New Delhi, December 4, 2024: Zomato, the online food delivery platform in India, has been awarded the National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The award, presented by the Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, acknowledges Zomato's efforts to provide livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities as delivery partners.
Since its launch in December 2022, Zomato’s initiative, in collaboration with NeoMotion Assistive Solutions, has integrated over 1,100 individuals with disabilities into its workforce. These delivery partners have collectively completed 2.2 million deliveries across 50 cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Jaipur. Customized assistive devices like "NeoFly" wheelchairs and "NeoBolt" motorized clip-ons have been provided to participants, along with support measures such as waiving onboarding fees and assigning short-distance deliveries.
Speaking on the occasion, Deepinder Goyal, Founder & CEO of Zomato, said, “Honoured to receive the National Award for our livelihood program for persons with disabilities. These initiatives have allowed us to create an inclusive and empowered workforce within the gig economy. Looking ahead, we’re looking at onboarding 5,000+ individuals with disabilities into the Zomato team. On a personal note, I am also pledging to support the education of children of delivery partners with disabilities, with the goal of creating a special program tailored for them. We hope to continue building a diverse workforce that reflects the diversity of communities we serve.”
The initiative has also included over 400 individuals with hearing and speech impairments, emphasizing Zomato’s commitment to creating an inclusive workforce. Siddarth Daga, Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer of NeoMotion Assistive Solutions, highlighted the impact of the project, “We have been collaborating with Zomato since 2022 and are deeply impressed with Zomato’s commitment to this cause. Most people with locomotor disability are unable to move out of their homes with ease, and this restricts them from accessing most livelihood options, which can affect their social status and mental health negatively. Zomato's support of food order delivery as a livelihood option improves their self-esteem and ability to support their families. We're proud to collaborate with Zomato on this noble mission.”
Fiza, a delivery partner from Bangalore who joined the program in 2023, shared her experience. She said, “I was not working before; this is my first working experience, and it feels really good. Earlier, I used to stay home, which impacted my mental health. I feel fresh and liberated as I step out. My mother often used to worry about my well-being, but I had the confidence and tried onboarding with Zomato as a delivery partner. People are very supportive too. When customers see me, they encourage me to carry on my journey. I have stepped out after 11 years. I pay my own bills now.”
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