Namita Banka

Namita Banka is an Indian entrepreneur, and founder of Banka Bioloo. Banka BioLoo Pvt Ltd is a proprietary firm started by Namita Banka in 2008. A graduate of Delhi University, she was originally a jeweler before switching to social entrepreneurship in 2008 following a move from Surat to Hyperdad. In this role, she developed bio-digester technology that made it easier to install toilets in remote, rural locations and on trains. Banka is a 2013 laureate of the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards.

Education

Namita is a science graduate from Delhi University, with a post graduate degree in metal designing, she also worked at jewellery designing and manufacturing for eight years at Surat, in Gujarat.[1][2][3] Namita began her career as a jewelry designer in Surat in 1999.[4][5] While working with fine jewels impressed her, she did not feel fulfilled by the work.[6]

Social entrepreneurship

After her husband was transferred to Hyderabad in 2008, Namita began a complete career path change because the city had fewer prohibitions and more opportunities. She enrolled in a course on social entrepreneurship and tried her hand at selling ink cartridges and green office supplies, tendering to Indian Railways.[2][4][5][6] This initial social enterprise failed.[7] The following year, through her contacts, she learnt about one of their big problems facing both rail roads and Indians living in rural areas: sanitation.[4][5][2][7] At the time, she was also working on organizing a women's fair in Hyperdad.[3]

In 2009, Banka joined a course in NGO management, after which she started her own company which initially worked as a service agent for Vibhu Composite Works and Aikon Technologies, original equipment manufactures of controlled discharge toilets.[4] In 2012, Banka set up Banka BioLoo.[5] That year, Banka won a `1.2 crore annual toilet maintenance contract on certain East Coast Railways lines.[4] Early customers contracted her company to build and maintain toilets in a variety of locations including schools, private residences, construction sites, and plantations.[2]

Banka BioLoo is environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions for sanitation. Banka BioLoo uses bio-digester technology.[4] The toilets were installed on the Gomti Express from Lucknow to Delhi in 2014.[3] Clients for installation and maintenance in 2015 included  Indian Railways, Integral Coach Factory, Larsen & Toubro, International Paper and the Andhra Pradesh government.[7][3] That year, the company saw a 70% increase in revenue.[7] By 2017, the company was doing business in 20 Indian states and had yearly growth of 50 to 60%.[2] According to Banka, she has been unable to identify a lower cost solution to the problem her product solves.[8] While the technology is officially gender neutral, one of the primary benefactors of her product has been women as it allows them to preserver their dignity in public spaces.[9]

Banka started looking towards other technologies in 2015, including how to better use biogas.[7]

Despite being a woman in a traditionally male dominated space, Banka told The Guardian that she does not feel she has been disadvantaged. The inclusiveness of her product has won her favor from a number of groups. At the same time, she has received a lot of support from Indian economic forums because her work supports women's welfare.[9] At the same time, she has acknowledged that being a woman in India can be very difficult.[10] She has also said that guilt can be one of the biggest things holding back women entrenepenuers.[6]

Philanthropy

Recognizing the need to assist female children, Banka began philanthropic efforts shortly after setting up Banka BioLoo.[5] One of her programs is called  “Gift a Loo”, which facilitates others donating toilets to schools, villages and public spaces that can be used by girls and others to enable them to leave the house more often.[5]

Awards and recognition

Banka BioLoo won the coveted Sankalp Award for social enterprises at the Sankalp Unconvention Summit 2013 in Mumbai.[11] Banka is a 2013 laureate of the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards.[12][13][14]

References

  1. ↑ ""No shortcuts for success," says Namita of Banka BioLoo". Retrieved 2014-03-03.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Doley, Kunal (January 22, 2017). "Loo & behold". The Financial Express. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Awesome new ideas for a better tomorrow". Hindustan Times. November 27, 2014. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "She Means 'Dirty' Business". New Indian Express. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Patell, Padmini B (March 21, 2016). "Santitation solutions". The Hindu. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  6. 1 2 3 BW Online Bureau (April 30, 2016). "Profile: From Diamond To Toilets". Business World. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Pratap, Rashmi (May 8, 2015). "Money down the drain". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Swachh Rail-Swachh Bharat: Why The Big Push To Bio-Toilets? | Features". NDTV-Dettol Banega Swachh India. 2016-10-21. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  9. 1 2 Finestone, Jeanne (May 5, 2016). "Being a woman business owner offers unusual challenges but great reward". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  10. ↑ "Women's Day special: Taking it all in stride". Deccan Chronicle. March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Awards". Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  12. ↑ "Namita Banka". Cartier Women's Initiative Awards. June 20, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Cartier Women's Initiative Awards : les femmes créatives et engagées récompensées". Marie Claire (in French). Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  14. ↑ Yue, Teng (September 21, 2015). "女性创业者，该如何找到金点子？-哈佛商业评论" [Female entrepreneur, how to find gold ideas?]. Harvard Business Review China (in Chinese). Retrieved 2017-03-21.
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