(March 31, 2022) Have you wondered how a visually challenged individual gets by in life? Or how a differently-abled ekes a living? Shining a light on the challenged and differently-abled is a heartening trend where many cafes have taken the onus of employing those with special needs. To give them a new lease of life, and help them eke a living. Among those with disabilities (15 years and above) the labour force participation rate is only 23.8 percent as per a statistical publication in March 2021. While there are many organisations that upskill these individuals, the incidence of cafes giving them jobs has now risen.
“I don’t use the word ‘can’t‘ because I don’t believe in limiting myself. I am able. I am capable. I am strong. Never think less of yourself because society expects you to behave in a certain way. We decide our own limits. I have chosen to have none.”
– Amanda McDonough, author who started losing her hearing at the age of four.
Mitti Café by Alina Alam (Bengaluru and Kolkata), La Gravitea by Avinash Duggar (Jamshedpur), NukkadTheTeafe by Priyank Patel (Raipur), and Vitthal’s Kitchen by Ashish Sharma (Jaipur) are some of the workplaces where differently-abled people have been employed to lead a life of dignity and gain the confidence to excel. Global Indian turns the spotlight on these social entrepreneurship ventures that have laid the foundation, and are spreading the idea philanthropic leaning in business, thereby inspiring more to employ the differently-abled or challenged.
Mitti Café – Bengaluru and Kolkata
Mitti Café is a chain of cafes that provide experiential training and employment to adults with physical and intellectual disabilities. It has served over 6 million meals so far. In just four years, it has 17 outlets with 16 within institutions such as Wipro, Infosys, Accenture, and Wells Fargo Cytecare Hospital. The clientele of hip and happening youngsters love tucking into their favourites from the self-explanatory menu cards printed in Braille. Mitti’s outreach initiatives help in creating awareness about disability rights and inclusion.
The cafes are disabled-friendly, with no compromise on ambience. The staff training includes culinary skills, hygiene and sessions about prevention of sexual harassment. “They have enormous potential but lack opportunities. All that they need is guidance from someone so that they can upskill themselves. Food is the best way to reach out and connect them to the world,” says Alina Alam, CEO, Mitti Café in a conversation with Global Indian from an earlier interaction.
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LaGravitea – Jamshedpur
Located in Jamshedpur, La Gravitea is a place for people passionate about life, adventure, health and tea. The differently-abled there serve with a smile. Avinash Duggar started the cafe in 2016 after quitting his corporate life as vice president, sales, at Kohinoor Steel. The idea of a tea café resonated with him on many levels. A chance meeting with a hearing impaired girl seeking employment intrigued him to research on employment avenues of people with special needs. He was saddened to find that despite graduating, many do not get jobs. The urge to do something for the young, unemployed special needs’ youth galvanised his effort into a quaint café that has given these youth a new lease of life.
Duggar also readied himself – learning Indian sign language (ISL) to train his employees. LaGravitea has an 11-member team that comprises five hearing impaired, one partially visual impaired, three orphans and a mentally challenged, and others. “I feel good that I have created something that provides these individuals with an opportunity to lead fulfilling lives. It also helps me to live with a purpose beyond myself. It is heartening to see that people who did not even know how to use a toaster can now make pizza, pasta, sandwich, and serve our guests. They can do housekeeping jobs, and shop for the café too. I wanted them to learn multiple skills instead of being just servers. I am glad they are finally able to develop new skills,” says Duggar in a conversation with Global Indian.
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Empathetic about people with special needs, he is also collaborating with schools for a sign language wall inside the premises so that children can learn sign language, and the ability to communicate with an integral segment of society. His other initiative Khamoshi with Life is a platform for organising online programmes and competitions for the hearing-impaired community.
NukkadTheTeafé – Raipur, and Bhilai
Helen Keller 2020 awardee Priyank Patel quit his job in the IT sector after five years, and founded Nukkad in Raipur in 2013 to develop innovative and engaging socially inclusive cafes that empower marginalised communities, destitute and deprived youth. Now, it’s a chain of three stores – two in Raipur and one in Bhilai. His mission is to let people know that those who are born special are skilled enough, and their skills should not go in vain.
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Tupesh, co-founder of Nukkad explains, “Priyank’s idea was to give people with special needs a chance to prove themselves. We have over 25 staff who are specially-abled, working in the serving domain – close to 80 percent of our workforce. When we started, training them was tough, but now our existing staff handhold the new employees. We are completely okay with their mistakes, and allow them to learn.” When the duo started the cafes in Bhilai they employed transgenders, dwarfs, and individuals with down’s syndrome. It was a succinct message to society that everyone is integral to society, especially sections that are often overlooked. “We want each of our customers to go back with this message.” he says.
Vitthal’s Kitchen – Jaipur
The aim of Vitthal Kitchen’s founder, Ashish Sharma, was to provide jobs to the specially-abled so they can lead a life of dignity. The restaurant shines a positive light on these individuals who with their innocent smiles are a ray of hope for the customers. Vitthal’s Kitchen’s motto, “Don’t Give Up,” is about giving everyone an opportunity to learn and practice sign language. Six hearing impaired servers attend to guests, excluding the kitchen staff.
Ashish says, “The idea of a restaurant (started in 2016) for those with special needs struck when I saw hearing impaired people communicating in sign language. First, I thought they are eve teasers harassing people at a busy railway crossing, soon realising that this was how the differently-abled communicate.”
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Talking about his staff he says, “Training is a lengthy process, but they help me stay positive. If I am feeling low, my mood changes seeing them scurrying around – if they can be happy why not me? Some more outlets in Jaipur have come up with the idea, and I am glad to inspire others to help the differently- abled.”
Other cafes employing the differently-abled
- Echoes (New Delhi)
- Mirchi and Mime (Mumbai)
- Taste of Dark (Hyderabad)
- ICanFlyy Café (Kolkata)
- Coffe Box (Chennai)
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