The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has collaborated with the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to provide support for Dalit women to start and sustain their own enterprises. And the medium chosen for the one of its kind social initiative is the ubiquitous everyday food item, the pickle. The hotel body will conduct an advocacy programme with both its member and non-member hotels and restaurants to purchase pickles from self-help Dalit women groups.
Bharat Malkani, Former President, HRAWI said, “With more than ten thousand hotels and restaurants operating in Mumbai, at least statistically, ‘Project Pickle’ could provide employment to 6.5 lakh weaker section women. It is estimated that domestic hotel industry buys close to Rs.240 crore worth of pickles, of which Maharashtra hotels’ share of purchase stands estimated at Rs.65-70 crore. One month’s supply of pickles in three to five hotels can provide employment to at least ten Women’s Self Help Group (WSHG) community ladies.”
The project was announced at the conference and panel discussion, ‘Women Empowerment & Social transformation – Justice for Weaker Sections’ held by Indo American Chamber of Commerce with the support of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India. It highlighted issues and challenges faced by Dalit women and discussed innovative strategies which could both empower women and galvanise economic growth at the grassroots level. Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the Conference was participated by Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Ramdasji Athawale, Bharat Malkani, former President, HRAWI, and Dr. Geeta Ibrahim Principal College of Home Science, Nirmala Niketan, among others.
“I thank HRAWI for taking initiative and coming forward with this innovative idea. This will go a long way in bringing about the much needed social equity and the principle of One Man – One Value that Dr. Ambedkar eloquently spoke about. Such linkages will help realise Babasaheb’s vision of fostering equality in social and economic life and strive to bring about economic democracy,” said Athawale. He also thanked the organisers of the conference, Indo American Chamber of Commerce and media partner – Free Press Group of Newspapers.
Dilip Datwani, President, HRAWI said, “Even if we begin with a pilot project in Maharashtra, this could become a case study for not only hotel industries across the nation, but for associations across all sectors. The hospitality sector is one of the biggest employment generators in the nation as well as one of the biggest contributors to the GDP. We will do our best to make a success of this project.”
