Mumbai City dabbawalas to play vigilante

City dabbawalas to play vigilante





They might deliver your daily tiffin of home-cooked food on time, but they're much more than that. The city's dabbawalas have done everything from delivering health messages to taking part in civic cleanliness drives and more. Now, they're embarking on another important mission of being the eyes and ears for the Government Railway Police (GRP). The tiffin carriers confirm the news. “Yes, the Mumbai Police wants us to look out for suspicious activities and people on railway platforms and surrounding areas. If we find anything, we have to report it to the police; they have handed us a list of numbers,“ affirms Subash Talekar, spokesperson for the Mumbai dabbawalas. A year ago, the Mumbai Police asked them to take on a similar role. “We were shown a film about how a bomb might be placed anywhere and how we have to look for any suspicious happenings.“ Considering the dabbawalas are a strong force of 5,000, this is going to be quite a help to the GRP . “It is like sharing a responsibility. As citizens, all of us should always be alert.“ Adds Arjun Sawant, president of the 125-year-old Mumbai Dabbawala Association, “The dabbawalas on all three train routes -Central, Western and Harbour -will help to increase security . It is apt, as our system is closely linked to the Mumbai Railway system.“

GRASSROOT CAMPAIGNERS
In the past, dabbawalas have participated in quite a few social campaigns.
They have placed AIDS awareness messages in dabbas.
Delivered WHO (World Health Organization) messages on prevention and control of vector-borne diseases with their lunch boxes to mark World Health Day .
This year on May 1, they undertook a cleanliness drive at Pratapgad Fort near Satara to clean the plastic waste left by tourists.
They were also recently appointed as ambassadors for the Swachch Bharat mission.
The dabbawalas organised a cleanliness drive at Kalwa, Kamothe and Vikhroli with the help of school kids. 

HARVARD STUDY
Harvard Business School has done a study on their on-time delivery system in a city like Mumbai for which they have received six-stigma certification.