, Alina Alam - India Food Forum

Alina Alam

Position: Founder & CEO, MITTI Cafe
Categories: SPEAKERS 2025

Alina’s journey with Mitti Café began with a dream to showcase the abilities of individuals with disabilities and a belief in equal opportunities for all. At 23, with no startup capital and facing countless rejections, she relied on community support to bring her vision to life. From donated equipment to a simple table under an umbrella, her initiative grew into the world’s largest chain of cafés run entirely by persons with disabilities.

Today, Mitti Café operates in nearly 50 locations across India, including prestigious sites like the Supreme Court, Rashtrapati Bhawan, and major airports. Leaders such as Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, President Droupadi Murmu, and Infosys founder Narayana Murthy have lauded her efforts, with the Defence Minister and Lok Sabha Speaker inaugurating Mitti Cafés, sending a powerful message of inclusion. In 2024, Alina received the National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities from the President of India. She has also been listed on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list and has received national and international recognition from the United Nations, Commonwealth, NITI Aayog, UNESCO, Rotary, and TieCon for her impactful work.

Under her leadership, Mitti Café has created over 6,000 livelihoods, served 11 million meals, and provided 6 million “Karuna Meals” to vulnerable communities. For Alina, Mitti Café is not just a café—it’s a global movement for dignity, empowerment, and inclusion, aiming to transform a billion lives.

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