Dabbawalas forced into odd jobs amid pandemic, drive autos for sake of their own lunch
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Rights commission summons Chief Secretary over plight of dabbawalas who are finding it difficult to make ends meet; a few of them recount their plight.
If suburban trains areMumbai’s lifeline , the dabbawalas are its pulse, beating purposefully in the veins of the city’s working class. Now struggling to make ends meet, they have asked the state government if they are ‘essential’ enough to be allowed in the trains. Taking cognisance of their plight, the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC ) has summoned the state Chief Secretary for a hearing on September 17.
Though most offices have opened to 30 per cent capacity, dabbawalas haven’t been able to resume work due to a lack of permission to travel by trains. Only those who operate on their bicycles are able to deliver meals.Mumbai Dabbawalas Association president Subhash Talekar reportedly said that never before in the 130-year-old history of dabba service has there been a six-month break.
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Social worker comes to their rescue
It was social worker Dr Yogesh Dube of Bhartiya Vikas Sansthan who first approached the MSHRC with dabbawalas’ appeal for rehabilitation. “Many of them are struggling to make ends meet due to the lockdown. Even their basic needs are not fulfilled. I decided to file the petition with the MSHRC after reading about their plight in newspapers,” said Dube, who then called various dabbawalla organisations to understand their problems and decided to demand their basic rights.
The director ofDabbawala Enterprises Private Limited , Sharad More said the business is in a shambles. He said, “We are trying to provide rations but it’s not sufficient. As the lockdown is being lifted, they are coming back to work, but are not allowed to board the trains. How does one distribute lunch boxes then?” he remarked, adding that they are not able to pay rent or school fees for their children either. “It’s a very tough situation and the government should intervene,” More said.
Such struggles have forced a few dabbawalas to switch professions. Rohidas Balu Sawant fromAarey colony delivered dabbas prior to the lockdown. “I have three children to feed and educate. I waited till May but the lockdown continued. Finally, I approached Bajaj Finance and bought an auto rickshaw in June. I am earning better now but not happy with this job. I want to go back to delivering dabbas,” Sawant said.
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Babaji Shivekar from Andheri West also started distributing rations on a rickshaw during the lockdown to earn money. His father Kondiba had quit the dabba delivery business after working for 50 years and settled in his village near Pune in 2005. Shivekar continued his father’s legacy but was forced to look for an alternative during the lockdown. “I used to earn Rs 20,000 earlier, but this new work barely pays. The problem is that 90 per cent of us are not educated and don’t have any other skill,” he said.
While Bharat Muke from Versova decided to drive an auto rickshaw after seeing his colleagues, his brother chose to become a delivery boy at Zomato. “I sought a loan for the rickshaw from a relative and have been paying him Rs 4,000 every month,” he said.
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After serving as a dabbawala for almost 15 years, Datta Shivekar started driving an auto rickshaw in June. “I pay a relative Rs 4,000 as rent for it. My elder brother Shanker and father Thindu served as dabbawalas in Mumbai for 20 years. I never thought I would have to do anything else to earn a living,” he said.
Dube’s petition states they are now deprived of basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. It demands financial help, social, medical and educational security, insurance, special welfare measures, and setting up of a coordination committee to address their grievances. Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar, however, could not be reached for a comment over phone and text messages.
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If suburban trains are
COVID-19 Lockdown: Mumbai's Dabbawalas fall on tough times
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Forced into odd jobs in the wake of the pandemic, the dabbawalas had earlier approached the state government demanding financial assistance. They said the only help that ever came was from social organisations and independent donors, which wasn’t enough for close to 5,000 dabbawalas who brought lunch tiffins to the tables of over two lakh office-going citizens.
Though most offices have opened to 30 per cent capacity, dabbawalas haven’t been able to resume work due to a lack of permission to travel by trains. Only those who operate on their bicycles are able to deliver meals.
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Social worker comes to their rescue
It was social worker Dr Yogesh Dube of Bhartiya Vikas Sansthan who first approached the MSHRC with dabbawalas’ appeal for rehabilitation. “Many of them are struggling to make ends meet due to the lockdown. Even their basic needs are not fulfilled. I decided to file the petition with the MSHRC after reading about their plight in newspapers,” said Dube, who then called various dabbawalla organisations to understand their problems and decided to demand their basic rights.
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Such struggles have forced a few dabbawalas to switch professions. Rohidas Balu Sawant from
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Babaji Shivekar from Andheri West also started distributing rations on a rickshaw during the lockdown to earn money. His father Kondiba had quit the dabba delivery business after working for 50 years and settled in his village near Pune in 2005. Shivekar continued his father’s legacy but was forced to look for an alternative during the lockdown. “I used to earn Rs 20,000 earlier, but this new work barely pays. The problem is that 90 per cent of us are not educated and don’t have any other skill,” he said.
While Bharat Muke from Versova decided to drive an auto rickshaw after seeing his colleagues, his brother chose to become a delivery boy at Zomato. “I sought a loan for the rickshaw from a relative and have been paying him Rs 4,000 every month,” he said.
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After serving as a dabbawala for almost 15 years, Datta Shivekar started driving an auto rickshaw in June. “I pay a relative Rs 4,000 as rent for it. My elder brother Shanker and father Thindu served as dabbawalas in Mumbai for 20 years. I never thought I would have to do anything else to earn a living,” he said.
Dube’s petition states they are now deprived of basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. It demands financial help, social, medical and educational security, insurance, special welfare measures, and setting up of a coordination committee to address their grievances. Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar, however, could not be reached for a comment over phone and text messages.
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