Nestlé India has launched Kaabil, a culinary internship programme aimed at building industry-relevant skills and improving employability for the transgender community in the food and hospitality sector.
The programme is enabled by Nestlé Professional and driven by BEACON, the company’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group. It offers a 15-day curriculum covering kitchen fundamentals, regional and international cuisines, recipe development, live cooking, professional readiness, and career guidance.
Kaabil is being delivered in partnership with the Sahodari Foundation and TWEET Foundation across three regional kitchens in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Participants will receive hands-on training, mentorship from Nestlé chefs, and industry exposure with the Indian School of Hospitality, intended to build the skills, confidence, and readiness needed for sustainable careers.
Saurabh Makhija, Director of Nestlé Professional, Nestlé South Asia, said, “The food service industry thrives on skill and its application, and talent flourishes when given the right opportunity. Through Kaabil, Nestle 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.”
Nitu Bhushan, Director of Human Resources, Nestlé South Asia, also shared her thoughts. “Inclusion becomes meaningful when it creates opportunities to learn, grow and thrive. 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,” she stated.
Kaabil was first launched as a pilot in 2025 in partnership with the Sahodari Foundation. Under the pilot, two transwomen entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu received intensive culinary training and mentorship from Nestlé chefs, which helped them strengthen and grow their catering businesses. The 2026 edition expands the programme’s reach to support more individuals through skills and opportunity.
The launch comes as Indian employers face growing scrutiny over the gap between stated diversity commitments and access to livelihood for transgender individuals, a group that continues to encounter barriers to formal employment despite legal recognition and workplace inclusion mandates.
