IHCL And Tata Steel Foundation Partner To Support Indigenous Culinary Heritage

The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), in collaboration with Tata Steel Foundation (TSF), has launched a program to support indigenous culinary heritage. This aligns with IHCL’s Paathya ESG+ framework, which focuses on sustainability and social impact.

Workshop Details
- A 10-day culinary training workshop was conducted for 20 tribal home cooks from 8 states, representing 12 tribal communities.
- 70% of participants were women, highlighting the role of women in preserving and advancing traditional food knowledge.
- Training covered food preparation, presentation, hygiene, safety, hospitality standards, and entrepreneurship.

Impact & Vision
- The initiative aims to strengthen culinary capabilities and create employment opportunities.
- Since inception, over 70 tribal home cooks from 15 tribes across 10 states have been trained, with women making up more than 60% of participants.
- The program emphasizes both cultural preservation and economic empowerment, celebrating tribal culinary traditions while integrating them into professional hospitality standards.

Voices from the Partnership
- IHCL: Capability building is seen as a driver of economic opportunity.
- TSF: Tribal cuisine reflects generations of knowledge and identity; the initiative helps share this heritage with wider audiences.
- IHM Aurangabad: The workshop was described as a rediscovery of lost heritage and a reminder of food’s transformative power.

This collaboration is a fascinating example of how hospitality and social development can intersect to preserve culture while opening doors for livelihoods.