Governor Jishnu Dev Varma inaugurates Mitti Cafe at Oberoi Skycity Mall in Mumbai

Governor Jishnu Dev Varma inaugurated Mitti Cafe at Oberoi Skycity Mall in Mumbai. On the occasion, the Governor praised the social initiative. He said that if the abilities of persons with disabilities get the right opportunity, encouragement and respect, they can stand on their own feet and make an important contribution to the development of society.

MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar, former Uttar Pradesh Assembly member Subhash Pasi and senior journalist Kumar Rakesh were present at the event. Alina Alam, founder and chief executive officer of Mitti Cafe, and Shishir Joshi, founder and chief executive officer of Project Mumbai, also attended. Parents of the cafe's members with disabilities were also present.

Mitti Cafe is not just a chain of cafes. It is a social initiative that gives persons with disabilities a chance at financial independence and a life of dignity. Alina Alam started it in 2017. Its main aim is to provide employment in the hospitality sector to adults with physical, intellectual and mental disabilities and to give their skills a platform.

In his speech, Governor Varma said a person's work, effort and dedication show their personality. Words are not needed to express every feeling, he said, and sometimes the honesty of the work itself conveys the thought. He said the persons with disabilities working at Mitti Cafe are proving exactly this through their work.

The Governor appealed that while running a business, not only profit but also the abilities and needs of different sections of society be kept in mind. He said it is necessary to value the capability, commitment and dedication of persons with disabilities more than the manner in which they work. If they are brought into the mainstream of society by giving them employment, their confidence grows, he said.

Such initiatives help change the way society looks at persons with disabilities. The initiative sends the message that they should be seen as active partners in society's progress, not merely as a section needing help.

Alina Alam spoke about the journey. The initiative, which began with a small table and an umbrella, has now reached about 80 locations across the country. Mitti Cafes are reported to operate at several places, including the Supreme Court, Rashtrapati Bhavan, the airports in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Lucknow, and Navi Mumbai International Airport. Cafes are also run on the campuses of companies such as Infosys, Wipro and Mercedes-Benz.

According to Alina Alam, more than two crore cups of coffee have been served to customers under the initiative so far, and more than 80 lakh plates of food have been distributed to economically weaker people. She said that with the right opportunity and support, persons with disabilities can become self-reliant and also help the needy in society.

At the inauguration, the cafe's members with disabilities gave a cultural performance. Two members shared their experiences with the guests. The Governor cut a cake made by people with intellectual disabilities and then placed the first order at the cafe. A cashier in a wheelchair and a team of adult members with disabilities served the order.

The event conveyed a message of promoting the skills, confidence and financial independence of persons with disabilities and of fostering a spirit of taking everyone along in society. At the end, Shishir Joshi, founder and chief executive officer of Project Mumbai, thanked everyone.