{"id":99413,"date":"2025-11-13T04:21:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T04:21:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/2025\/11\/13\/bengaluru-airport-takes-a-historic-step-in-inclusion-with-mitti-cafes-third-outlet-run-by-persons-with-disabilities\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T04:21:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T04:21:02","slug":"bengaluru-airport-takes-a-historic-step-in-inclusion-with-mitti-cafes-third-outlet-run-by-persons-with-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/2025\/11\/13\/bengaluru-airport-takes-a-historic-step-in-inclusion-with-mitti-cafes-third-outlet-run-by-persons-with-disabilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Bengaluru Airport Takes a Historic Step in Inclusion with Mitti Caf\u00e9\u2019s Third Outlet Run by Persons with Disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], November 13: <\/strong>At Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BIAL), powerful transformation has been brewing \u2013 one cup of coffee at a time. With the launch of its third Mitti Caf\u00e9 outlet, under the leadership of Mr. Hari Marar, Managing Director and CEO of BIAL, the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru has become the only airport in the world to host the highest number of caf\u00e9s managed by persons with disabilities.<\/p>\n

MITTI Caf\u00e9 has been endorsed by National and Global leaders with the Honourable President of India, Honourable Prime Minister of India, Honourable Federal Chancellor of Germany, Honourable Chief Justice of India, Honourable Defence Minister of India etc.<\/p>\n

Supported under the CSR initiatives of Bajaj Finserv and Zscaler, MITTI Cafe reflects a profound shift in how public spaces are envisioned \u2013 not just as centres of travel and commerce, but as environments that welcome, employ, and empower.<\/p>\n

Launched in October 2025 at Terminal 2, this new caf\u00e9 marks what many describe as a \u201chistoric flight toward inclusion.\u201d For an airport globally acclaimed for its sustainability and design, this milestone stands out for being rooted not in infrastructure, but in empathy and equity.<\/p>\n

A Shared Journey of Trust and Inclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Bengaluru International Airport first partnered with Mitti Caf\u00e9, MITTI was a small, emerging non-profit with a bold dream \u2013 to create dignified livelihoods for adults with disabilities. That early belief has since evolved into one of India\u2019s most visible and celebrated models of inclusion in the aviation sector.<\/p>\n

Mr. Hari Marar, Managing Director & CEO of BIAL, shared:<\/p>\n

\u201cAirports are more than gateways to destinations \u2013 they are reflections of who we are as a society. Through our partnership with Mitti Caf\u00e9, we\u2019ve demonstrated that inclusion is not an initiative, but a way of being. It\u2019s been heartening to see this vision grow into something so tangible and inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n

Partnerships with Purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n

The expansion of Mitti Caf\u00e9 at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru has been made possible through the steadfast and long-standing CSR support of Bajaj Finserv, whose multi-year collaboration has been instrumental in enabling MITTI\u2019s training, skilling, and livelihood programs for persons with disabilities. This sustained partnership has not only provided financial support but also strategic guidance that has empowered Mitti Caf\u00e9 to expand its impact nationwide.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Mrs. Shefali Bajaj, Chairperson of the CSR Steering Committee at Bajaj Finserv, shared:<\/p>\n

\u201cInclusion must move from awareness to action. Our ongoing collaboration with Mitti Caf\u00e9 is a small but steady step in that direction \u2014 creating livelihoods that are not defined by limitation, but by talent and opportunity. At Bajaj Finserv, we believe that true empowerment begins when dignity meets opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zscaler, a valued CSR partner in this initiative, has joined hands with MITTI Caf\u00e9 to further strengthen its footprint of inclusion.<\/p>\n

Mr. Sachin Jain, Vice President \u2013 Finance, Zscaler, added:<\/p>\n

\u201cEmpowerment and equity are central to our CSR ethos. Partnering with Mitti Caf\u00e9 at Bengaluru Airport allows us to see inclusion not just as policy, but as lived experience \u2014 one that travellers encounter and carry forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

More Than a Caf\u00e9<\/strong><\/p>\n

Founded by Alina Alam, Mitti Caf\u00e9 has grown from a modest setup in a tin shed to a nationwide movement for inclusion. Today, its network of caf\u00e9s \u2013 run by individuals with physical, intellectual, and psychosocial disabilities \u2013 operates across India in spaces as diverse as Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Supreme Court of India, and multiple major airports.<\/p>\n

Mrs. Swati Keshan Dokania and Mrs. Ayesha Alam, Directors of Mitti Caf\u00e9, expressed their gratitude to the entire team at BIAL:<\/p>\n

\u201cBengaluru Airport, under Hari\u2019s incredible leadership, believed in us when we were still small. This third caf\u00e9 is not just a milestone for Mitti, but a reminder of what\u2019s possible when institutions choose to lead with trust and compassion. We are deeply grateful to Bajaj Finserv, whose belief and multi-year partnership have been pivotal in enabling us to scale our impact, and to Zscaler, our newest partner, for joining this journey of inclusion with their strong commitment to equity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Inclusion as Everyday Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

At Terminal 2, Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, inclusion is not confined to a single initiative. From the Sunflower Lanyard Programme for hidden disabilities to sensory rooms designed for neurodivergent travellers, BIAL\u2019s approach has been to weave accessibility and empathy into every traveller\u2019s journey.<\/p>\n

The new Mitti Caf\u00e9 seamlessly complements that ethos \u2014 offering travellers fresh meals and beverages while quietly transforming perceptions of disability and work.<\/p>\n

About Mitti Caf\u00e9<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mitti Caf\u00e9 is a non-profit organization that creates sustainable livelihood opportunities for adults with disabilities and individuals from economically vulnerable backgrounds. Through its inclusive caf\u00e9s, skill-training programs, and advocacy initiatives, Mitti Caf\u00e9 has enabled over 6,500 livelihoods and served more than 22 million meals across India.<\/p>\n

Its work has been recognised by the President of India, Forbes 30 Under 30, the United Nations, and NITI Aayog, among others.<\/p>\n

If you have any objection to this press release content, kindly contact pr.error.rectification@gmail.com to notify us. We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 24 hours.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], November 13: At Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BIAL), powerful transformation has been brewing \u2013 one cup of coffee at a time. With the launch of its third Mitti Caf\u00e9 outlet, under the leadership of Mr. Hari Marar, Managing Director and CEO of BIAL, the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru has become the only […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99414,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[129],"class_list":["post-99413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-lifestyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99413\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99414"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}