Personality of the month: January 2005 www.nihindia.org
Jashwantiben Popat: the papad diva
Having
founded huge business empires, mighty people like JRD Tata, JD Birla and
Dhirubhai Ambani needs no introduction within or outside India. But have you
ever heard of Jashwantiben Popat?
She’s a simple unassuming 80 year old lady, hailing from an impoverished
neighborhood in
Mumbai who lately humbled several heavy weight business women and top MBA graduates by walking away with the coveted Economic Times award for Corporate Excellence in September 2002. Popat, was honored again by being named as the recipient of the Whirlpool Gr8! Women Awards 2004 in the “Social Services” category! Jashwantiben Popat is the woman responsible for making Lijjat Papad a global brand name and thus contributing immensely to women empowerment! This organization, which started off with a mere Rs. 80 and seven members now provides the means for self-employment to over 42, 000 member sisters across the country and has expanded its sales to over Rs. 300 crores. Lijjat Papad can now boast of an annual turnover of Rs. 315 crores of which Rs. 12 crores comes from its export wing alone (started in 1960).
On March 15, 1959, Popat got together with six other bens as they are fondly called, from Lohana community of Gujrat to make papads (crispy Indian bread) and become self-sufficient in that! This effort, based on the concepts of business, profit and devotion slowly diversified and the entrepreneurship became a household name: Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad (http://www.lijjat.com/index1.asp). The Udyog though initially limited to the Lohana community, later enrolled women from other communities and religions, provided they followed the basic tenets of the organization. Though the institution diversified immensely, the core values remain as personified by Popat, based on common sense and Gandhian values. First, Lijjat Papad’s women pledge allegiance to common values of responsibility, equality and rejection of charity because that would encourage an image of women in need. Second, making profit is seen as essential. To run the organization skillfully and successfully, profit and therefore money is necessary. And finally, “strict quality control” and production of quality goods at reasonable price has been one of the most important mantras at Lijjat! Senior workers including Mrs. Popat have traveled extensively to open branches across the nation and to train the women involved for two months. A proud Mrs. Popat declares that presently there are 63 branches and 40 divisions with the latest being opened in Kashmir. The co-operative has diversified from the production of papads to several other products today.
Milestones and achievements of the Udyog:
March 15, 1959: The beginning…
1960: Export Wing opened
1966: Registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950 and Societies registration Act 1860. Also recognized by Khadi and Village Industries Commission.
1998-99; 2001-02 & 2003: ‘Best Village Industry” Award from Khadi and Village industries commission.
September 6, 2002: Economic Times Award for Business woman of the Year 2001-2002 for Corporate Excellence.
2004: Whirlpool Gr8! Women Awards: Jashwantiben Popat, founder of Lijjat Papad awarded in the Social Services category.
For the last four decades after an early loss of her husband in her 30’s, Popat’s life has been one of discipline and busy schedules centering around her children and of course Lijjat papad. Despite being a corporate czarina, Mrs. Popat is pretty much content with her typical middle class comfort, still residing in her one room house in a Bombay tenement. Mrs. Popat is a fine example of a means for successful employment generation especially in a country like India, rich in human resources. Lijjat papad’s success has become a symbol of women’s economic empowerment in our country and it is perhaps the best example of how an institution with simple corporate management/governance has gained tremendous commercial success! Apart from the economic success, significant is this organization’s focus on improving the quality of the lives of its members. Mrs. Popat has in that sense spear headed a huge movement for women empowerment and well being.