On a cold December morning in Delhi, a lively group of women dressed in colorful saris and warm shawls gathered outside a three-storey building that is home to one of India’s oldest social enterprises. This cooperative, called Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad, was started in 1959 in Mumbai by seven housewives who wanted to earn money by making papad, a popular crispy snack in Indian food. Over the last sixty-five years, the cooperative has grown a lot, now having over 45,000 women members and making a huge annual income of 16 billion rupees, with products even being sent to countries like the UK and the US.

The women at Lijjat mainly work from home, making different products like spices and detergents, but their most famous item is still the Lijjat brand of poppadoms. Lakshmi, a 70-year-old manager at the Delhi center, shares how joining the cooperative changed her life after her husband passed away and she needed a job. With not much education, a neighbor introduced her to Lijjat, and she found a caring community that helped her earn a good income while taking care of her family. Now, she manages 150 women at the center, showing how the cooperative helps women balance work and home life.

Every morning, the cooperative provides rides for its members to the nearest Lijjat center, where they pick up pre-mixed dough made from lentils and spices. The women then go back home to roll the dough into thin, round papads. At first, it took Lakshmi several hours to make just one kilogram of dried lentil papad, but now she can do it in just thirty minutes. The main office in Mumbai takes care of getting the raw materials, which are then sent out to women all over the country for them to produce and package.

The story of Lijjat goes back to the 1950s in India, a time when the country was trying to rebuild after gaining independence. Women faced many challenges in a conservative society that often limited their chances for education and jobs. The founders of Lijjat were a group of strong women living in a crowded Mumbai apartment who wanted to use their cooking skills to help their families. With the help of a social worker, they got a small loan to buy ingredients, and even though it was hard to find buyers at first, their hard work paid off as their poppadoms became popular.

Original news source: How a home-made snack empowered Indian women (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Each team takes turns sending one member to act out a word or phrase related to the article (e.g., “popped papad,” “women’s cooperative,” “Delhi”). The acting student cannot speak and must rely on gestures for their team to guess the word or phrase within a time limit.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Prepare a series of statements based on the article (e.g., “Women should work from home,” “Social enterprises are important for communities”). Students walk around the room, discussing each statement with their peers and placing themselves on a spectrum from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.” Afterward, discuss the results as a class.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: In small groups, students create a mind map on a large sheet of paper that illustrates key concepts from the article. They should include topics such as “Lijjat Papad,” “women empowerment,” and “social enterprises,” branching out to include details and personal reflections. Each group then presents their mind map to the class.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Students work in pairs to come up with catchy headlines for the article. They should think about the most important aspects, such as the cooperative’s impact on women and the community. After brainstorming, each pair shares their headlines, and the class votes on the most engaging one.

– TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
Instructions: Each student thinks of three statements about the article—two that are true and one that is false. They take turns sharing their statements with the class, while the other students guess which statement is the lie. This encourages critical thinking and attention to detail in the reading.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the main goal of the seven housewives who started the Lijjat cooperative in 1959?

2. How has the cooperative changed over the years in terms of its size and income?

3. What types of products do the women at Lijjat make besides poppadoms?

4. How did joining the cooperative impact Lakshmi’s life after her husband’s death?

5. Describe the process that the women follow to make papads at home.

6. What challenges did women face in India during the 1950s, and how did the founders of Lijjat overcome them?

7. How did the founders of Lijjat manage to start their business despite the difficulties they encountered?

8. In what ways does the cooperative support women in balancing their work and family responsibilities?
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🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

On a cold December morning in Delhi, a lively (1)______ of women dressed in colorful saris and warm shawls gathered outside a three-storey building that is home to one of India’s oldest social enterprises. This cooperative, called Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad, was started in 1959 in Mumbai by seven housewives who wanted to earn money by making papad, a popular (2)______ snack in Indian food. Over the last sixty-five years, the cooperative has grown a lot, now having over 45,000 women members and making a huge annual (3)______ of 16 billion (4)______, with products even being sent to countries like the UK and the US.

The women at (5)______ mainly work from home, making different (6)______ like (7)______ and detergents, but their most famous item is still the Lijjat brand of poppadoms. Lakshmi, a 70-year-old manager at the Delhi center, shares how joining the cooperative changed her life after her husband passed away and she needed a job. With not much education, a neighbor introduced her to Lijjat, and she found a caring community that helped her earn a good income while (8)______ care of her family. Now, she manages 150 women at the center, showing how the cooperative helps (9)______ balance work and home life.

