Dabbawallahs of Mumbai create Roti Bank for the poor with leftover foods

#Mumbai #dabbawallah The dabbawalahs are unique to the city of Mumbai - they collect lunch boxes from the houses and delver them to the correct person without fail. Their customer base must run into millions. They are the lifeline of Mumbai and they have now embarked on the noble mission of creating a Roti Bank for the poor. There are around 400 dabbawalas who have taken the initiative. They want to prevent criminal wastage of food at social functions like weddings. They all collect the left over food and deliver it to the poor of the city.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 29 December 2015.

These dabbawalas have tied up with 30 major wedding planners and caterers who will call on two helpline numbers and schedule a 'pick-up'. In any program there is always some extra food because the number of guests will always vary and provision must be kept for eventualities. Therefore, excess will always be there and, instead of wasting it, it will be handed over to the dabbawallahs.
They have given two mobile numbers and, if there is excess food even after a house party, the dabbawalas nearest to the location will collect it and distribute it among pavement dwellers, slum residents and anyone living below the breadline.
Experience has shown that large quantities of unconsumed food from weddings, parties and other social events in Mumbai ends up in the garbage bin. For the past few years, some activists, venues and private citizens have been trying to prevent the wastage by giving it to the poor and the dabbawallahs would be doing a great social service by their initiative.

(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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