LooCafe

Last updated
LooCafe - Ixora Corporate Services
IndustrySanitation
Founder Abhishek Nath (CEO)
Headquarters,
India
Key people
Vedanth Nath (Head of Innovation)
Parent Ixora Group
Website loocafe.com

LooCafe is an Indian public toilet model, built out of shipping containers with a point of sale attached with additional features. [1] [2] The company, legally incorporated as Ixora Corporate Services, works in the WASH industry.

Contents

LooCafe is designed to end open defecation and public urination onto buildings, sidewalks, or streets, [3] and create access to public toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

History

Founded in 2018 by Abhishek Nath, [4] [5] LooCafe started from Hyderabad and now are currently operational in multiple Indian states and districts, [6] including Jammu and Kashmir, [7] [8] Tamil Nadu [9] [10] and Telangana. [11]

Model

Most public toilets in India fail because of maintenance issues and a variety of government challenges. [12]

LooCafes are designed to be sustainable models because of their business model. Revenue from the café or point of sale helps them sustain the public toilets that are built towards the back out of the shipping container. The usage of IoT devices and facility management technology have also helped them expand their footprint to 350 units across India. [13] In 2019, they won Confederation of Indian Industry awards. [14]

Institutions

LooCafes have worked with the British Council, [15] Hyderabad Design Week, [16] and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). [17] [18]

For their social work [19] a book was also launched titled Toilet Tales. [20] The toilets have operated during the COVID-19 pandemic in India with respect to disinfection work for public facilities. [21]

LooCafe models

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osmania University</span> Public state university in Hyderabad, Telangana

Osmania University is a collegiate public state university located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Mir Osman Ali Khan, the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad, issued a firman calling for its creation on 29 August 1917. It is the third oldest university in southern India, and the first to be established in the erstwhile Kingdom of Hyderabad. It was the first Indian university to use Urdu as a language of instruction, although with English as a compulsory subject. As of 2012, the university hosts 3,700 international students from more than 80 nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyderabad Multi-Modal Transport System</span> Transport system of Hyderabad, India

The Hyderabad Multi-Modal Transport System, commonly abbreviated as MMTS, is a suburban rail system in Hyderabad, India. A joint venture of the Government of Telangana and the South Central Railway, it is operated by the latter. The 90-kilometre (56 mi) system operates to cater the city of Hyderabad and the neighbouring suburban areas connecting Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Falaknuma, Lingampally, Medchal and Umdanagar with a total of 133 MMTS services. Currently 86 MMTS services are being operated due to the effect of COVID-19.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohammad Majid Hussain</span> Mayor of Hyderabad (2012 -2015)

Mohammed Majid Hussain is an Indian politician who is currently the Member of the Telangana Legislative Assembly representing the Nampally Assembly constituency and corporator of Mehdipatnam ward of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khairatabad Ganesh</span> Ganeshas idol in Hyderabad

Khairatabad Ganesh is an idol of the Hindu god Ganesha that is installed during the annual festival of Ganesh Chaturthi at Khairatabad locality of Hyderabad, India. Constructed annually and known for its height and the laddu held in the figure's hand, the idol is worshipped during the 10-day festival where thousands of devotees visit every day. On the 11th day, the idol is immersed in the nearby Hussain Sagar lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Open defecation</span> Humans defecating outside (in the open environment) rather than into a toilet

Open defecation is the human practice of defecating outside rather than into a toilet. People may choose fields, bushes, forests, ditches, streets, canals, or other open spaces for defecation. They do so either because they do not have a toilet readily accessible or due to traditional cultural practices. The practice is common where sanitation infrastructure and services are not available. Even if toilets are available, behavior change efforts may still be needed to promote the use of toilets. 'Open defecation free' (ODF) is a term used to describe communities that have shifted to using toilets instead of open defecation. This can happen, for example, after community-led total sanitation programs have been implemented.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee</span> Indian political party

The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee or (TPCC) is the state unit of the Indian National Congress (INC) in the state of Telangana, India. It is responsible for organizing and coordinating the party's activities and campaigns within the state, as well as selecting candidates for local, state, and national elections. The current president of the Telangana PCC is Anumula Revanth Reddy. The committee has a long history of political influence in the united Andhra Pradesh state, however, it has faced challenges in recent years, including a decline in electoral support, particularly after the formation of Telangana as a separate state in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swachh Bharat Mission</span> Indian campaign to eliminate open defecation

Swachh Bharat Mission, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, or Clean India Mission is a country-wide campaign initiated by the Government of India on 2 October 2014 to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management and to create Open Defecation Free (ODF) villages. The program also aims to increase awareness of menstrual health management. It is a restructured version of the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan which was launched by the Congress in 2009 that failed to achieve its intended targets due to rampant corruption and indecisive leadership.

This is a list of Indian states and territories ranked by the availability of toilet facilities per household. Figures are from the 2011 census of India.

This is a list of Indian states and territories by the percentage of households which are open defecation free, that is those that have access to sanitation facilities, in both urban and rural areas along with data from the Swachh Bharat Mission, National Family Health Survey, and the National Sample Survey. The reliability of this information can be questioned, as it has been observed that there is still open defecation in some states claimed "ODF".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EToilet</span> Type of public toilet in India

An electronic toilet or eToilet is a type of public toilet that is used in India. The increase in use of eToilets is in support of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan which intends to reduce the practice of open defecation.

