India's internet chefs - 7th February 2020

The 'gig economy' has reached India's home kitchens.

At 59, Rashmi Sahjiwala did not expect to be working, but she's now joined the army of housewives who are turning their homes into 'cloud kitchens'. The gig economy, aided by cheap mobile data, has opened up new work possibilities for women in India.

Innovative apps like Curryful, Homefoodi and Zomato use the skills of housewives to prepare meals for hungry urbanites from their own homes. This helps overcome the resistance of some conservative families to let women work.

Rashmi Sahjiwala, 'cloud kitchen' chef: "It is good for women because India is a very conservative country and still people, the women, cannot go easily outside and work. So, this kind of platform gives them a chance to work at home, look after the family, look after her dreams, what she wants to do, and she can have her own, she can earn money with that."

Some of the companies behind the apps even provide training for the women on how to run a business, create weekly menus and buy supplies wholesale. Rashmi has now increased her profits to around $200 a month, but the potential of these 'cloud kitchens' is vast.