Mumbai's famed 'dabbawalas', or tiffin suppliers are now getting special training in the English language as well as in the use of computers to enable them to understand the requirements of modern customers.

The President of the Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers, Raghunath D. Medge, explained the need for learning computers and English.

"Our customers give the address of their destination, office or residence in English, so it is difficult for us to understand. So, we have to ask people walking on the streets for that address. But everybody is so busy, that they don't help us out. So, if we will learn English then it will be easy for us to read the address of our customers and will help us in delivering the tiffin easily," he said.

Medge also said many signboards and nameplates in Mumbai are also in English, causing difficulties for the 'dabbawalas'.

The special programme of English and computer training was jointly launched by the Mumbai Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) and the Agrawal Institute of Management and Technology for the 5,000 'dabbawalas' of the city.

"I am getting opportunity to start the batch, first batch of Mumbai dabbawalas to teach English as well as computer in my premises. Really it's a great honour for me," said Pawan G. Agrawal, President of Agrawal Institute of Management and Technology.

'Dabbawalas' were also asked to impart lessons on management and business skills to the corporate world.

One such presentation by 'dabbawalas' on time management, customer satisfaction, loyalty, error-free methods and other skills was given to top industry professionals in Mumbai recently. In 2004, the 'dabbawalas' even went to the prestigious Indian Institute of Management in Lucknow to give a presentation to management students. By Sanjeev Shukla (ANI)