Meet IAS Sandeep Nanduri who turned compassion into opportunity with ‘Cafe Able’

In a quiet yet powerful corner of the Thoothukudi Collectorate in Tamil Nadu, a remarkable story of dignity and empowerment unfolds every day. At the heart of it is IAS officer Sandeep Nanduri (2009 batch, Tamil Nadu cadre), who chose to move beyond temporary relief measures and instead build a sustainable model of inclusion.

During his tenure as District Collector, Nanduri noticed a recurring pattern: petitions from differently-abled individuals seeking pensions, financial assistance, or government jobs.

Empowering With Skills

Rather than offering short-term support, he envisioned something transformative: a livelihood model that would empower them with skills, income, and self-respect.

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The result was ‘Café Able’ — a café launched within the Collectorate premises and run exclusively by 12 differently-abled individuals. Before opening its doors, the team underwent 45 days of professional training in cooking, baking, catering, customer service, and financial management. The training ensured that the initiative was not symbolic, but professionally viable.

Not Sympathy But Opportunity

Supported through CSR funding and public donations, Café Able now serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner to visitors and government staff. The café reportedly earns around Rs 10,000 per day, making it a sustainable enterprise rather than a welfare scheme.

More than just a café, Café Able stands as a powerful statement that inclusion is not about sympathy, but about opportunity. It is not charity. It is not tokenism. It is a dignified livelihood model that demonstrates how structural solutions can truly change lives.

Through this initiative, IAS Sandeep Nanduri has shown that governance, when combined with empathy and innovation, can create lasting social impact.