Differently-abled people are ignored by dating sites. This woman wants to change that

It’s that time of the year. Valentine’s Day is around the corner, love is in the air, and right wing culture warriors in India threaten to forcibly marry couples who express their love on the 14th.

Arranged marriages are still the norm in India. Things like caste, creed, religion, and wealth play a major role in picking a marriage alliance. Now, with the advent of the internet, online matrimony sites are booming, catering to a wide range of communities. Unfortunately, there aren’t many that provide options for people who are differently-abled.

A young entrepreneur from Mumbai is trying to change that. Kalyani Khona and her organization, Wanted Umbrella, is providing matchmaking services to the differently-abled.

Founded in July 2014, Wanted Umbrella wants to redefine the lives of people with disabilities by providing a way to interact with people of similar interests. The startup focuses on creating a social space by organizing events – like going out to eat, to the movies, or going on holiday together – designed to spark up conversations.

For instance, if a group has a similar interest like books, Wanted Umbrella sets up a meeting by creating a reading event for them. “The truth is that language, caste, or religion is not a barrier for the differently-abled. All they need is companionship,” says Khona.

Wanted Umbrella received more than 300 registrations from members between the age of 24 – 49 years in the first six months. The subscribers are charged an annual subscription fee of INR 3,000 (US$48).

Battling critics

Having set her Mumbai operations in place, Khona moved to New Delhi to collaborate with her colleague, Ishita Anil, and start a survey called Project 300. The survey will help Wanted Umbrella understand the needs, lifestyles, and choices of people with disabilities and help the startup to create customized experiences for them.

The next step for the Wanted Umbrella team is rather different to dating and interest-based groups. They aim to create a platform for retail brands to plan infrastructure which meets the needs of people with disabilities. This could mean building facilities like ramps or provide training to employees, thereby battling the issues of accessibility and understanding that are common in the country.

It has not been an easy ride for Khona, the former vice-president of AIESEC, a youth-run organization to encourage leadership. She has had her share of critics on the way to building the company.

“We, as a society, do not consider the thought of a marriage union for someone facing a disability. I have had my share of criticism and people questioning the matchmaking ability of someone who herself is far away from the institution of matrimony,” Khona says, referencing the fact that she’s single.

“The constant prejudice towards people with disability was one of the most difficult things to overcome as people with disabilities are deemed to have limited purchasing power in the world of matrimonials,” she added.

The self-funded organization has reached the break-even point in its finances, but Khona aims to seek funding for developing technology and operations. She is looking to expand Wanted Umbrella to other cities, with Bangalore being the next destination. She also plans to release a mobile app catering to her audience by the end of the year.