Dine Aid: IFCA To Help Tsunami Victims

Anindita Chattopadhyay - New Delhi

It is time now for chefs to come forward in the aid of tsunami victims. The chef community in 60 countries had come forward under the aegis of World Association of Cooks Societies (WACS) to organise Dine Aid Day on January 29 to raise money in the aid of victims. IFCA, a WACS member, has however decided to observe it on March 8 across India because it needed some time to organise the fund drive.

Elaborating the unique concept of the event, Chef MS Gill, president IFCA, says, "All hotels, restaurants, whether standalone or part of a hotel, have been asked to donate Re 1 per sold cover on that day. The money collected will then be contributed to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. In India, we needed some time to organise the event. So, IFCA as member of WACS has decided to observe March 5 as Dine Aid Day. We have told WACS that since we are a big country we do not need any contribution from other WACS member countries. We will raise our own money."

Incidentally, the money collected by WACS from other member countries has been donated to Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. IFCA has already written more than 8,000 letters to all hotel chains, restaurant chains, stand-alone hotels, restaurants and banquets to donate the amount equivalent to Re 1 per sold cover on March 5 to IFCA for the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

IFCA is coordinating the whole thing through all national and regional associations belonging to the hospitality industry such as FHRAI, NRAI, All India Caterers Association and others.

Calling it a win-win situation, Gill adds, "The best part is money is raised yet nobody feels the pinch. The customer doesn't pay anything extra. The outlet pays only Re 1. We have appealed to all restaurants and hotels to arrange some food fest or promotion on that day to attract more diners." While Chef Soundararajan is coordinating the event in south, Chef Vernon Coelho and Chef Gill are the contact points in west and north. Since IFCA doesn't have an association in the eastern part of the country, IHM Calcutta has been requested to act as the one point contact.