Dabbawalas turn business facilitators

MUMBAI: Get your piping hot 'dabba' for lunch from the hands of a versatile dabbawala and an offer to open an account with a bank sitting in your office seat. Convenient isn't it?

What's more, you don't even have to go to the bank to open the account as your semi-literate dabbawala will get it done for you. Even more convenient!

Well, that's what exactly the public sector Corporation Bank has done and in five months of opening such a scheme, it has managed to register around 5,000 new customers.

Dabbawalas, world famous for their efficiency in delivering tiffins to busy people working in Mumbai, have in this way not only diversified their work but have met with success in their new enterprise also, thus, adding another feather to their cap.

Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association (dabbawalas' official association) President Raghunath Dhondiba Medage said, "We have been doing business facilitating activities for a couple of companies like advertising for them and distributing their pamphlets among our customers."

This is a new initiative started by the 5,000 strong team of dabbawalas, famous not only in India, but worldwide for their unique style of functioning and have also been certified to Six Sigma standards of accuracy.

Corporation Bank General Manager in-charge Mumbai zone N N Paul said they had signed an MoU with dabbawalas in May this year and the agreement is yielding good results.

"Around 1,000 of dabbawalas have been working with us since the agreement and we have been able to register more account holders, who are customers of dabbawalas, with their help," he said.

The dabbawalas have been working with the bank by distributing its forms among their customers and providing them with details about the products and services of the bank by circulating their pamphlets, Paul said.

Dabbawalas have around 2.5 lakh customers, including a lot of students, out of which around 10 per cent have opened their accounts with Corporation Bank, courtesy the dabbawalas acting as business facilitators.

Paul said the motive behind using the services of dabbawalas was that they have a wide reach in a massive city like Mumbai and its suburbs besides enjoying a very high credibility among their customers.

Moreover, in return to their services, the bank has facilitated the opening of accounts for around 1,000 dabbawalas and they also earn incentive in the form of money for making the bank's services reach their customers.

Medage said, "Our job is to deliver dabbas (tiffins) to our customers on time. Besides that, if our members indulge in these side-activities and earn a remuneration, it is good for them".

Dabbawala association secretary Gangaram Laxman Talekar said, "We don't stop our members from doing anything. Earlier also, our members had ventured into such activities and even now, if they want to do, there's no stopping them."

Paul said the agreement has been beneficial to both the parties. The bank wants to continue its association with the efficient team of dabbawalas to target more and more dabba customers, who can be their potential customers.