Every morning, the cooperative provides rides for its members to the nearest Lijjat center, where they pick up pre-mixed dough made from (10)______ and spices. The women then go back home to roll the dough into thin, round papads. At first, it took Lakshmi several hours to make just one (11)______ of dried lentil papad, but now she can do it in just thirty minutes. The main office in Mumbai takes care of getting the raw (12)______, which are then sent out to women all over the country for them to produce and package.

The story of Lijjat goes back to the 1950s in India, a time when the country was trying to rebuild after gaining (13)______. Women faced many challenges in a (14)______ society that often limited their chances for education and jobs. The founders of Lijjat were a group of strong women living in a crowded Mumbai apartment who wanted to use their cooking skills to help their families. With the help of a social (15)______, they got a small loan to buy ingredients, and even though it was hard to find buyers at first, their hard work paid off as their (16)______ became popular.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on the importance of women working together in a cooperative like Lijjat?

2. How would you feel if you had to start a business with a group of friends or family?

3. Do you think it’s important for women to have the opportunity to work and earn their own money? Why or why not?

4. Have you ever participated in a group project or activity? What was your experience like?

5. What is a skill you would like to learn to help you earn money in the future?

6. How do you think social enterprises like Lijjat can impact a community positively?

7. Do you like cooking or baking? If so, what is your favorite dish to make?

8. How would you feel if you had to manage a team of people like Lakshmi does?

9. Do you think it’s easier or harder to work from home compared to working in an office? Why?

10. What is a challenge you think women face in your country when it comes to finding jobs?

11. How important do you think it is for communities to support local businesses? Why?

12. Have you ever had to learn a new skill quickly? What was it, and how did you feel about it?

13. Do you think that having a supportive community can help people succeed in their jobs? Why or why not?

14. What is a popular snack in your culture, and how is it made?

15. How would you feel if you were part of a cooperative that helped you and others in your community?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. cooperative
2. enterprise
3. annual
4. detergent
5. manager
6. balance
7. pre-mixed
8. dough
9. lentils
10. raw
11. conservative
12. limited
13. founders
14. ingredients
15. popular

Meanings:
(A) Liked or enjoyed by many people
(B) Restricted or confined within boundaries
(C) A person who is in charge of a group or organization
(D) A mixture of flour and liquid used for baking
(E) A group of people working together for a common goal
(F) Already combined or prepared before use
(G) In a natural state, not yet processed or cooked
(H) People who start or establish something
(I) Small, round seeds used in cooking, often in soups or stews
(J) Holding traditional values and being cautious about change
(K) To keep things equal or in the right proportions
(L) A cleaning product used for washing clothes or dishes
(M) Items or substances used to make a dish or product
(N) Happening once every year
(O) A business or company
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the main product that the cooperative Lijjat is known for?
(a) Sweets
(b) Poppadoms
(c) Bread
(d) Snacks

2. In what year was the cooperative Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad founded?
(a) 1965
(b) 1959
(c) 1972
(d) 1980

3. How many women members does the cooperative have today?
(a) 30,000
(b) 10,000
(c) 60,000
(d) Over 45,000

4. Where did the cooperative originally start?
(a) Delhi
(b) Kolkata
(c) Mumbai
(d) Chennai

5. What type of community support did Lakshmi find when she joined Lijjat?
(a) A caring community
(b) Financial independence
(c) Educational opportunities
(d) International connections

6. What is the main ingredient used to make the dough for papads?
(a) Wheat
(b) Rice
(c) Lentils
(d) Corn

7. How long did it initially take Lakshmi to make one kilogram of dried lentil papad?
(a) One hour
(b) Thirty minutes
(c) Two hours
(d) Several hours

8. What challenge did women face in India during the 1950s when Lijjat was founded?
(a) Limited chances for education and jobs
(b) High unemployment rates
(c) Lack of interest in cooking
(d) Overpopulation in cities

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The cooperative generates an annual income of 16 billion rupees.
2. The corporation was founded by seven housewives who wanted to earn money by making papad.
3. The cooperative helps women balance their work and family responsibilities.
4. Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad is a corporation that started in 1969 in Mumbai.
5. Lakshmi, a 70-year-old manager, found a supportive community after joining Lijjat following her husband’s death.
6. Over the years, Lijjat has grown to include more than 45,000 women members.
7. Lijjat’s products are exported to countries like France and Australia.
8. In the beginning, the founders of Lijjat faced opportunities in a conservative society that limited women’s challenges.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. What was the main goal of the seven housewives who started the Lijjat cooperative in 1959?
2. How has the cooperative changed the lives of women like Lakshmi?
3. What products do the women at Lijjat make besides papads?
4. Why was it difficult for the founders of Lijjat to find buyers for their products at first?
5. How does the cooperative support its members in balancing work and home life?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What was the main goal of the seven housewives who started the Lijjat cooperative in 1959?
The main goal of the seven housewives was to earn money by making papad, a popular crispy snack in Indian food.

