In brief
In a remarkable tale of resilience, the Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad cooperative has transformed the lives of over 45,000 women in India, empowering them through traditional snack production.
In a bustling Delhi neighborhood on a cool December morning, women clad in vibrant saris gathered outside a three-story building housing one of India's pioneering social enterprises. Founded in 1959 by a group of seven housewives in Mumbai, the Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad cooperative has become a symbol of empowerment, generating an impressive annual turnover of 16 billion rupees (approximately $186 million) while exporting products globally.The cooperative's flagship product, the Lijjat brand of poppadoms, reflects the skills and determination of its members. Lakshmi, a 70-year-old manager at the Delhi center, shares her story of joining the cooperative when she needed to provide for her family after her husband's death. "Lijjat is a temple for us," she proclaims, emphasizing the importance of this enterprise in their lives.Women typically commute daily to cooperative centers to collect pre-mixed dough made from lentils and spices, returning home to roll and dry the poppadoms. Initially, it took Lakshmi several hours to produce one kilogram, but she can now easily accomplish this task in just thirty minutes.The cooperative's journey began during a time when India was striving to rebuild itself post-independence, offering women the chance to earn a living in a predominantly patriarchal society. The founding members, including Jaswantiben Jamnadas Poppat and others, leveraged their traditional cooking skills to create a sustainable source of income. With financial assistance from social workers, they slowly built a reputation among local shopkeepers, marking the start of a significant movement.Over the decades, Lijjat evolved from a local initiative to a widely recognized brand. The cooperative emphasized equal rights and profit sharing among its members, fostering a close-knit community that respects each woman's contributions. The decision to adopt the name "Lijjat," meaning 'taste' in Gujarati, was inspired by a sister within the cooperative and has since become synonymous with quality.Today, the cooperative allows generations of women to achieve financial independence and improve their family's living conditions. "I have put my children through school, built a house, and got them married," Lakshmi notes proudly, illustrating the profound impact of this cooperative on her life and that of her family.
