Role Model 1 - Mumbai Dabbawalas

The whole Dabbawala system works between houses and offices, and concerns the lunch in a ‘dabba’ that there dabbawalas carry from houses to the respective destination offices.

We were introduced to the scale by various statistics being brought into the picture – 4 lakh tiffin transactions in less than 4 hours. The people involved are mostly uneducated, and lack any management or technical skills. Then how do they manage such a complicated process flow? This is what their head, representing the Dabbawala community, talked about that day.

Each dabba shifts hands approx 6 times during a single transaction. The Organization Structure is composed of a multitier system, were each person higher in the pyramid is responsible for the team under him. The only modes of transport are Mumbai Local trains, and the cycles which the dabbawalas use.

Astonishingly true, the error rate is 1 in 16 million. A 99.99 percent efficiency on the six sigma scale. The cost of service is Rs. 500 to Rs. 550 per month from a customer. They stand for NO STRIKE, and earn about Rs. 9000 to Rs. 10000 a month in average.

All dabbawalas share an identity mark – the white cap, which makes it easy for them to coordinate and work in a team. Their moto is ‘Work is Workship’ and they truly live up to it, imposing fines like Rs. 50 fine for not wearing the cap, Rs. 1000 fine for alcohol consumption during duty hours, and so on. The discipline is very formally followed.

We were informed about their Unique coding system, and as the dabbawala hilariously stated – that sometimes the uneducated ones are more efficient at work than us, the educated crowd.

Overall, the session was hilarious, and we enjoyed it to the fullest. The key observation by many of us was that despite being uneducated, they held pride in their trade, and with remarkable efficiency, they made an impossible-seeming task possible, that too with 0% Tech support.

We still have a lot to learn from the Dabbawala uncleji!

Day 1 - December 24th 2012

My JY confirmation mail came in December first week, just after my college vacations had begun. Even then I was not completely sure of what the so-called ‘Yatra’ could make possible for me. So I just decided to ‘jump’ into the opportunity.

I de-boarded my flight on Monday morning as I land in Mumbai for the first time. As instructed, I took a cab to Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Coming from a foggy Delhi to a heated up Mumbai was quite a jhakta.

As I enter the venue, a horde of new faces were all around me – 450 young people from all over India – from villages and cities, ranging from farmers to professionals working with reputed Investment Banks, different cultures, different languages, but one thing was evidently common – the passion to learn, the urge to bring about change, the potential to be the foundation stones of a new India. I had to get registered after the luggage was tagged, and then we were asked to find our Group members. These ‘Groups’ of ‘strangers’ were Yatris strategically selected and placed together in Cohorts with Facilitators as coordinators and a collection of Cohort became the group. I got ‘Group I’ and very soon I was in a crowd of new faces – each one as excited and pumped up as me.

Each group is a combination of 3 cohorts (2 Boys and 1 Girls). Each cohort is composed of 7 people – 6 Yatris and 1 Facilitator. There are total 21 groups.

While people were still registering, we combined 2 groups and started introducing ourselves with just a single thing we want us to be remembered as. This was much fun, and we managed to mint out wacky nick-names for almost all of us. I soon realized that these 450 people are not ordinary young men and women. Each one has his own story to share, and a dream to chase. The diversity prevails in their stories too. With some of them you could relate very strongly, but others would seem too hard to digest.

The very much awaited lunch followed. And I must admit that the management by JY team was awesome right from Day 1, and the lunch went smooth with people still introducing themselves while having a bite of the delicious food.

We were then asked to get seated in the Convention Center, where the Induction Ceremony would take place, followed by Team Introductions, General Guideline discussion, Cultural programs, and the Special take of the day – Mumbai Dabbawalas.

At this point, I must bring an important point up. From about 19000 registrations, 450 top selected candidates got to pursue JY 2012. The selections were not random, but based on a careful selection pattern, gauging NOT ONLY entrepreneurial spirit, but also the passion to bring about a change. So it was NOT individual play, but a team effort. And that was one of the key issues brought about in the discussion – India has sufficient funds and resources, and there is no dearth of ideas for sure. So what we miss is team to work with. And thanks to the Yatra, our teamwork began from Day 1. And this was highlighted very successfully by the Dabbawalas!

The initial Induction sessions were formal introduction to the program, and hence, very detailed (and too boring too). The JY volunteers and Core Team looked as energetic as ever and I partially envied their vigor, which was very evidently missing from the crowd, where every second person seemed to doze off. Stories were shared by the Organizing team members, and ‘Thank you’s were given, after which the Orientation finally got over.

The next session was a BIG surprise. The crowd was awakened by dancing onto the Gangnam style! – A warm-up exercise as mentioned by them. ‘Yaaro Chalo’ was played for the first time next, and we tried to match our steps with those of the Choreographer. Each little step symbolized our vision – beautifully portrayed in moving art. Next, some volunteers talked about their own experience in a beautiful musical setting.

With this we were told that a session with the first Role model would follow now – none other than the Dabbawalas!

Diary of the Curious Idiot

Jagriti Yatra 2012

Tied you to my Heart

I've tied you to my heart
Never shall we break apart

A glance, serene pure magic
Melting into your reflection
A colorful ornament, that sparkle in your eyes
Essence taming this devil inside
Beautiful curses behind silent cries

I've tied you to my heart
Never shall we break apart

Your shadow etches itself behind forgotten steps
Immortal imprints inside my heart
Every since I looked up at you
This glance has never been lowered since
Ghosts of dreams and hopes anew

I've tied you to my heart
Never shall we break apart

The birds will sleep, the sun shall set
The leaves could shy away today
In an hour when everyone has slept
With this longing disease of desire
A wink of sleep could never have crept

I've tied you to my heart
Never shall we break apart

The bite shall not go in
Nor the throat be wet this day
For inside are memories, full and incomplete
Another day to live, one more for you
A day to come, red below beautiful feet

I've tied you to my heart
Never shall we break apart

- K