2. How has the cooperative changed over the years in terms of its size and income?
The cooperative has grown to over 45,000 women members and now has an annual income of 16 billion rupees, significantly increasing since its start.

3. What types of products do the women at Lijjat make besides poppadoms?
Besides poppadoms, the women at Lijjat make products like spices and detergents.

4. How did joining the cooperative impact Lakshmi’s life after her husband’s death?
Joining the cooperative helped Lakshmi earn a good income and provided her with a caring community to support her while she took care of her family.

5. Describe the process that the women follow to make papads at home.
The women pick up pre-mixed dough from the nearest Lijjat center, then go home to roll the dough into thin, round papads.

6. What challenges did women face in India during the 1950s, and how did the founders of Lijjat overcome them?
Women faced challenges like limited education and job opportunities in a conservative society. The founders overcame these by using their cooking skills and starting a cooperative.

7. How did the founders of Lijjat manage to start their business despite the difficulties they encountered?
The founders managed to start their business by getting a small loan from a social worker to buy ingredients and through their hard work, they found buyers for their poppadoms.

8. In what ways does the cooperative support women in balancing their work and family responsibilities?
The cooperative provides rides to members for picking up dough and creates a community that allows women to work from home, helping them manage both their jobs and family duties.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) group
(2) crispy
(3) income
(4) rupees
(5) Lijjat
(6) products
(7) spices
(8) taking
(9) women
(10) lentils
(11) kilogram
(12) materials
(13) independence
(14) conservative
(15) worker
(16) poppadoms
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. cooperative
Answer: (E) A group of people working together for a common goal

2. enterprise
Answer: (O) A business or company

3. annual
Answer: (N) Happening once every year

4. detergent
Answer: (L) A cleaning product used for washing clothes or dishes

5. manager
Answer: (C) A person who is in charge of a group or organization

6. balance
Answer: (K) To keep things equal or in the right proportions

7. pre-mixed
Answer: (F) Already combined or prepared before use

8. dough
Answer: (D) A mixture of flour and liquid used for baking

9. lentils
Answer: (I) Small, round seeds used in cooking, often in soups or stews

10. raw
Answer: (G) In a natural state, not yet processed or cooked

11. conservative
Answer: (J) Holding traditional values and being cautious about change

12. limited
Answer: (B) Restricted or confined within boundaries

13. founders
Answer: (H) People who start or establish something

14. ingredients
Answer: (M) Items or substances used to make a dish or product

15. popular
Answer: (A) Liked or enjoyed by many people
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the main product that the cooperative Lijjat is known for?
Answer: (b) Poppadoms

2. In what year was the cooperative Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad founded?
Answer: (b) 1959

3. How many women members does the cooperative have today?
Answer: (d) Over 45,000

4. Where did the cooperative originally start?
Answer: (c) Mumbai

5. What type of community support did Lakshmi find when she joined Lijjat?
Answer: (a) A caring community

6. What is the main ingredient used to make the dough for papads?
Answer: (c) Lentils

7. How long did it initially take Lakshmi to make one kilogram of dried lentil papad?
Answer: (d) Several hours

8. What challenge did women face in India during the 1950s when Lijjat was founded?
Answer: (a) Limited chances for education and jobs
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The cooperative generates an annual income of 16 billion rupees. (Answer: True)
2. The corporation was founded by seven housewives who wanted to earn money by making papad. (Answer: False)
3. The cooperative helps women balance their work and family responsibilities. (Answer: True)
4. Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad is a corporation that started in 1969 in Mumbai. (Answer: False)
5. Lakshmi, a 70-year-old manager, found a supportive community after joining Lijjat following her husband’s death. (Answer: True)
6. Over the years, Lijjat has grown to include more than 45,000 women members. (Answer: True)
7. Lijjat’s products are exported to countries like France and Australia. (Answer: False)
8. In the beginning, the founders of Lijjat faced opportunities in a conservative society that limited women’s challenges. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