Topic: Lijjat

Structure of Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad ItS A

Women Only Business SWOT analysis
In order to carry out the analysis it is important to understand each element of
SWOT i.e. strength, weakness, opportunities and threats.
Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad ItS A
Women Only Business Strength
Strength is a characteristic that adds value to something by making it more
special, unique and advantageous when compared. In this element of SWOT the
abilities and the key properties of organization are discussed that gives an
organization an advantage over other organizations by making it more
competitive. It defines the characteristics and situations of an organization which
makes it more effective and efficient when compare with its competitors.
It defines the areas in which the organization hold a command or is good at doing
it and that provides the organization and important capability. It can be a skill, a
resource, image, market leadership, relation with buyer or supplier or any other
advantage relative to its competitors that fulfill the needs of the market by
providing the organization with a comparative advantage.
Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad ItS A Women Only
Business Weakness
Weakness refer to the situation in which the existing capabilities and the
resources the company holds are weaker or not sufficient compared to others
organizations in the market. In other words it means the aspects in which the
organization is less efficient and needs to improve in order to align with the
market trends. As these aspects negatively affect the overall performance of the
organization by making it weaker compared to its competitors.
These are the factors that an organization lacks and does poorly in comparison to
the organizations operating in the same market at the same level. It is a deficiency
or limitation of resources, capabilities, skills that majorly affect the organizations
effective performance. Management capabilities, Facilities, financial resources,
marketing skills and the weak brand image can be the sources of weakness.
Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad ItS A Women Only
Business Opportunities
Opportunity is an advantage and the driving force for an organization. It is the
convenient time or situation that is present in the environment and will help the
organization in achieving its goals. It is a factor that contribute positively towards
the growth of the organization. It is a condition existing in the external
environment that allow the organization to take an advantage of the
organizational strengths, and help in overcoming the weaknesses and to
neutralize the threats present in the environment.
Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad ItS A Women Only
Business Threats
Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad ItS A Women Only Business Threats are the
factors that prevent the organization from the actualization of an activity. It is an
unfavorable situation that exist in the environment making it difficult for the
organization to achieve its defined goals. It is a situation that arises as a result of
the changes that took place in the immediate or distant environment, preventing
the organization from maintaining its existence and superiority in the growing
competition and are disadvantageous for the organization.
All the environmental factors are consider as a threat to an organization that
could affect the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization.

Lijjat Ne Bachai Izzat

                  (A story of Woman Empowerment )

A saying used by Lijjat Sisters oftenly during discussions is”Lijjat Ne BachaiIzzat”.It means Lijjat
gave them a respectful life by providing livelihood and homely protection and social status.In
other words Lijjat empowered them to fight the ascribed status they had and helped them to
achieve a worthy         status.Lijjat not only gave them money but an occupation,recognized
their labour and skills and provided a protected environment needed for young women to earn
their livelihood.”SoLijjat Ne Bachai Izzat.”

Lijjat in Gujrati means tasty and the product is papad.On any given day,.45,000 women are
working with LijjatPapad.It is exported to more than 25 countries and in 2019-20 its value of
export was was a little above Rs 80 crores.Lijjat makes 4.8 Billion papads annually and it can be
used to measure the earth 21 times and operates in 17 Indian states.It is now known as Shri
MahilaGrah Udyog LijjatPapad.It operates 82 branches in India.

JaswantibenPopat one of the founder members who received Padma Shri  on 26 January 2021
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started the enterprise on cooperative basis to empower women.Lijjat sisters can earn up to Rs
650/- per day by rolling papads.They have to collect Dough from the Lijjat premises; deposit the
rolled quantity of papads,collect their rolling board if needed and collect their payment
daily.Lijjat buses transport Lijjat Sisters from their residential areas to the factory and drop
them back.In the factory No Lijjat sister can talk politics;zero percent gossip and 100 %
transparency is the policy.”Bunny” became the famous Mascot of LijjatPapad’s advertisements.

Lijjat cooperative doesn’t accept donations;No credit to distributors as well as no credit from
supplier.All cash dealings.This is the reason behind daily payment of wages-No
wait.Weekly/Monthly review meetings by the Board of 21 sisters who are running since 1959 
the cooperative.Lijjat sisters believe in common purpose and common cause.

Lijjatpapad trusts in building manpower not machines.Best performers are granted gold coin of
5 gms to 20 gms annually and many of them collect gold upto 250-300 gms over a period of
time.

Lijjat started with Rs 80  borrowed seed capital and now has achieved a  turnover of Rs 2000
crores per annum.Every cooperative member is the owner.No technical skills but only cooking
skils needed.  Center provides readly to be rolled dough and rolling and drying  is done at their
homes.Lijjat is one of the most awarded organization over the years..Khadi and Village
Gramudyog Commission recognized Lijjat as Grah Udyog ISO certification it got.ET business
woman award was also given to Lijjatpapad.Lijjat is a giant woman organization which has
helped Lijjat Sisters to support their children to become doctors,engineers,professors and
professionals by providing regular income to the sisters.PadmashriJaswantiben in an interview
told that Lijjat contributes to charity and does not accept charity.We donated to Latur sufferers
in our way.