<i>Statue of Social Justice</i> Colossal statue of B. R. Ambedkar in Vijayawada, India

The Statue of Social Justice, also known as the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Smriti Vanam, is a 125-ft tall statue located in Vijayawada in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The memorial dedicated to B. R. Ambedkar, an Indian polymath, statesman, social reformer and the father of the Indian Constitution. This Ambedkar's statue is 125 feet (38 m) tall and stands on an 81 feet (25 m) tall base building, making its total height 206 feet (63 m). It is the fourth tallest statues in India.

KRG Studios is an Indian Film production and distribution company based in Bengaluru, India. It primarily deals with the production and distribution of Kannada-language and non-Kannada films across Karnataka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gadwal Vijayalakshmi</span> Indian politician

Gadwal Vijayalakshmi is an Indian politician serving as the current mayor of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) since 11 February 2021. A former American citizen, she emigrated back to India to join politics and went on to become the fifth woman mayor of Hyderabad and the first post formation of the state of Telangana. She is a member of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party based in Telangana.

Local elections in the Indian state of Telangana were held in 2020 for 11 municipal corporations and 120 municipalities. Elections for 9 municipal corporations and 120 municipalities were held on 22 January 2020. Elections for Karimnagar Municipal Corporation were held on 24 January 2022 whereas elections for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation were held on 1 December 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation election</span>

The 2009 Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation election was conducted on 23 November 2009 to elect members to all 150 wards of the municipal corporation. These were the first elections since to the GHMC since its creation in 2007. About 43% of the 57 lakh voters cast their vote in the polls. The Indian National Congress and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen formed the government in a post-poll agreement. Banda Karthika Reddy, corporator from Tarnaka became the mayor from the Congress Party and Toli Chowki corporator Jaffer Hussain became deputy mayor from AIMIM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bansilalpet Stepwell</span>

Bansilalpet Stepwell is a 17th-century stepwell in Hyderabad, India.

Swachh Andhra Corporation is an organization set up by the government of Andhra Pradesh. Its main job is to make the state cleaner and manage waste like trash and garbage.

The Quli Qutb Shah Urban Development Authority (QQSUDA) is a governmental body established in 1981 to oversee developmental projects in the Old City of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Initially created with the objective of revitalizing the Old City area by improving civic amenities and infrastructure, QQSUDA faced years of neglect and dormancy due to funding issues. However, in August 2021, the Telangana Government reactivated the authority, entrusting it with several projects aimed at restoring the heritage and promoting tourism in the Old City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abhishek Nath</span> Indian social entrepreneur working in sanitation, founder of LooCafe

Abhishek Nath is an Indian businessman, social entrepreneur. He is the founder of LooCafe, an India-based WASH organization promoting employment, environmental sanitation, waste management and ending sanitation based issues in India.

References

  1. Bhaskar, Anisha Bhatia, Sonia (2018-07-26). "Hyderabad To Go Swachh With 130 Loo Cafes, Equipped With Smart Toilets, Cafes And ATM Services". NDTV-Dettol Banega Swasth Swachh India. Retrieved 2023-12-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Nitnaware, Himanshu (2020-12-07). "Hyderabad Man Turns Shipping Containers Into Solar 'Loocafes' With Stink Sensors". The Better India. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  3. Jaggard, David (27 March 2012). "The Flow of History: The Mercifully Dwindling Presence of the Parisian Pissoir". Paris Update. Archived from the original on 20 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  4. Leader, The Weekend. "Unfazed by failures, he built a toilet-cum-cafe chain that became a Rs 18 crore turnover business in just two years". www.theweekendleader.com. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  5. Bhattacharya, Ahana (2022-10-05). "Loocafé Founder Abhishek Nath shares how they are changing India's public toilet scene". The CSR Journal. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  6. "MC to open 'loo cafés' soon". The Times of India. 2022-06-23. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  7. Paitandy, Priyadarshini (2021-05-05). "Comfort stop: Hyderabad-based Loo Café makes its way to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  8. "Hyderabad's Loo Cafes now all set to dot scenic Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir". The Times of India. 2020-09-28. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  9. Bureau, ABP News (2021-09-05). "Two 'Loo Cafe' To Come Up In Chennai's Landmark Places By Month End". news.abplive.com. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  10. Kandavel, Sangeetha (2022-05-12). "Chennai's first free luxury toilet with a cafe attached opened at Indira Nagar MRTS". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  11. "Hyderabad: Now, loo cafes in Hi-tech city". Deccan Chronicle.
  12. "India's toilets: Report questions claims that rural areas are free from open defecation". 2019-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  13. Hussain, Mohammed (2020-05-29). "Loocafe 2.0 will soon feature across India". The Siasat Daily – Archive. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  14. "CII Awards - Home". www.innovationawards.ciiinnovation.in. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  15. "Loo Café x Water Loop Video | Blog | ADF | British Council". design.britishcouncil.org. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  16. "Hyderabad Design Week will showcase the city's entrepreneurial skills in offering global solutions". The Indian Express. 2019-10-08. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  17. "'With paltry rent, Loo cafes minting profits'". The Times of India. April 13, 2019.
  18. "Loo Cafe in GHMC-Maud tussle". Deccan Chronicle. 23 January 2019.
  19. Thomas, Liffy (2023-11-21). "World Toilet Day: changing the narrative". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  20. Kosuru, Amrutha (2022-05-07). "28 Toilet Tales highlight entrepreneurial dedication to transform public toilets". newsmeter.in. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  21. ANI. "Telangana sets up 'Loo Cafe' with options of disinfection, sanitization amid coronavirus pandemic". Asian News International .