Mr Talekar, the wordsmith Dabbawala that he is, gave an overview of his organization and how it is what it is today. “Hum chota mota kaam karte hain, bas apni roti kamaate hain(We do small work to earn our bread and butter). Started in 1890, our success story is all about being disciplined, ensuring participation from both the genders.Values, ethics, commitment are more important than anything else. Dabbawalas come and go, but our principles sustain the ravages of time.”
Talking more about how the workforce maintains world class Six Sigma standards, Mr Talekar pointed out that “we have no technological backup, average literacy rate is almost eight grade schooling, they are trained for a period of six months with a monthly stipend. Only if the efficiency is good that we make them permanent members”
Commenting on the meeting he had with Prince Charles he spoke about the seamless harmony in the communication he had with him and how the Prince, husband of the Late Diana, Princess of Wales, was so impressed that he even kept in touch with them after he went back. It is to be noted here that the Dabbawalas were subsequently invited to the wedding of Prince Charles to Camilla Parker Bowles.
More than glamour, to the students it was the range and depth of learning for the to be MBA’s that was worth their while. “That they have done it without an MBA degree is marvelous. They give 100 percent customer satisfaction and performance through zero percent fuel and technology as they use bicycle”, says Shakun Singh, a final year student at the campus.
“The Dabbawalas provide food and job, the basic requisites for the people in Mumabai. They have one of the most effective distribution models” pointed out Ravi Gadgil, Professor of Sales and Distribution, IMT Nagpur. The Association which has been featured in the Guiness Book of World Records, has a total coverage areas of 60-70 Kms, taking a time of 3 hours with 2,00,000 boxes delivered on time everyday. With “Shakti, Bhakti and Yukti”(Power, Prayer and Ideas) on their minds, the dabbawalas set their mark on the minds and hearts of all those present at the lecture.