In the heart of Jaipur’s Sodala area, near Shyamnagar Metro Station, a small kitchen has redefined how compassion can be built on structure and self-reliance. Two years ago, restaurateur Gajraj Singh Kachhawa started Bejubano Ki Rasoi, literally “The Kitchen of the Voiceless”- to feed stray dogs affordable, nutritious meals.
Kachhawa is not an animal activist. He runs a restaurant staffed by 18 employees, including 10 chefs. When he noticed how street dogs were often fed biscuits and leftovers, he decided to put his existing restaurant to better use. Bejubano Ki Rasoi was born from the idea that animal welfare didn’t have to rely on donations, it could be sustained through smart operations and responsible use of resources.
“Each meal costs about ₹20–25 to make. WHY, but we provide it for ₹5,” he said. “We don’t give it free because people don’t value what’s free. Even a small amount makes them take responsibility for what they’re feeding.”
The ₹5 packets, made with rice, vegetables, chicken stock, eggs, paneer, and other leftovers from human food are cooked in his restaurant kitchen. Hygiene is maintained to restaurant standards, and the model generates zero human food waste. “Whatever food waste comes from our kitchen in terms of rice, veggies, paneer- gets reused in the dog food. Nothing goes to waste,” he explained.
When Bejubano Ki Rasoi launched, it was serving around 1,000–2,000 packets daily. Today, it distributes about 700–800 packets every day, mostly to regular feeders across Jaipur. Orders are placed through WhatsApp, with feeders typically taking 20–50 packets at a time. Deliveries are handled through courier and instant delivery apps, or direct pick up. “We used to sell from carts earlier,” he said. “Now we work only on advance orders to avoid wastage.”
Kachhawa takes no donations, no NGOs, and no crowdfunding campaigns. His restaurant, which has been running for eight years, absorbs the cost of salaries, rent, and electricity. “I would like for my restaurant employees to be able to be a part of something empathetic and inspiring” he said.
He estimates that Jaipur has between 1–1.5 lakh stray dogs, and only a fraction are reached by initiatives like his. “If the government can run Annapurna Rasoi for Rajasthan to feed people for ₹5, why not something similar for dogs?” he asked. “Feeding them will automatically reduce aggression in dogs and rabies cases. But right now, not many people work for dogs.”
