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Woloo - Enabling technology to provide women access to clean toilets
SDG Goal 6, as outlined by the United Nations, focuses on ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all. One of the specific targets within this goal is to achieve universal access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene, including access to toilets, by 2030.
Access to toilets is crucial for several reasons. It promotes public health by preventing the spread of diseases caused by poor sanitation practices. It also ensures dignity and privacy, particularly for women and girls, and contributes to a safer and more inclusive environment for all individuals.
However, despite progress made in recent years, millions of people around the world still lack access to adequate sanitation facilities, including toilets. This is especially prevalent in developing countries and marginalized communities. Achieving universal access to toilets requires concerted efforts and investments in infrastructure development, education, and behavior change.
Data on women's access to toilets in urban areas in India indicates that there are still significant gaps in sanitation infrastructure. Access to gender-segregated toilets and facilities specifically designed for women varies across different regions and communities within India. Many urban areas still lack sufficient public toilets that cater to the specific needs of women, such as privacy, cleanliness, and safety. This creates challenges for women, particularly regarding personal hygiene, health, and safety when accessing sanitation facilities in public spaces.
The Indian government and various organizations have made efforts to improve access to women-friendly toilets, including initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission). However, further progress is needed to ensure adequate and equitable access to toilets for women in urban areas throughout the country. India faces significant challenges regarding access to toilets for women. The lack of adequate sanitation facilities for women is a pressing issue in the country.
A player who has been working in this area and recognizes the crucial significance of clean and secure washrooms for women in India and provides an effective service is the Woloo App. Their goal is to give women access to certified washrooms, regardless of location. Their facilities are spread out across 400 cities in India, and they currently have 25000 facilities that have been certified for safety, hygiene, and accessibility. Woloo follows practices of circular sustainability, with all its resources like energy, water, recycling, etc.
The firm strongly believes that every woman should have access to clean and hygienic washrooms, particularly women working in challenging conditions, such as policewomen, hygiene workers, bus drivers, etc. Their mission is to significantly impact the lives of women of all ages, including menstruating, pregnant, or women who are part of women's task forces. With Woloo, women can easily find and use the nearest washrooms across India, ensuring their health and well-being.
Woloo washrooms are certified for safety, hygiene, and accessibility by the prestigious Toilet Board Coalition, ensuring a worry-free user experience. They aim to increase awareness and consumer confidence in using certified washrooms outside of homes, especially for women who may face difficulties due to a lack of proper facilities. The mission is to empower every working woman with hygiene and dignity at an affordable price of just INR 1/ day.
Their offer is effective with unlimited access to 25000 clean and safe washrooms across India, free hygiene Suraksha insurance coverage of INR 50,000, INR 10,000 worth of free Woloo reward points, and exclusive discounts and promotions from leading brands. Their vision is to establish a CIBIL of Toilet Hygiene Standard Rating, to be the go-to platform for toilet discovery, and to revolutionize the sanitation product and service industry.
The leadership team at Woloo says, "Woloo is a catalyst start-up for across industry segments like Hygiene & Sanitation, Hospitality & Tourism & it also plays a role of social equalizer across layers of society by offering a world-class hygiene access for deprived to a privileged segment of working women."
Woloo has a vision to create CIBIL of Toilet Hygiene Standard Rating, to be Google of toilet discovery and to be Amazon of Sanitation Products & Services. The plan by Woloo is to have 2,50,000 Woloo-Hosts added in the top 600 cities of India with 150 million active users; Woloo will create 5 billion washroom usage in the next five years. Thus Woloo has been making significant contributions towards enabling women have access to clean toilets.