Rs 80 to 1600 Crore. A story we all grew up with
The LIJJAT PAPAD STORY -TERRACE TO INTERNATIONAL BRAND​
On a modest terrace in Mumbai in 1959, seven women came together with a simple but powerful idea , to change their circumstances through collective work. With just ₹80 borrowed from social worker Chhaganlal Parekh, Jaswantiben Popat, Parvatiben Thodani, Ujamben Kundalia, Banuben Tanna, Laguben Gokani, Jayaben Vithalani and Diwaliben Lukka began making papads.
What began with four packets of papad has today grown into Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad, one of India's most remarkable cooperative enterprises. Over the decades, this women-led organisation has grown to:
• ₹1600 crore annual turnover
• 82 branches across India
• 45,000+ women members
• Exports to international markets
• 65+ years of continuous operation
But this is not just a business story. It is a story of governance, trust, discipline and collective ownership. Lijjat operates on a simple but powerful principle , every woman is an equal member and profits are shared equally. There are no traditional promoters, no concentrated ownership and no individual wealth accumulation at the top. Instead, the organisation built a cooperative governance model that aligns ownership, accountability and opportunity across thousands of women.
Over more than six decades, Lijjat has survived economic liberalisation, policy reforms, currency disruptions and structural changes in India's economy. Many enterprises faltered during these shifts. Lijjat endured. In 2021, co-founder Jaswantiben Popat was awarded the Padma Shri, recognising not only entrepreneurial success but also a governance model that empowered thousands of women.
Today, Lijjat Papad stands as one of the most successful community-driven manufacturing initiatives in modern history. From ₹80 to ₹1600 crore. From 7 founders to 45,000 women members. From a terrace to a national institution. This Women’s Day, we celebrate a story that proves a powerful truth: When women build institutions with clarity and discipline, those institutions do not just grow — they endure.