Women in slums turning into culinary experts

It is not like an ordinary kitchen. Spice containers are stacked on cemented slabs, instead of one cooking stove there are six arranged in a row and the space is so limited that only two people can stand at a time.

A white tent is pitched just outside the kitchen to facilitate cooks, who come each day to make lunch for more than 100 people. Such is the kitchen of Lunchbox -17 or LB 17 where the cooks are women from the nearby slum area.

A social enterprise, started by Swechha and Green the Gap in collaboration with the women chefs of Jagdamba slum, it aims to provide fresh, healthy and economical lunchbox. Operating from the Swechha office in Khirkee Extension, LB 17 is providing delicious vegetarian and non-vegetarian food through the week. And there are many avid takers.

“What started as an empowerment initiative last year, gradually transformed into creation of employment opportunity. Initially we were engaged in providing education to children in the Jagdamba slum.

Thereafter, we decided to engage mothers too by generating a source of livelihood for them,” says Sunny Verma, deputy director of the LB 17.

At present, LB 17 is delivering lunch boxes in upscale South Delhi areas like Malviya Nagar, Hauz Khas Village, Green Park, Shahpur Jat, Lajpat Nagar, RK Puram, Lodhi Road, SDA Market, Okhla and many more.

Through social media marketing and on-the-ground promotions through banners, posters and pamphlets, LB 17 is trying to reach out to the customers.

“Collaborations with institutions and offices for weekly bulk orders are also being established. However, one of the most important mandates remains to be keeping in touch with all the clients for regular feedback via phone and e-mails,” says Verma.

From every regular customer, Rs 500 is charged as security deposit. The cost for a vegetarian lunchbox (within 5 km radius) is Rs 80 and Rs 100 for non-vegetarian. As the distance increases, the cost also varies.

“The income generated from the enterprise will further be used for the empowerment programme,” informs Verma.

Neetu, who is like the main chef of the kitchen, is enjoying the culinary task. “I was a part of the education classes run by the organisation.

From there I got the chance to become a part of LB 17 group,” she says. Since it has been just two months since the project started, there are only three women chefs at present.

To engage more women with the project, training and workshops are also being conducted. “A young women’s entrepreneurship training workshop is also being held in batches with the women from Jagdamba camp, which also opens the door to becoming a part of LB-17,” informs Verma.

Interestingly, through LB 17, young boys living in and around the slum are being employed too as they have been hired to deliver lunchboxes.

“Electric bikes are being used to deliver the meals for which young men from Jagdamba camp have been employed,” says Sarika Chauhan, a volunteer working with the organisation. “I have been assigned to fix route destination for delivery boys.

Sometimes, it becomes really difficult when only single demand comes from a distant locality,” says Sarika, who is presently a third year student of BA (Programme), Miranda House. 

Notably, the enterprise is supported by a number of college volunteers and interns from diverse backgrounds. They have been actively engaged in management of
operations, marketing and communications.