Our Prime Minister is Proud Figure of Less-Gifted People of Nation, says Prakash Javadekar

Pune: NP NEWS 24 ONLINE –  Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of Ministry of Human Resource Development said, “Jaswantiben Popat and other six Gujarati housewives who founded Lijjat Papad 50 years ago and started production with the princely sum of 80 rupees, has now the yearly business of Rs 1600 crore. Layman earns money and respect by hardworking and self-respect is everything he has as the biggest income. The journey of Lijjat is a great example.”

Prakash Javadekar was speaking at the concluding ceremony of Lijjat’s Golden Jubilee year. Other dignitaries present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection – Girish Bapat, Member of Parliament Anil Shirole, State Cabinet minister for Sahakar, Panan & Vastrodyog- Subhash Deshmukh, Senior Congress Leader Ulhas Pawar, Pune Mayor Mukta Tilak, Jaswantiben Jamnadas Popat- Founder Member of Lijjat Papad, President of Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad-Swati Paradkar, and Dr Kumar Saptarshi.

Prakash Javadekar added, “Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is the proud figure of less-gifted people of our nation. He also belonged to the poor family and that is the reason he understands the backdrops of ground-level. He has always thought for the welfare of the poor people and for the same, he brought Garib Aawas Yojna. Previously, big part of the pollution didn’t have their own bank accounts; Government opened bank accounts for them to give the direct benefits of many government schemes. Many such initiatives have been taken by the Government to uplift the economically lower part of the society.”

Girish Bapat said, “The history of Lijjat Papad is an inspiration to the government. It has gathered all the women a ground level and given them the employment. Started at grassroot’s level, today Lijjat has become a huge banyan tree.”

Dr Kumar Saptarshi said, “Thought of everyone’s Welfare, Cooperative Spirit, Women’s Respect, and Avoidance of Caste Discrimination – these are the four qualities Lijjat has and these are also needed for the progress of our nation. The unemployment rate is increasing due to the loss of Self-Employment. Lijjat is the best model of Self-Employment.”

Subhash Deshmukh said, “I thank Rahul Solapurkar that he invited me to be the part of this occasion of Lijjat which has given empowerment to more than 50000 women. Maharashtra is facing the situation of drought and women have the capability to face this situation.”

Ullahs Pawar said, “Since last 50 years, Lijjat is working for women empowerment. Have the feeling of everyone’s overall development. Today, many of the women’s children are working on higher posts but still they have been the part of this organization. Today, Government is getting Rs 70 crore as the financial benefits inform of tax return from Lijjat.”

The Lijjat trade began when seven Gujarati housewives decided to exploit the only skill they knew – cooking. It was started as a desperate move to supplement the family income. On 15 March 1959, they gathered on the terrace of an old building in a crowded South Mumbai locality and rolled out four packets of papads to sell.

The “seven sisters”, as they are fondly remembered, started production with the princely sum of 80 rupees, borrowed from Chaganlal Karamsi Parekh that they used to take over a loss-making papad business owned by Laxmidasbhai. They then bought the necessary paraphernalia required to make papads.

The seven women were Jayaben V. Vithalani, Parvatiben Ramdas Thodani, Jaswantiben Jamnadas Popat, Ujamben Narandas Kundalia, Banuben. N. Tanna, Laguben Amritlar Gokani and another woman whose name is not known.