Restaurant India News: District by Zomato Launches India’s First Inclusive Dining Toolkit for Restaurants

District by Zomato, the going-out platform, has unveiled the Inclusive Dining Toolkit for restaurants — a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at making dining spaces more accessible for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), senior citizens, pregnant women, and other guests with varying accessibility needs.

The toolkit has been developed in collaboration with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Samarthyam, and The Association of People with Disability, with active inputs from persons with disabilities, restaurant partners, and accessibility specialists. It is designed to help restaurants assess accessibility challenges, implement practical improvements, and offer diners clearer information related to accessibility features.

In addition to promoting inclusive dining experiences, the initiative also underlines the business advantages of accessibility, including increased footfall, stronger customer loyalty, repeat visits, and positioning restaurants as preferred venues for social gatherings and celebrations.

B. L. Verma, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment noted in his message, “Accessibility and inclusion encompass all aspects of everyday life. Dining establishments are important public spaces, and it is essential that they are designed and operated in a manner that enables persons with disabilities to participate independently, safely, and with dignity. The Inclusive Dining Toolkit developed by District by Zomato is a valuable initiative that provides practical guidance to the hospitality and restaurant sector towards building environments that are truly welcoming and accessible to all. Creating an inclusive society requires collective efforts from government, industry, and the community, and I encourage all restaurants and hospitality establishments to utilise this Toolkit as a practical resource.”

The launch event was graced and addressed by the Additional Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Manmeet Kaur Nanda as the Chief Guest. 

Manmeet Kaur Nanda, Additional Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, as Chief Guest said, “2026 is no ordinary year for the PwD movement. It marks over a decade since India enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and launched the Accessible India Campaign, Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan. Today, there are many initiatives that give us hope for the future. Across industries, we are seeing encouraging progress in accessibility, and we are moving in the right direction. At the same time, there is still much more to be done. District by Zomato’s Inclusive Dining Toolkit reflects a larger movement towards creating spaces where participation is truly accessible and inclusive for everyone. Inclusion must become the norm, not the exception. The true measure of a Viksit society lies in how inclusive its infrastructure, experiences, and opportunities are for every citizen.”