The Internet is full of heartwarming stories and positive messages that stir our emotions. Recently, we have seen how restaurants and cafes are trying to create jobs for marginalized and less privileged communities. There is a cafe in Delhi called Echoes, which people with speech and hearing impairments run. The chain has been a big hit and is now a popular option for dine-out. Recently, we heard about a Mumbai cafe that employed members of the transgender community. A similar story came out of Kolkata, where HIV-positive young people in the community managed a restaurant. Check out:

The eatery, known as “Positive Cafe,” was opened by Dr. Kallol in Jodhpur Park in 2018. It is located in a garage measuring 100 square feet. The cafe has moved to Ballygunge in order to accommodate the increasing customer base. The restaurant, run by seven HIV-positive youths, aims to dispel myths and create employment. The Kolkata cafe offers a variety of dishes, including fish and chips and sandwiches.

The owner of the Kolkata café, Dr. Ghosh, says that this is the very first eatery of its kind in Asia. He runs an NGO that helps HIV-positive kids and initially had a hard time finding a location for the cafe. In a PTI interview, Dr. Ghosh said that most of his clients don’t seem to have any problems, but some do. The people in their 20s are very progressive and receptive. HIV is not contagious like other diseases. He added, “Now at our Ballygunge address a cross section of Kolkatans — including young professionals, students and executives, homemakers, and even celebrities — flock to our place without hesitation.”

The future is promising for the Kolkata café, as Dr. Ghosh has plans to open up four additional outlets in the city’s shopping malls. An 18-year-old working at the café told PTI: “We are not different from other people and shouldn’t be treated as parasites. Sidhu da (Siddhartha Ray) of the ‘Cactus band visited our café several times to encourage us to work hard. “We thank the city for allowing us to open this cafe.”