This is a new that certainly breaks all taboos. In perhaps, the first ever in the country, a café in Kolkata will be owned and run by HIV positive people. Aptly called, Café positive, the eatery will be opening in the city of joy shortly. The café and the concept behind it is backed by NGO Offer.
The upcoming eatery will open its first outlet in the posh South Kolkata enclave of Lake Gardens. The NGO has plans to expand the project and open similar such outlets.
Talking about this brave concept, Kallol Ghosh, founder of NGO Offer told the press that the first outlet will be run by 10 HIV positive people.” The idea of the cafe besides being very inspiring also has a poignant story behind it. The people who will run the café, were diagnosed with HIV as children and were abandoned by their families. Ghosh informed the media that it was their NGO that sheltered these young people at Anandaghar, a care home in 24 Paraganas district. In order to make these young people financially independent, the NGO not only imparted them necessary training but also provided them with funds to begin their new journey.
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The NGO plans to further help other residents of its care home too to find a vocation and are in the process of coming up with more such cafes. However, when one is treading on such sensitive grounds, there is bound to be skepticism about the safe kitchen practices. So, to allay any such fears, the café will ensure that HIV positive people will only maintain accounts, serve or clean the tables. The kitchen will be run by hired cooks. The place would also have an open kitchen where the glass panels will allow you a clear view of the cooking area. Also, only disposable utensils will be used in the café.
Even though, many people are lauding the step, it remains to be seen how many people will patronize the business. Poulomi Das, a Kolkata resident says, “I am sure that such a café will raise eye-brows especially amongst the older generation. The younger Kolkata crowd is much more relaxed and may even go out of their way to support such causes.”
Another teacher from Kolkata, Nirmala Mukherjee, however is not so sure about the response. She says, “Surely people may come out to support them or visit the place once out of curiosity but I think the management will have to work extra hard to educate and inform people about HIV. Very often it’s the ignorance that stigmatizes people. Also, kitchen is a sensitive place and some people still may have reservations despite the fact that all care would be taken to ensure safety of customers.”
So, whether the Kolkatans would help bring about this welcome change or are there still many taboos that they have to cross along the way, only time will tell. But for now, it’s a brave, new start we say!