Lijjat has expanded its product line and now creates Masala Papadalso.In 1974 it introduced
Khakra;in 1976 Kitchen Masalas and Atta and later introduced other products.So product
basket has been enlarging in case of Lijjat.Also It has been expanding geographically.

PADMASHRI TO LIJJAT SISTER

 JaswantibenJamnadasPopat ; the founder

The Republic Day  2021 roll call of honours had six Padma award winners from
Maharashtra.and  included :

JaswantibenJamnadasPopat –PADMA SHRI   (Ba)

Jaswantiben  ‘Ba ‘, popularly addressed by sisters is an inspiration to woman entrepreneurs,she

was one among a group of seven sisters who founded the women’s cooperative Shri
MahilaGriha Udyog LijjatPapad in 1959 on a seed capital of Rs 80.These seven sisters have
proven to be seven wonders of the world.

The model not just empowered women to earn their livelihood,it inculcated in them a sense of
ownership given that working members are co-owners.What started on a small scale in
Mumbai’s Girgaum-the women would dry the papads on the terrace of a building or near their
homes-now has become a large player in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector with
branches in several states in India,in a business that’s around  Rs 2,000 crore per annum.Lijjat
completed 50 years on 12 December 2018,of its existence and growth.
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Operating under the brand name of Lijjat (Gujarati for ‘tasty’),it also exports to 25 countries.The
journey that started with seven sisters’ is now 45,000 plus strong.ButPopat is the lone survivor
from the original group of seven who set up the cooperative.

50,000 household served by Lijjat through employment. In 82 branches.Employee’s Salary is Rs

20,000 per month.

Servant of India-Chagganlal Parekh, President,  got them credit of Rs 80.First day 1 kg-earning
0.50 paise. 1 year  Rs 6196/-  was their  revenue.Chagganbappa and Datanibappa were the
st

backbone of Lijjat in the initial years who put the orgnisation on a professional solid
footings.Both of them are revered by the Lijjatsisters.They would guide the sisters in
introducing standard papad and no high or low quality papad.Also they will encourage people
to use Lijjatpapad as any purchase of Lijjat will contribute to a family of Lijjat sister to live
honorably and respectfully.It is valid even today.By ”BUYING  LIJJAT “ you are strengthening
women empowerment as enshrined and  mandated  by Directive Principles of State Policy in
the constitution.How adversity in life creates opportunity is a classic  example of Lijjat’s coming
into existence and its growth.

Analysis of the Case

Shri MahilaGriha Udyog LijjatPapad, popularly known as Lijjat, is an Indian women's worker

cooperative involved in manufacturing of various fast-moving consumer goods. The
organisation's main objective is empowerment of women by providing them employment
opportunities. Started in 1959 by seven women in Mumbai with a seed capital of only Rs.80
($1.5), it had an annual turnover of more than Rs.1600 crore (over $224 million) in 2019. It
provides employment to 45,000 (in 2021) women across the country.

Primarily a cottage industry, urban by its origin, which has spread to the rural areas, it had an
annual Rs. 800 Million (INR 80 crores) worth of exports in 2019. It is considered as one of the
most remarkable entrepreneurial initiatives by women that is identified with female
empowerment in India.Due to standardization in the Papad, 4.8 Billion Papads made by 45,000
Lijjat sisters all over India with similar tastes.

The growth of the Lijjat is often seen in the larger canvas of women and their empowerment.
The organisation has undertaken various efforts to promote literacy and computer education
for member-sisters and their families. A literacy campaign for sisters began through literacy
classes at Girgaum on 18 June 1999.Later, the managing committee decided to start such
classes in all its branches.From 1980 onwards, Lijjat started giving ChhaganbapaSmruti
Scholarships to the daughters of the member-sisters.

The member-sisters used their organisation as a medium to promote their and their families'
welfare. In the Valod centre, they set up an educational and hobby centre for the rural women.
Orientation courses in typing, cooking, sewing, knitting and toy making as well as other courses
like child welfare, first aid and hygiene were taught. [35] The first ever pucca (tarred) road in
Valod to be built and inaugurated in 1979 was with the help of the Lijjat, Valod branch.

In 1979, Lijjat teamed up with UNICEF to organise a seminar in Mumbai on "Child Care and
Mother Welfare", as part of the International Year of the Child celebrations.In October 1984,
Bhadraben Bhatt represented Lijjat at the UNESCO sponsored international workshop on "The
role of women in the assimilation and spread of technological innovation" held at NITIE, Powai.
[38]
 Alkaben Kalia represented Lijjat at the national level meeting on women convened by the
National Commission on Self Employed Women.

At the behest of Mother Teresa, the member-sisters also took part in some activities of Asha
Dhan, an institution to care for destitute women.

Lijjat member-sisters also tried to start a co-operative bank, but the effort was not very
successful.