Nestlé India has launched Kaabil, a culinary internship programme aimed at enhancing employability and creating livelihood opportunities for members of the transgender community. Led by Nestlé Professional and supported by the company’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group, BEACON, the initiative seeks to equip participants with industry-relevant skills for careers in the food and hospitality sector.
The 15-day programme will offer training in kitchen fundamentals, regional and international cuisines, recipe development, live cooking, professional readiness and career guidance. It is being delivered in partnership with the Sahodari Foundation and TWEET Foundation across regional training kitchens in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Participants will also receive mentorship from Nestlé chefs and industry exposure through the Indian School of Hospitality.
Speaking about the initiative, Saurabh Makhija, director–Nestlé Professional, Nestlé South Asia, said, “Through Kaabil, Nestlé Professional is combining the expertise of our chefs, providing structured mentorship and real-world industry exposure to equip participants with hands-on expertise that the hospitality sector values. We hope this initiative inspires a more inclusive and opportunity-driven future for our industry.”
The programme builds on a pilot launched in 2025 in collaboration with the Sahodari Foundation. During the pilot, two transgender women entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu received intensive culinary training and mentorship from Nestlé chefs, enabling them to strengthen and expand their catering businesses.
With the 2026 edition, Nestlé India is extending the programme to reach more members of the transgender community through structured learning, skill development and industry exposure.
Highlighting the company’s broader inclusion agenda, Nitu Bhushan, director – HR, Nestlé South Asia, said, “The transgender community is often overlooked with limited access to livelihood opportunities. As the good food, good life company, we hope that an initiative like Kaabil is a step in the right direction to empower the community with industry-relevant skills and exposure. Our aspiration is to create an environment where talent (kaabiliyat) is recognised, nurtured and empowered, irrespective of background or identity.”
