New Delhi: The Supreme Court will soon open its doors to a cafe exclusively managed by differently abled people, ThePrint has learnt. Sources said Mitti Cafe, which has 35 outlets across the country, is likely to start a branch inside the apex court complex, with the SC administration extending infrastructure support.
Senior officers from the Supreme Court told ThePrint that the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has already issued a tender inviting bids from suitable contractors who can convert one of the existing rooms in the west wing of the court complex into the cafe. Once the construction work is over, the room would then be handed over to the management of Mitti Cafe to run it.
“The CPWD is working to finalise the contractor and the entire work is expected to get over in a month’s time,” one of the officials said. Sharing more details about the cafe, another officer added that it will primarily be a takeaway outlet, with a small seating capacity. Work on the menu will begin next week, but most likely the cafe would provide freshly-baked eatables prepared by the Mitti Cafe community in its own bakery, he said.
Started in 2017 in Mumbai, Mitti Cafe is a platform that has created job opportunities for those who are differently abled — both physically as well as intellectually.
With an all-women’s leadership team, under CEO-founder Alina Alam, the cafe chain claims to have provided employment to hundreds of differently abled people. According to their website, as of Friday they had served over 10 million meals since its inception and also started a catering service, besides providing gifting solutions. The cafe also claims it serves nutritious meals to the poor.
The team has undertaken initiatives to empower the differently abled community to make them financially independent. It has developed skill training programs to enable persons with special needs to live with dignity.
ThePrint has reached Mitti Cafe for comment over phone and text messages. The report will be updated once a response is received.
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‘Approved by CJI Chandrachud’
According to SC officials quoted above, Mitti Cafe had reached the Supreme Court with a proposal to start its outlet there.
“The proposal was discussed with Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, who approved the idea and invited the cafe to operationalise a branch there. The CJI was of the view that such a cafe would foster the spirit of inclusivity amongst the members of the Bar as well as the litigants visiting the top court,” the official quotes above said.
A foster parent to two differently abled daughters, CJI Chandrachud has always emphasised on social cohesion and led by examples.
Within two months of taking over as the CJI, Justice Chandrachud reportedly took both his daughters on a visit to the Supreme Court. This was after the two complained that he wasn’t devoting time to the family after taking over as the head of the judicial family.
To make them realise how overburdened he is with work, CJI Chandrachud gave the two girls a tour of his office as well as the courtroom, said media reports.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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