Kolkata Mall Pioneers Women-Centric Initiatives with SHE Parking Zone and Hygiene Program
In a significant move toward creating gender-inclusive urban spaces, Kolkata's Acropolis Mall has unveiled two groundbreaking initiatives focused on women's safety, convenience, and social empowerment. The mall has introduced a dedicated SHE Parking Zone exclusively for women drivers, complemented by a thoughtful hygiene program that links sanitary napkin purchases to the education of underprivileged girl children.
Dedicated SHE Parking Zone with Enhanced Safety Features
The newly launched SHE Parking Zone is located in the upper basement parking bay of the mall, designed to provide a safe, accessible, and well-marked parking space for women. The area stands out with its distinctive pearly purple color scheme and includes color-coded zebra crossings to facilitate easy navigation for drivers.
During the initial phase, the facility accommodates 10 two-wheelers and two four-wheelers, with trained staff available to assist women drivers as needed. The mall management has announced plans to expand the parking zone based on user response and feedback, demonstrating their commitment to continuous improvement.
To further enhance convenience, Acropolis Mall is integrating FASTag-based contactless payment systems within the parking facility, ensuring a seamless and efficient experience for women on the go.
Hygiene Program with Educational Impact
Parallel to the parking initiative, the mall has rolled out sanitary napkin dispensing and disposal machines under the "Wish Care" programme, implemented in collaboration with Funsmart Knowledge Solutions Foundation. This innovative program creates a powerful cycle of empowerment where every sanitary napkin purchase contributes ₹5 toward the education of underprivileged girl children.
The sanitary disposal units have been designed according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards, ensuring safe and eco-friendly decomposition. These units feature bins that are replaced every 30 days using fresh bacterial cultures, maintaining optimal hygiene standards throughout the mall premises.
This comprehensive hygiene initiative extends across the entire mall complex, including office spaces, marking a first-of-its-kind implementation in any mall across eastern India.
Official Launch and Community Response
The twin initiatives were officially unveiled by Bidisha Kalita, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Suburban Division, Kolkata Police, alongside actress Sonalee Chaudhuri. Both dignitaries praised the mall's innovative approach to blending practical convenience with meaningful social impact.
Expressing her appreciation for the holistic approach, Bidisha Kalita remarked, "It's heartening to see such comprehensive thinking around women's safety and hygiene. The idea that something as simple as a vending machine can fund a child's education is truly inspiring."
Subhadip Basu, Corporate General Manager – Retail & Hospitality, Merlin Group, elaborated on the vision behind these initiatives, stating, "The SHE Parking initiative offers women a secure, well-managed environment and reflects our broader vision to make urban spaces more inclusive and comfortable for all community members."
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
These twin initiatives represent a growing commitment toward building gender-inclusive spaces while driving meaningful community change. They aim to make everyday experiences safer and more comfortable for women while simultaneously addressing educational barriers for young girls through improved access to hygiene resources.
The programs demonstrate how commercial establishments can play a pivotal role in addressing social issues, creating a model that other urban centers might consider replicating. By transforming routine activities like parking and purchasing sanitary products into opportunities for empowerment, Acropolis Mall has established a new benchmark for corporate social responsibility in retail environments.
As these initiatives gain traction, they are expected to inspire similar efforts across other commercial spaces in Kolkata and beyond, contributing to a broader movement toward creating safer, more inclusive urban environments for women while supporting the educational aspirations of the next generation of female leaders.
