Zomato Wins National Award for Empowering Persons with Disabilities

Zomato, India’s leading food delivery platform, has been honored with the National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, awarded by the Government of India. This prestigious recognition celebrates Zomato’s groundbreaking initiative aimed at providing livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities (PwD). Zomato’s inclusive program offers customized tools like NeoFly wheelchairs and NeoBolt motorized clip-ons, allowing individuals with disabilities to join as delivery partners.

The award was presented by Smt. Droupadi Murmu, the President of India, to Deepinder Goyal, Founder and CEO of Zomato, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Launched in December 2022, the initiative aims to create an inclusive workforce by enabling persons with disabilities to work as delivery partners. Zomato partners with NeoMotion Assistive Solutions to provide customized wheelchairs, making it easier for participants to join the gig economy.

Zomato’s program includes various measures to ease integration, such as waiving onboarding fees and assigning short-distance deliveries to new recruits. Deepinder Goyal also announced plans to expand this program further by onboarding 5,000+ individuals with disabilities into Zomato’s team. In addition, Zomato will support the education of children of delivery partners with disabilities. This is part of Zomato’s broader commitment to fostering inclusivity and giving back to the community.

Over 1,100 individuals have already participated in the program, completing 2.2 million food orders across 50 cities, including New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Lucknow. Alongside those with physical disabilities, 400 individuals with hearing and speech impairments have also become part of the initiative, helping to broaden the scope of opportunity for people with different abilities.

One of the inspiring stories from this project is Fiza, a delivery partner from Bangalore, who shared how this opportunity has transformed her life. Before joining Zomato, Fiza was confined to her home, which had a negative impact on her mental health. She says, “I feel fresh and liberated as I step out. I pay my own bills now, and customers encourage me to keep going.” Fiza’s story highlights the emotional and financial empowerment that the program offers.

Zomato’s initiative has been praised by NeoMotion Assistive Solutions, whose Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer, Siddarth Daga, emphasized the importance of offering viable livelihood options to people with locomotor disabilities, which can greatly improve self-esteem and mental health.

Zomato’s commitment to inclusivity doesn’t stop here. The company plans to continue growing its team of delivery partners from diverse backgrounds and abilities. As part of its mission, Zomato aims to build a more inclusive and accessible society, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to contribute and thrive in the workforce.