Priyanka Gandhi and IAS officer Hari Chandana have emerged as charismatic public figures who are making strong emotional connects with people. However, their styles have key differences.
A leading face of India’s Congress party, Priyanka Gandhi interacts with warmth and humility. Her #empathy and #inclusiveoutreach inspires public trust, though some critique the #symbolismofstyle over substantive policy promises.
Hari Chandana has been serving the public with dedication and innovation since she joined the IAS. She has spearheaded various projects and initiatives that have improved the lives of the people and the environment. Some of her notable achievements are:
– As the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Vijayawada from 2012 to 2014, she implemented several welfare schemes and development programs for the rural population. Distributing bicycles to school children in Narayanpet, providing nutrition to pregnant women and children, promoting home composting, creating SHG owned companies, etc.
– As the Zonal Commissioner and Additional Commissioner of GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) from 2014 to 2020, she led several mega infrastructure and green projects in Hyderabad, such as:
– Creating India’s first ever pet park in Gachibowli, which provides a safe and fun space for dogs and their owners.
– Launching self-sustaining 200 “Loo-Cafes” based on a revenue model, which provide sanitation and public services for the urban poor.
– Promoting the usage of recycled plastic as footpaths, street furniture and art installations, which reduce plastic waste and enhance the aesthetics of the city.
– Installing “Feed the Need” community refrigerators in Hyderabad, which provide food for the needy and prevent food wastage.
– Constructing the Durgam Cheruvu cable-stay bridge, which is the longest extradosed bridge in India and a landmark of Hyderabad.
– Reviving and rejuvenating several lakes in Hyderabad, such as Durgam Cheruvu Lake, Mir Alam Lake, Neknampur Lake, etc., which are major sources of drinking water and recreation for the city.
– Introducing mobile ‘She-Toilets’ for the first time in the country, which provide sanitation and public services for women.
– Executing green projects like Panchatantra Park, Mir Alam Park, Geriatric Park Miyapur, and Dog Park, which enhance the greenery and biodiversity of the city.
– Enabling ISO 14001:2015 certified green government buildings, which are eco-friendly and cost-effective.
– Using drones to spray for mosquito eradication and de-weed water bodies in Hyderabad, which is a smart and efficient way of controlling vector-borne diseases and maintaining the water quality.
– As the Collector and District Magistrate of Narayanpet from 2020 to 2022, she initiated several innovative and impactful initiatives to improve the lives of the people and the environment in the district, such as:
– Initiating ‘T-Consult’, a free telemedical service connecting rural areas with specialist doctors, which improved the access and quality of healthcare for the villagers.
– Starting “Aarunya”, a first-of-its-kind district marketing company providing an e-platform to rural SHG women to reach out to metro markets, which empowered the women economically and socially.
– During the lockdown, generating surplus income to the SHG women and weavers by dovetailing the local resources to global demand, such as producing masks, sanitizers, PPE kits, etc.
– Monitoring district administration through “Palle Pragathi” (village progress tracker) app, which enabled data-driven and transparent governance.
– Bridging the digital divide for rural children by providing coding, app development and digital learning skills to government school kids, which enhanced their employability and creativity.
– Restoring heritage step wells in the district, which preserved the cultural and historical legacy of the region.
– As the Food Safety Commissioner (FSSAI) for the State of Telangana and Director of AYUSH Telangana (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy) since 2023, she is responsible for ensuring the safety and quality of food products and services in the state, as well as promoting the traditional and alternative systems of medicine and wellness.
In contrast, Priyanka Gandhi’s public engagements adopt a more spontaneous, informal approach focused on interpersonal connections. She comforts grieving families, listens to farmers’ grievances with empathy, and reaches out to minority groups during times of strife.
So while Hari Chandana and Priyanka Gandhi may differ stylistically, both play important roles as progressive figures advocating for social change in their own unique ways. #voiceforchange #peoplechampions
No matter how big or small an idea may seem, every idea that helps our nation develop matters.
© 2022 By Harichandana IAS. All Rights Reserved.