Arman Rai Sood, a student of Vasant Valley School, is the silent connoisseur behind ‘The Indian Community Kitchen’ (TICK), Delhi’s very own community kitchen serving meals to the underfed. Arman’s initiative stands out for its ingenious model of tackling a problem as multifaceted as urban food insecurity, encouraging collaborations across the hospitality and service sectors to redirect food waste.
Arman’s work in the hospitality industry began with a simple internship with the Intercontinental Hotel Group. Here, he explored sustainable food production and the importance of local partnerships in ensuring that no meal goes to waste. Illustrating his entrepreneurial thinking, Arman embarked on an endeavor to transform this experience into a long-term venture.
Working closely with large event planners, hotels, and NGOs, Arman laid the groundwork for TICK in October 2024. As part of this initiative, he curated a food safety manual that highlights safety regulations for the hygienic transportation and storage of cooked food. In December, young Arman organised a crowdsourced fundraiser, successfully raising an amount of INR 75,000, which he used to facilitate the logistics of the community kitchen in collaboration with the Prajna Foundation, a Delhi-based NGO.
TICK is a reminder that food security isn’t a question of access, but a fundamental right. Arman’s initiative highlights the work we can all do to ensure that development and growth are shared equally within our communities. Acting on these principles, Arman fostered a collaboration with Prajna and the Eros Hotel to provide meals for 200+ people. Currently, Arman is building an open-source database of event planners and hotels that work in food redistribution to connect them to local actors and grassroots organizations.
Arman’s initiative highlights the transformational potential that young minds have in recognising and building effective solutions. When it comes to the path forward, Arman is passionate about pursuing an education in economics and entrepreneurship to explore solutions for acute social challenges, especially in the domain of urban hunger. His youthful determination has written the first chapter in redefining Delhi’s urban food landscape, moving towards a hunger-free India, one plate at a time.
Follow BOTT on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
Subscribe BOTT Channels on WhatsApp & Telegram to receive real time updates
