Published on February 17, 2026
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has translated learnings from the Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) into a scalable inclusion initiative by setting up Blind Bake Cafés across its offices. First discovered during a TAAP assessment visit to IHCL’s Taj Palace, New Delhi, the concept has since been replicated at TCS Olympus Thane (Mumbai) and Siruseri (Chennai), where trained visually impaired chefs now serve thousands of employees daily.
At IHCL, the knowledge exchange was facilitated by Binu Nair, Area Human Resources Director - North Area, Director of Human Resources; and Arun Sundarajan, Executive Chef - Taj Mahal, New Delhi.
Developed in partnership with the NAB (National Association for the Blind) India Centre for Blind Women and Disability Studies, the Blind Bake Café programme equips visually impaired chefs through an intensive three-month training in bakery, beverages, snacks, café operations, inventory management, and customer engagement. The learning model incorporates simulation-based training, tactile or voice-enabled equipment, and mobility skill-building to ensure chefs can operate confidently and safely.
TCS implemented the initiative through strong cross-functional collaboration. The cafés feature accessible layouts with tactile pathways, customised safety SOPs designed by the Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) team, dedicated transport and accommodation for chefs, and a company-wide sensitisation campaign that included blindfolded immersive sessions. These efforts ensured that employees learned to engage respectfully and naturally with visually impaired colleagues. Live on-site baking further elevates the experience with items such as muffins and pizzas prepared fresh each day, showcasing the chefs’ skill and craftsmanship.
Employee response has been overwhelmingly positive as reflected in rising footfalls, strong word-of-mouth appreciation, and volunteer groups formed to support café operations. Beyond employment, the cafés have delivered dignity, independence, and confidence to the chefs, while signalling a visible, values-driven commitment to inclusion across TCS workplaces. The organisation now plans to expand the model to at least five additional centres across India, aiming to enable the livelihoods of 20 more visually impaired chefs.
So far, TCS has created sustainable employment for nine visually impaired chefs through the first two cafés. The initiative is driving impact in multiple ways by:
- Providing dignified livelihood opportunities and mainstreaming visually impaired professionals in customer-facing roles
- Creating a cascading cultural shift as employees carry the message of inclusion into their families and communities
- Inspiring clients and partners, with several business units contributing through unique initiatives that help amplify the programme’s reach
As a TAAP (Tata Affirmative Action Programme) Assessor for the Tata group, I once visited the Taj Palace for IHCL TAAP assessment in Delhi. There, I saw the Blind Bake Café for the first time — chefs who could not see, yet served with more clarity, warmth, and skill than most ever do. That moment stayed with me. I thought, if a place known for luxury and excellence can make space for such inclusion, why can’t we at TCS? And that’s where it all started, and a belief that became reality! We interacted with NAB India to understand the modalities and nuances of the cafe and took it up from there. The intent was how do we show inclusion in action and make it reach out to each and every employee.
— Dolly Nemii Mittal, TAAP Assessor & Lead - PwD & Gender Segment, TCS