Economic Growth
How community-led tourism can strengthen culture and local economies in India
Across India, local tourism initiatives are giving artisans, farmers and women new ways to turn local knowledge and culture into income on their own terms.
Dipali Khandelwal
Dipali Khandelwal is the founder of The Kindness Meal, working to preserve food cultures and traditional food knowledge across India through research, documentation, and culinary tourism. Her work sits at the intersection of food systems, cultural heritage, and experience economy.
She was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2025. As a member of the Global Shapers Jaipur Hub, she works on the Partnerships team for Jaipur Hub and is a core team member of Project GRAMIN, recipient of the 2025 Innovation Prize for grassroots impact.
She writes actively for World Economic Forum on topics around food, culture, travel & tourism (T&T), and environment. She is also the BIMSTEC Youth Council India Representative, and is currently focused on a food culture preservation project under the India-France Year of Innovation 2026. She serves as a mentor and jury member for India's Ministry of Youth Affairs Viksit Bharat 2047 initiatives.
Based in Jaipur, her work connects grassroots communities (women artisans, farmers, craftspeople, and rural youth) with global communities for deeper impact.
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Food, Water and Clean Air
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Food, Water and Clean Air
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Food, Water and Clean Air
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Food, Water and Clean Air
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Food, Water and Clean Air
Zero waste served Indian-style: why the future of food sustainability lies in the past
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