Shri Mahila Griha Udhyog Lijjat Papad (Lijjat) is a women's cooperative in India that manufactures fast-moving consumer goods like papads. Started in 1959 by 7 women in Mumbai, it now employs over 43,000 people across 81 branches. Lijjat is primarily focused on empowering women by providing employment. In addition to papads, Lijjat also produces soaps and has annual revenues of over $9 million, with some exports. The cooperative is involved in social activities like rebuilding villages affected by natural disasters.

1. Shri Mahila Griha Udhyog Lijjat Papad

2. Introduction
Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad , popularly known as Lijjat , is an
Indian women’s cooperative involved in manufacturing of various fast
– moving consumer goods.
The organisation’s main objective is empowerment of women by
providing them employment opportunities.
Lijjat has an annual turnover of around Rs. 6.50 billion in 2010 , with
Rs. 290 million in exports.
It provides employment to around 43000 people.
Lijjat headquartered in Mumbai and has 81 branches and 27 divisions
all over india.

3. History
7 Gujarati women from Bombay started making papad with
borrowed capital of Rs. 80/- from Chhaganlal Parekh.
On 15th march 1959 , they gather on terrace of lohana niwas in
girgum and started making the papads.
They started selling papad to known merchant in Bhuleshwar , Initally
they started making only 2 different types of papads.
Within 3 months from 7 to 25 women started making papads . In2nd
year 100-150 women joined and in 3rd year it increases more than
300.
In 1st year their annual sales were Rs. 6196/-

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In 1962 they give their papad name as “Lijjat Papads” which was
suggested by Dhirajben Ruparel.
In 1962-63 its annual sales is Rs. 182000/-.
1st branch in 1968 at Gujarat in valod they started producing papads,
while in 1987 they started making soaps also.

6. Social Activities
In 1999 , the Mumbai city felicitated Smt.Rukminiben B Pawar , Lijjat
President , as an outstanding women in the field of social work .
Lijjat undertook the rehabilitation of Chincholi (jogan) , the
earthquake affected village in the latur district of Maharashtra.
In 2001 , Gujarat earthquake ; all branches of Lijjat gave a total
donation of more than Rs.4.8 million , including Rs. 1 million from
central office.
Lijjat build forty houses for the rehabilitation of the people of
Bhujpur in Kutch District.

7. Scope
Papads of various brands are easily available in the market . One of
the most famous market brand is Lijjat . You can get variety of tasty
and flavourful Lijjat papads with different shapes and sizes.
Demand for papad is continuously increasing and that too , uniformly
in all parts of the country because it is an inseparable part of Indian
food , it is used in every state of the country at hotels , restaurants ,
marriages etc.
Moreover , there are bright chances of distribution of papad outside
our country.

8. Count Of Members (43000 in 2015)

9. Role In Women Empowerment
A literacy campaign for sisters began through literacy classes at
Girgum on 18 june 1999. later , the managing committee decided to
start such classes in all its branches.
From 1980 onwards , Lijjat started giving Chhaganbapa smruti
Scholarships to the daughters of the member-sisters.
In the valod centre , they set up an educational and hobby centre for
the rural women .
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

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In 1984, Bhadraben Bhatt represented Lijjatat the UNESCO sponsored
international workshop on “the role of women in the assimilation and
spread of technological innovation” held at NITIE , Powai .
Alkaben kalia represented Lijjat at the national level meeting on
women convened by the National commission on self employed
women .