S Cube and a project in Hyd

I got my offer letter today, and realize I’m employed by what’s colloquially called ’S Cube’   

S cube is actually S3IDF, which is Small Scale Sustainable Infrastructure Development Fund, yes a full sentence for a name;  but it makes sense, because it actually does all of that. Let me tell you how….

S³ is a section 25 company, and for those not familiar, it means it’s a social objective company that runs on a revenue model, but where all profits are ploughed back into the company for use towards the objective. The projects that this company takes up are based not only on solar energy based, but on any clean energy. The key words are pro-poor and pro-environment.

While learning about this company, I came across one project which caught my attention because it was based in Hyderabad: This is a project done in the Osmania General Hospital. As we all know, the hospital caters to hundreds of people on daily basis, who come from all parts of the state. While the hospital provides food for the patients themselves, the families of the patients who accompany them have to fend for themselves. The hospital canteen provides meals at a subsidized amount of Rs.30, but for the segment of people who come to Osmania hospital, as you can imagine, even the Rs.30 per meal can be unaffordable. S³ came up with this project where they tied up with HPCL to donate 10 stoves with 10 LPG connections, an NGO to provide basic kitchen equipment like utensils and plates, and the hospital to provide the space. They set up a complete kitchen and found an entrepreneur within the community to run the kitchen on a business model;  a single burner with cooking equipment is lent out on a per hour basis, I think Rs.10 per hour.  It’s called rasoi ghar. Mangalamma, whose husband was there for prolonged treatment is quoted as having said ‘if it weren’t for the kitchen, we would have had to go back without completing  treatment, as I couldn’t afford to buy food. ‘

A really simple but innovative solution to a major difficulty; and what makes it work? That it’s now a livelihood and business for an entrepreneur, and thus sustainable. Now you know what the s³ stands for.

@Afshan, if you’re reading this, and you’re still with the hospital near Charminar, maybe you’ll visit rasoi ghar and let us know how it’s doing?