Abhishek Nath
Abhishek Nath | |
|---|---|
 Nath in 2019 | |
| Born | 12 October 1978 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | Hotel Management |
| Occupation(s) | CEO, LooCafe & Ixora Group |
| Known for | Founding LooCafe and working in WASH in India |
Abhishek Nath is an Indian businessman, social entrepreneur.[1] He is the founder of LooCafe, an India-based organization focused on WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), environmental sanitation, and waste management.[2]
The parent company of LooCafe, Ixora Corporate Services, which Nath also founded, operates in urban sanitation and facility management for public spaces.
Nath serves as the chair of the All India Management Association's Young Leaders Council.[3] He has collaborated with the Swachh Bharat Mission and leads a private company involved in Swachh Survekshan initiatives.[4]
Movement for sanitation and hygiene
[edit]After leaving his roles at Johnson Controls and Taj Hotels, Abhishek Nath began working in urban sanitation. He founded Ixora Corporate Services (ICS), a facility management company, and became involved in the Swachh Bharat Mission for urban sanitation work with heritage sites, such as the Charminar.[5]
He first noticed the failing structures of brick and mortar Public toilets and their pay to use system, which did not work out due to operations costs and high philanthropic investment needs.[1]
Then established LooCafe where he created a structure of a public toilet that was prefabricated, free for toilet use, attached to a Point of sale (café) built inside a shipping container.[6] The model also supports social change, as it helps urbanization of street hawkers into established businesses and creates employment directly through its structure.[7]
After founding LooCafe in 2018[8] in Hyderabad, he has worked on expanding their operations into sanitation technology,[9] waste management, and building circular economy models.[10]
Currently, the company counts 400 such structures across India. With operations set up in Hyderabad,[11][12][13] Srinagar,[14] Bengaluru, Chandigarh,[15] Mumbai,[16] Chennai,[17] Patna,[18] Pune, Indore,[19] Mohali.[20]
Recognition
[edit]
In 2016, he won Cleaning leader of the Year award by Clean and Green India.[21] In 2019, he won Confederation of Indian Industry awards.[22] In 2020, his work was featured by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a best practice[23] In the 2022 edition of InkWASH, he was awarded with the WASH Stewardship Award, In the 2023 edition, he was a featured speaker.[24] His work was also a featured Innovation in the WASH book of Innovations.[25] His work has been claimed to have brought about reforms in the Public toilet and sanitation space using sustainability and technology.[26] Currently, LooCafe's are India's most widespread public toilet models.[27]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Bhattacharya, Ahana (5 October 2022). "Loocafé Founder Abhishek Nath shares how they are changing India's public toilet scene". The CSR Journal. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ Bhattacharya, Ahana (5 October 2022). "Loocafé Founder Abhishek Nath shares how they are changing India's public toilet scene". The CSR Journal. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "YLC Young Leaders Talk | Abhishek Nath". www.aima.in. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ Bhaskar, Anisha Bhatia, Sonia (26 July 2018). "Hyderabad To Go Swachh With 130 Loo Cafes, Equipped With Smart Toilets, Cafes And ATM Services". NDTV-Dettol Banega Swasth Swachh India. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ India, The Hans (4 January 2018). "GHMC takes special steps to keep Charminar surroundings clean". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ Nitnaware, Himanshu (7 December 2020). "Hyderabad Man Turns Shipping Containers Into Solar 'Loocafes' With Stink Sensors". The Better India. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ Kosuru, Amrutha (7 May 2022). "28 Toilet Tales highlight entrepreneurial dedication to transform public toilets". newsmeter.in. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "Loo Café: Luxurious washrooms with ATM in Hyderabad". The Times of India. 23 May 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "How smart tech is leaving public loos smelling of roses". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "Hyderabad: Going to this restroom will be a futuristic experience". The Times of India. 12 October 2019. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ Kims Hospitals. "LooCafe in KIMS Hospital Featurette" (PDF).
- ^ "India's first exclusive dog park comes up in Hyderabad". Hindustan Times. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ S, Lekshmi Priya (24 May 2018). "Hyderabad Is Getting 'Smart' Toilets with Swanky Cafés & ATMs Attached!". The Better India. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ Paitandy, Priyadarshini (5 May 2021). "Comfort stop: Hyderabad-based Loo Café makes its way to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ The Tribune. "Chandigarh all set to get LooCafes".
- ^ Reporter (1 December 2023). "Bihar: Loo Cafe to Grace Patna at Six Locations with Modern Toilet Facilities". Patna Press. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ Kandavel, Sangeetha (12 May 2022). "Chennai's first free luxury toilet with a cafe attached opened at Indira Nagar MRTS". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "LooCafe will be built in Patna". Dainik Bhaskar.
- ^ "Loo Cafe Hyderabad - Concept Facilities & More Information". www.holidify.com. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "Hyderabad Gets Swanky Washrooms That Have ATMs Too". IndiaTimes. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ AP News. "The first edition of clean green India 2016 commences".
- ^ "CII Awards - Home". www.innovationawards.ciiinnovation.in. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ UNDP. "Practices: LooCafe".
- ^ "INK@WASH Goa-2023". washinnovationhub.in. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ WASH Book of Innovations. Administrative Staff College of India.
- ^ Dev, Sudipta (8 January 2020). "How technology is powering sustainable public toilets in Telangana". Express Computer. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ Thomas, Liffy (21 November 2023). "World Toilet Day: changing the narrative". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 January 2024.