission gave him a working capital of Rs.8 lakh. They were also given some tax exemption.
Lijjat papad is a symbol of giving economic power to the poor women of the country. Its headquarter is in Mumbai. Lijjat Papad has a total of 27 divisions and 82 branches across the country. Lijjat’s annual turnover is Rs 1600 crore. As per 2010 figures Lijjat earned Rs. Papad worth 29 crores was exported. Lijjat papad was exported to UK, USA, Middle East Asia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Holland, Japan and Australia. Today around 45,000 women work in Lijjat. Where does the sister of every member of the company go? Lijjat Papad operates as an independent organization and each member is the owner of the sister organization. Profit and loss is shared among all the member sisters who make papad.
Jaswantiben Popat had a dream that Lijjat Papad should be developed as a home industry in such a way that women can stand on their own feet. Women who are not able to educate their children and who do not have any earner in the house, they can live with their heads high in the society. Jaswantiben’s dream has come true. Today she is the mother of 45 thousand women. At the age of 91, he has been awarded the prestigious Padma Shri.