Inaugurated by Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, the new café, supported by DBS Bank India, brings disability-inclusive employment into the heart of an everyday public space, turning a cup of coffee into a conversation about dignity, independence and opportunity.
A cup of coffee can be a small everyday pleasure. But the place it comes from can carry a much bigger story. At Sky City Mall in Borivali East, Mumbai, the opening of a new MITTI Café, supported by DBS Bank India, brings that idea into focus — creating a space where hospitality meets social impact and employment becomes a pathway to greater independence.
Inaugurated on 17 October 2026 by the Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Jishnu Dev Varma, the café is operated entirely by individuals with physical, intellectual and psychosocial disabilities. The launch, announced on 19 October, marks another milestone in the three-year partnership between MITTI Café and DBS Bank India, which aims to expand economic participation and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Located within a prominent retail destination, the café brings inclusive employment into an environment frequented by shoppers, families and visitors. Its presence is a reminder that inclusion is not simply an idea to be discussed; it is something that can be built into the everyday spaces people share.
Where Inclusion Becomes Part of Everyday Life
The significance of MITTI Café extends beyond its menu. At its core is a model that places people with disabilities in meaningful workplace roles, allowing them to develop professional skills, earn an income and build confidence through everyday interactions.
From preparing and serving orders to engaging with customers, the café’s team members participate in the rhythms of a working hospitality environment. The experience creates opportunities for professional growth while challenging assumptions about disability and employment.
By bringing this model into a public-facing space such as Sky City Mall, MITTI Café also makes inclusion more visible. Each interaction offers visitors an opportunity to engage with a workplace where ability, skill and service take precedence over preconceived notions.
The idea is particularly relevant in hospitality, an industry built around human interaction. Here, the experience is shaped not only by what is served, but also by the people who welcome guests, prepare their orders and make them feel at home.
A Partnership Built Around Opportunity
The launch represents another step in the collaboration between MITTI Café and DBS Bank India, with the partnership focused on fostering economic participation and expanding opportunities for persons with disabilities.
For DBS Bank India, the initiative forms part of its wider efforts to create practical pathways for individuals to participate in economic progress and strengthen their financial resilience.
Speaking at the inauguration, Shri Jishnu Dev Varma, Governor of Maharashtra, emphasised the importance of creating an inclusive society in which every individual has the opportunity to contribute.
“An inclusive society is one that recognises the potential of every individual and ensures that everyone has the opportunity to participate in the nation’s progress. MITTI Café is making a meaningful contribution in this direction by creating avenues for persons with disabilities to develop their skills, earn with dignity and become financially independent,” he said.
He also highlighted the role of collaboration in advancing social inclusion and expressed hope that the initiative would inspire more organisations and institutions to adopt inclusive practices.
For initiatives such as MITTI Café, the value of a partnership lies in helping translate the principle of inclusion into tangible opportunities — from workplace access and vocational development to the possibility of long-term financial independence.
“When the Right Opportunities Are Created, Ability Shines”
For Alina Alam, Founder and CEO of MITTI Café, the new Mumbai location represents another step towards an India where persons with disabilities have greater access to dignified work and independent lives.
“We are proud to have the Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra inaugurate MITTI Café at Sky City Mall, Mumbai. This milestone represents another step towards building an inclusive India where persons with disabilities have opportunities to earn with dignity, grow with confidence and lead independent lives. We express our heartfelt gratitude to DBS Bank India for their invaluable support, Sky City Mall for welcoming this vision, and Project Mumbai for partnering with us in this journey. Together, we are demonstrating that when the right opportunities are created, ability shines,” she said.
The inauguration was attended by Tanu Prasad, CEO of Sky City Mall; Shishir Joshi, CEO of Project Mumbai; Dr. Rakesh Jha; Dr. Uttam Ojha; Lata Nayak, Director of MITTI Café, along with distinguished guests, partners, parents of team members and the café’s staff.
Their presence underscored the collaborative effort behind the initiative, bringing together the nonprofit sector, corporate partners and a retail destination around a shared objective: making meaningful employment more accessible.
The Role of Public Spaces in Building Inclusion
For a retail destination, inclusion can become part of the visitor experience in ways that extend beyond accessibility infrastructure. It can also shape who gets to work, who is represented and whose contributions are recognised in public life.
Tanu Prasad, CEO of Sky City Mall, said, “A mall is one of the few places where people from every part of the city cross paths, and we want those everyday moments to reflect inclusion. We are delighted to welcome MITTI Café to Sky City Mall, where every visitor will be served by a team whose skill and warmth speak for themselves. We are proud to be part of a journey that turns a simple coffee break into a reminder of what people can achieve when given the right opportunity.”
The café’s location within the mall gives the initiative a visible presence in a setting associated with shopping, dining and social experiences. It also creates an opportunity to make disability-inclusive employment a familiar part of everyday life rather than something encountered only through awareness campaigns.
The broader lesson is that inclusion becomes more meaningful when it is reflected in the places people visit, the businesses they support and the colleagues they work alongside.
Beyond a Café: Building Livelihoods With Dignity
Founded to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for adults with physical, intellectual and psychiatric disabilities, MITTI Café combines inclusive cafés with skill development, vocational training and advocacy.
The organisation operates across prominent locations, including Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Supreme Court of India, airports, universities, hospitals and corporate campuses. According to the organisation, its network has served more than 22 million meals and beverages and created over 6,500 sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Its work has received national and international recognition, including the National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities conferred by the President of India, alongside recognition from Forbes 30 Under 30, the United Nations, NITI Aayog and UNESCO.
At the centre of this model is the belief that employment can offer more than financial support. It can create opportunities to develop skills, exercise independence, build professional relationships and participate more fully in family and community life.
As the new café opens its doors at Sky City Mall, its significance lies in what it represents as much as what it serves. It is a workplace, a public-facing business and a reminder that access to opportunity should not be limited by disability.
Sometimes, a more inclusive future begins with something wonderfully ordinary: walking into a café, placing an order and recognising the person behind the counter for the professional they are.
About Sky City Mall
Sky City Mall, developed by Oberoi Realty, spans approximately one million square feet and offers shopping, dining, entertainment and lifestyle experiences. The destination holds LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and is connected to the Metro and Western Express Highway, with parking facilities for 1,900 vehicles. It forms part of the integrated Sky City development, which also includes residences and an upcoming luxury hotel.
