HRAWI LAUNCHES PROJECT PICKLE TO BRING DALIT WOMEN ENTERPRISE INTO SOCIAL MAINSTREAM

Hoteliers Supported By Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment To Put Spotlight on Dalit Women Enterprise

HRAWI Launches Project Pickle To Bring Dalit Women Enterprise Into Social Mainstream

Launch of HRAWI's Project Pickle  (L-R Shri Ramdasji Athawale, Mr. Bharat Malkani & self-help Dalit women groups)

Mumbai: 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.

“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,” said Mr. Bharat Malkani, former President, HRAWI.

The project was announced at the conference and panel discussion, ‘Women Empowerment & Social transformation - Justice for Weaker Sections’ held today 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 galvanize economic growth at the grassroots level. Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the Conference was participated by Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Ramdasji Athawale, Mr. 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 realize Babasaheb's vision of fostering equality in social and economic life and strive to bring about economic democracy," said Shri. Athawale. He also thanked the organizers of the conference, Indo American Chamber of Commerce and media partner - Free Press Group of Newspapers.

“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,” concluded Mr. Dilip Datwani, President, HRAWI.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 67 years old Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Western India. Its members include smaller Hotels up to 5-Star Deluxe categories. The bulk of its members like any growth economy are made up of budget hotels. With membership base spread across Western India, HRAWI covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman, Diu & Silvassa, and is considered to be the voice of the Hotel Industry. The association is part of the national body of Federation of the Hotels & Restaurants Associations of India (FHRAI), located in New Delhi, which was originally founded in Mumbai in 1950 by the late Mr. J.R.D. Tata.