TTT NEWS NETWORK
MUMBAI | 13 AUGUST 2026
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), in line with Paathya, its ESG+ framework to drive sustainability and social impact measures, undertakes a culinary training workshop for tribal home cooks in collaboration with Tata Steel Foundation (TSF). Supported by the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Aurangabad, the programme aims to strengthen culinary capabilities and create employment opportunities.
Mr. Prabhat Verma, Chief People Officer, IHCL, said, “At IHCL, we believe capability building is a powerful enabler of economic opportunity. By combining structured hospitality training with participants’ existing culinary expertise, this programme helps strengthen professional skills and opens pathways for sustainable livelihoods.”
The 10-day workshop brought together 20 tribal home cooks from eight states, representing 12 tribal communities across India, with women accounting for 70% of the participants. Participants received training in food preparation and presentation, hygiene and food safety practices, hospitality standards and entrepreneurship, equipping them with skills to further enhance livelihood opportunities.
Mr. Sourav Roy, Chief Executive Officer, Tata Steel Foundation (TSF), said, “India’s tribal communities carry culinary traditions that reflect generations of knowledge and cultural identity. Through the Tribal Cuisine initiative, we aim to create opportunities for tribal home cooks to strengthen their skills, enhance their livelihoods and share their unique food heritage with wider audiences. This workshop is an important milestone in building a vibrant ecosystem for tribal cuisine, where traditional wisdom is celebrated alongside excellence in hospitality and entrepreneurship.”
Dr. (Chef) Zubin D’souza Ph.D., CHA, CFBE, Principal and Dean, Institute of Hotel Management – Aurangabad, said, “The workshop was a powerful reminder of the transformative power of food. It was the core theme that tied us into rediscovering our lost heritage, creating employment opportunities for tribals, immersing ourselves in a culture that has been in the making for the last five thousand years! It was a mutually beneficial and eye-opening exercise that helped us respect nature, and the bounty of ingredients that she has shared with us.”
Since its inception, the initiative has trained over 70 tribal home cooks from 15 tribes across 10 states, with more than 60% of the participants being women, reflecting the potential of traditional food knowledge as a pathway to both cultural preservation and economic empowerment.
About The Indian Hotels Company Limited:
The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries bring together a group of brands and businesses that offer a fusion of warm Indian hospitality and world-class service. These include Taj – the iconic brand for the most discerning travellers and ranked as World’s Strongest Luxury Hotel Brand 2026 and India’s Strongest Brand 2026 as per Brand Finance; Claridges Collection, a curated set of boutique luxury hotels merging elegance with historical charm; Brij, an experiential leisure offering; Atmantan, one of India’s leading integrated wellness destinations; SeleQtions, a named collection of hotels; Gateway, full-service hotels designed to be your gateway to exceptional destinations; Vivanta, sophisticated upscale hotels; Tree of Life, private escapes in tranquil settings and Ginger, which is revolutionising the lean luxe segment.
Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, the Company opened its first hotel – The Taj Mahal Palace, in Bombay in 1903. IHCL has a portfolio of 650 hotels including 268 in the pipeline globally across 4 continents, 15 countries and over 300 locations. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is India’s largest hospitality company by market capitalization. It is listed on the BSE and NSE.
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