Israeli tourist Joshua reacts after a dabbawala pins on a badge expressing support to the campaign of veteran activist Anna Hazare to denounce the proposed Lokpal Bill in its current form in Mumbai yesterday
IANS/Mumbai


Mumbai’s famed dabbawalas (tiffin-box carriers) have again decided to support anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare in his second fast for the Lokpal bill August 16, an official said yesterday.
“We have decided to request Mumbaikars to refrain from giving their tiffin boxes on August 16 as a token of support for Hazare,” said Kiran Gavande, an office-bearer of Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Charitable Trust. “If possible also keep off food that day.” However, Gavande made it clear that it would be purely “a voluntary participation” by their over 200,000 customers. “If any of them want us to carry their tiffins, we will do it.”
During Hazare’s previous agitation in April at the national capital’s Jantar Mantar, Mumbai dabbawalas also went on a token fast of solidarity. Later, a couple of representatives were sent to New Delhi to take part in a similar agitation launched by yoga guru Baba Ramdev.
However, the dabbawalas are not calling their daylong support programme a ‘strike’ and insist that it is a voluntary participation by all concerned - themselves and the customers.