Mumbai Dabbawalas Shrink to 1,500 From 4,500 as Remote Work and Apps Cut Demand

2 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 29

Mumbai's registered dabbawalas have fallen to about 1,500 from roughly 4,500 in 2018, leaving the century-old lunchbox network in a fight for survival.
Remote and hybrid work gutted the office lunch trade after the pandemic, while Swiggy, Zomato and low-cost cloud kitchens pulled customers toward app-based meals.
50,000 lunchboxes a day were once moved at the system's peak, but many workers now serve far fewer clients, forcing some to quit and others to take second jobs.
20-year veteran Balu Bhagu Shinde left to drive a tuktuk after his customer base dropped to two, while remaining dabbawalas report lower incomes and longer workdays.
The Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association is weighing shift-based work so members can earn elsewhere, but says the network no longer covers the whole city and its future is uncertain.

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