Mumbai dabbawalas to go on strike in support

The dabbawalas in Mumbai, who cater to about two-and-a-half lakh people daily, would be on strike tomorrow in support of Anna Hazare’s movement. As a result, the tiffin services in the city would be disrupted for the entire day.

“In the last 120 years, we have not had the occasion to take a day off, come rain or shine. We never stop work. But, we have decided to back Hazare’s agitation,” says Sopan Mare of Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association. The 5,000-odd dabbawalas in the city would also hold a rally from Churchgate to Azad Maidan.

Office-goers feel since Friday is a holiday on account of the Parsi New Year, not many would be affected. “Tomorrow is a holiday for most offices, so people would be saved. If it had been any other day, it would have been really difficult,” says a banking professional.

It must be mentioned that they had earlier decided to strike work on August 16, but later rescheduled it to August 19. This was so as the dabbawalas felt business would have been impacted heavily if the strike had been held on August 16, a day after the extended weekend on account of Raksha Bandhan and Independence Day.