Collaboration seeks to connect member restaurants with trained persons with disabilities and strengthen safe, accessible workplaces
BENGALURU (India CSR): The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) Bengaluru Chapter has entered into a collaboration with Mitti Café to promote employment opportunities for persons with disabilities across member restaurants in Bengaluru, while encouraging the hospitality sector to create safer, more accessible and inclusive workplaces.
The collaboration was announced on July 31, 2026, during the chapter’s monthly industry meeting attended by restaurant owners, hospitality professionals and other industry stakeholders. The meeting focused on inclusive hiring, employee well-being, workplace safety and the changing workforce needs of the restaurant sector.
Under the initiative, Mitti Café is expected to help restaurants access trained persons with disabilities who are seeking suitable employment opportunities. The partnership will also encourage member restaurants to review workplace accessibility and adopt employment practices that provide equal opportunities to workers from diverse backgrounds.
Inclusive Hiring
The collaboration aims to support restaurants in building a more diverse workforce by connecting them with trained candidates with disabilities. It also seeks to improve awareness among restaurant operators about inclusive recruitment, workplace accessibility and employee support.
The release did not specify the number of restaurants, candidates or beneficiaries expected to be covered under the initiative. It also did not provide a formal implementation timeline or details about the roles that may be offered.
According to the chapter, the programme is intended to demonstrate how inclusive employment can become part of regular workforce planning in the hospitality industry rather than remain limited to standalone social initiatives.
Persons with disabilities often face barriers in accessing formal employment, including limited workplace accessibility, lack of suitable training opportunities and employer concerns about accommodation. Industry-led partnerships can help address some of these barriers by connecting employers with trained candidates and providing guidance on workplace inclusion.
Hospitality Workforce
Sagar Daryani, President of the National Restaurant Association of India and CEO and Co-founder of Wow! Momo, said the restaurant industry was built around people and talent, and that employment opportunities should be available to a wider section of society.
“The restaurant industry has always been built on people and talent. As we continue to grow, it is equally important that we create opportunities for everyone to participate in that growth,” Daryani said.
He said the collaboration with Mitti Café reflected an effort to encourage restaurants to employ diverse talent and view inclusion as a factor that can strengthen both workplaces and customer experiences.
The initiative may also help restaurants widen their talent pool at a time when the hospitality sector continues to focus on recruitment, employee retention, skills development and workplace culture.
Equal Opportunities
Ananth Narayan, NRAI Bengaluru Chapter Head and Founder of JustBLR Group, said the partnership would help member restaurants connect with people who deserve equal opportunities to contribute and succeed.
“At the NRAI Bengaluru Chapter, we believe that the restaurant industry grows stronger when it creates opportunities for everyone,” Narayan said.
He added that the chapter hoped more restaurants would include inclusive hiring in their long-term workforce and business planning.
Mitti Café works to create livelihood and employment opportunities for persons with physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its involvement in the collaboration is expected to support participating restaurants in identifying trained candidates and understanding the practical requirements of inclusive employment.
However, the release did not clarify whether Mitti Café would also provide employer training, workplace accessibility assessments, candidate placement support or post-employment monitoring.
Workplace Safety
Along with the employment collaboration, the chapter organised a knowledge session on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, commonly known as the POSH Act.
The session provided participating restaurant operators with information on building safe, respectful and legally compliant workplaces. It covered the importance of workplace policies, employee awareness and leadership accountability.
Compliance with the POSH Act is particularly relevant to restaurants and hospitality businesses because they employ people across kitchens, service teams, administrative roles, delivery operations and late working shifts.
A structured workplace safety system can include a clear anti-harassment policy, an Internal Committee where legally required, employee sensitisation, confidential reporting channels and timely handling of complaints.
The release did not identify the speaker who conducted the POSH session or provide details about the number of businesses represented.
Industry Engagement
The monthly meeting also included the felicitation of restaurant industry leaders and members for their contribution to the sector. Participants discussed operational challenges, employee welfare and emerging needs within Bengaluru’s hospitality industry.
The programme concluded with a networking dinner intended to help members exchange ideas and strengthen professional relationships.
The NRAI Bengaluru Chapter said it would continue to encourage responsible business practices, knowledge sharing and industry participation. The collaboration with Mitti Café places disability inclusion and workplace safety within the wider discussion on sustainable and responsible growth in the restaurant sector.
For the initiative to demonstrate measurable social impact, future disclosures would need to include the number of restaurants participating, candidates trained, people placed in jobs, employment retention rates, workplace accommodations provided and the monitoring system used to evaluate outcomes.
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