Deutsche Bank, in collaboration with the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), today announced the launch of the eighth Kamla Café supported by the bank, this one in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Kamla Café is a community food centre operated by members of the Kamla cooperative—an all-women collective established by SEWA and supported under Deutsche Bank’s CSR Education programme.
The Kamla initiative aims to promote sustainable livelihoods by offering nutritious, home-style meals at affordable prices, while simultaneously creating pathways to financial independence for women from underserved communities. The cafés also serve as a vital link between local farmers and end consumers, fostering inclusive economic growth.Prior to joining the cooperative, most members were either unemployed or engaged in informal work with unstable incomes. Through Kamla, women receive comprehensive training in food processing, retail operations, financial and digital literacy, customer service, hygiene, and entrepreneurship. These skills empower them to manage all aspects of café operations—from daily service delivery to strategic decision-making.
Since its inception in 2015, the Kamla network has evolved into a sustainable, community-driven enterprise. Centres are located at key sites including IIM Ahmedabad and offer freshly prepared meals alongside products from other SEWA cooperatives, such as packaged foods and eco-friendly stationery. The cooperative model ensures that members earn fixed incomes and share in profits, thereby enhancing household earnings and strengthening their roles as decision-makers. Today, 2,600 women operate Kamla Cafés, generating an annual turnover of INR 4.6 crore.
Speaking at the inauguration, Ruchi Khemka, Head of CSR, Deutsche Bank Group India, stated:
“At Deutsche Bank, we believe that sustainable development begins with economic empowerment. The Kamla Café initiative exemplifies how access to skills, training, and collective enterprise can transform lives. Together with SEWA, we have witnessed inspiring journeys of women who have transitioned from financial insecurity to becoming entrepreneurs, role models, and equal contributors within their families and communities.”
Over the past nine years, Deutsche Bank and SEWA have trained and supported over 12,000 women in Ahmedabad through various programmes focused on livelihood generation, confidence building, and financial stability. Beyond Kamla, the partnership has also supported initiatives in waste management, recycled stationery production, and value creation centres, benefitting women from marginalised communities.
Reema Nanavaty, Director, SEWA, added:“Kamla centres are more than food outlets—they are spaces of dignity and opportunity. Women gain respect in their families and communities while proving that cooperative enterprises can thrive. With Deutsche Bank’s continued support, the training and capacity building skills we provide are helping women transition from subsistence work to sustainable livelihoods.”With the launch of the eighth Kamla Café, Deutsche Bank and SEWA reaffirm their shared commitment to empowering women, strengthening communities, and promoting inclusive growth.