Empowerment on the Menu: TCS Opens Café Run by Visually Impaired Chefs
Chennai: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has inaugurated the Blind Bake Café at its Siruseri campus, a first-of-its-kind initiative operated by visually impaired culinary professionals. The café, the largest of its kind within a corporate campus in India, underscores TCS’ commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and equitable opportunities.
The Blind Bake Café is a collaboration between TCS and the National Association for the Blind (NAB) India – Centre for Blind Women & Disability Studies. The outlet is staffed by six visually impaired chefs, supported by four sighted supervisors and a manager, all trained in bakery, café management, and customer service. The team serves freshly baked cakes, shakes, snacks, beverages, and desserts in a restaurant-style format for employees on campus.
This initiative builds on the success of TCS’ first Blind Bake Café at its Olympus campus in Mumbai, which has been widely appreciated by patrons.
Designed for Accessibility
The Chennai café has been equipped with Braille-marked tools, tactile flooring, and specialized training in alternate cooking methods to ensure smooth operations.
Sudeep Kunnumal, Chief Human Resources Officer, TCS, said:
“Inclusion becomes real when barriers are removed and accessibility is embedded by design. The Blind Bake Café embodies this belief, offering our associates a space where inclusion and accessibility is lived and felt. Following the success of the Mumbai café, we are proud to bring this initiative to Chennai.”
Empowering Through Skills
The NAB training modules have enabled visually impaired professionals to operate independently and efficiently.
Shalini Khanna Sodhi, Director, NAB India – Centre for Blind Women and Disability Studies, said:
“Blind Bake Café represents a pathway to independence and empowerment. Expanding this initiative to Chennai gives more individuals the opportunity to build meaningful livelihoods, and we are delighted to collaborate with TCS in shaping an inclusive ecosystem.”
Broader Inclusion Efforts
The launch coincides with TCS’ observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Alongside the café, TCS has introduced the Access.AI Hackathon Challenge to develop AI-driven accessibility solutions, and rolled out a self-paced Indian Sign Language (ISL) learning course for employees.
Roadmap Ahead
First piloted in 2021, the Blind Bake Café has evolved from a simulation model to fully operational outlets. Proceeds from the café go directly to the visually impaired staff and operations, with funds reinvested by NAB to train more individuals for certification and employment as professional chefs.
