{"id":15264,"date":"2022-02-02T13:30:26","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T08:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/media.biltrax.com\/?p=15264"},"modified":"2022-03-08T17:05:53","modified_gmt":"2022-03-08T11:35:53","slug":"plumbing-and-sanitation-leader-iapmo-india-lends-support-to-woloo-a-revolutionary-app-that-increases-womens-access-to-safe-public-toilets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sh040.global.temp.domains\/~vitamind\/biltrax.mediacontent\/plumbing-and-sanitation-leader-iapmo-india-lends-support-to-woloo-a-revolutionary-app-that-increases-womens-access-to-safe-public-toilets\/","title":{"rendered":"Plumbing and sanitation leader IAPMO India lends support to Woloo, a revolutionary app that increases women\u2019s access to safe public toilets."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mumbai, India (January 30, 2022): \u00a0The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), the non-profit arm of International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) India, has lent support to Woloo, a startup company whose app aims to improve access to clean, safe and hygienic public toilets for urban women in India.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Available on Android devices and soon to be rolled out to iOS, the app helps women locate the nearest washroom when they are away from their home or office. The initiative is supported by IAPMO India\u2019s Start-Up Sahay<\/em><\/strong> program, which aims to promote Indian startups creating innovations in water, sanitation, hygiene, plumbing, and environmental technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clean and hygienic sanitation facilities are still inaccessible to many women in India, who comprise more than 48% of the country\u2019s population. Studies show that 50% of Indian women face difficulties in accessing toilets, a problem exacerbated by the fact that only 20% of public toilets are made for use by women. Many of these toilets remain unused due to the lack of proper hygiene standards and unsafe conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mission of Woloo, which opened its first facility in Thane on November 19, 2019 \u2014 World Toilet Day \u2014 is to respond to this urgent need by providing world-class access to hygiene facilities for women of all ages and diversities across India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each Woloo-enabled washroom follows a standard protocol to ensure safety, cleanliness and hygiene, which is based on guidelines developed by the Toilet Board Coalition<\/a>, a global non-profit enterprise, and the Woloo Assurance of Hygiene (WAH), based on safety, hygiene and accessibility parameters. Restaurants, fast food outlets, cafes, or any other business outlet can become a Woloo host after they go through a screening process and upgrade their existing washroom according to Woloo\u2019s hygiene checklist. They are then certified, geo-tagged and integrated on the Woloo app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, Woloo maintains more than 1,200 washrooms across Mumbai and Pune with plans to expand to other Indian cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the certified washrooms, Woloo is also introducing Woloo Powder Rooms<\/em><\/strong>: comprehensive women-oriented facilities which are equipped with smart toilets, a caf\u00e9, and a retail outlet with women-centric products. Woloo\u2019s first <\/strong>Powder Room Lounge was launched today at the Ghatkopar Metro station<\/strong> \u2014 a 1,000-square-foot facility with eight smart toilets, a 14-seat caf\u00e9 and a 600-square-foot retail area catering to women\u2019s hygiene, personal care, intimate utility and beauty products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n