Lijjat is 50

“Not only self-employment, self-reliance, self-empowerment and self-dignity are also equally important. The movement, started by the Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad (SMGULP), represents the true strength of the Indian women. The women, who are a part of Lijjat, weren’t literate before. But now, they know the importance of education, especially of their children. This in itself is a big development,” eminent scientist Raghunath Mashelkar said . Formed by seven women, an initiative based on collective ownership, the SMGULP now gives hope to over 42,000 women across the country, has an annual turnover of Rs 500 crore and has exports worth Rs 25 crore. The Pune branch of SMGULP was established 40 years ago in Budhwar Peth. Mashelkar said 50 years from now, India should be 100 per cent literate and for this, Lijjat needs to be foresighted and find ways of improving itself further in the next 50 years. It should be a symbol of diversification, he added. Education and financial empowerment are the important issues the women at the SMGULP have learnt. “Right from the beginning, the women have been told about the importance of education. When they joined us, they could only lend their thumbprints as signatures. Today, they sign and even know how to read and write. The development in them, as individual, has been evident,” said Jyoti Naik, president, SMGULP.