Some of the best stories written on love have the protagonists torn away from their beloved ones or being denied the dignity of love because of factors deemed important like money or social status. We enjoy these stories so much because they play on a person’s most basic need: that to love and be loved in return.
This was the need Kalyani Khona and Shankar Srinivasan were helping to bring about when they started Inclov, a dating app with a difference; it is the world’s first matchmaking app focusing on people with physical disability and health disorders to find a life partner.
We spoke to Shankar Srinivasan, COO & co-founder, to learn more about perhaps the best dating app to enter the market.
1) First off, how did idea to start a dating app for those with disabilities come to you?
Shankar: Originally Kalyani and I wanted to build a business in the match-making market. Research soon showed us that the market was over-saturated, even in India. Then we shifted our focus to building something that would actually solve an existing problem and decided that those with disabilities could use something made especially for them. And that is how Inclov was officially launched in January 2016.
2) The app has proved successful and we wonder if part of it is because you had inputs from the community while building it?
Shankar: Definitely! Almost the whole year of 2015 went into just building the app, not just on the coding part but also for extensive research. We launched Project 300 where we reached out to 300 people with disabilities all over India, covering even Tier 3 cities, for information like what they wanted in a partner, what they did in their leisure, and the extent of their disability and whether they were dependent on other people. We crowdfunded the resources needed for this thorough research.
3) So what did people with disabilities want when looking for a partner?
Shankar: The feedback we received the most was that they were not satisfied with the platforms available to find love when you are disabled. These are people who are already facing incredible amounts of stigma in the society and this especially came into play when looking for a relationship.
On platforms already available, disabled people get crowded out by the profiles of the able-bodied ones. Moreover, they also find it hard to bring up their disability when chatting with a prospective partner.
This is where the app helps because it matches people on the basis of cure, medical condition, and level of independence and lifestyle choices. All the information is clearly conveyed up front.
4) You also have an offline platform called Social Places? What goes on here?
Shankar: When people talk to each other on Inclov, there’s still an apprehension to meet offline, especially for women because of the safety issue. So what Social Spaces does is give these people a safe place to meet offline. The sole purpose is not to find a relationship but also to make friends and enjoy themselves. We do things like movie nights, karaoke, poetry slams and yoga and magic shows and storytelling and stuff and everyone is invited.
If you’re in Delhi, Social Spaces will be held at nightclub Kitty SU on June 25! Click HERE for details.
5) What is the essential message of Inclov?
Shankar: It’s that nobody deserves to be alone against their wishes. It was aimed at giving this common an opportunity like able-bodied people have to meet others. Our aim was not to have a maximum number of weddings but to actually meet people in the same boat as them. This is their chance to do everyday things and having a social life not hindered by the disability.
6) To conclude, how can able-bodied people be more empathetic of their disabled peers?
Shankar: I think the smallest but the most powerful way to help is simply to think about implementing accessibility in all parts of our lives; things like how a blind person uses a Smartphone or how people on wheelchairs can go to a movie in the nearest theatre. Inclusivity is the need of the hour. Research shows that it is not even an incremental cost to make our public places accessible to the disabled.
With 10,000 users and 4500+ matches, Inclov is a community for people who want to find love differently. Read more about it on their site or Facebook page and download the app on Google Play store.
Written by Preethi Sagar
Featured image: Inclov
