Hari Chandana is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Telangana cadre, who is currently the Food Safety Commissioner and Director of AYUSH Telangana. She is an alumna of the London School of Economics and the University of Hyderabad. She is known as a waste warrior, who has been transforming plastic waste into a resource for Hyderabad, the capital city of Telangana. In this article, we will explore how Hari Chandana’s ‘Feed the Need’ initiative is fighting hunger and food waste in Hyderabad with her work on installing community refrigerators in various locations in the city. #HariChandana #SheInspiresUs #IAS #WasteWarrior #FeedTheNeed

Hari Chandana has been working in the public sector for over a decade, and has held various positions and responsibilities in different domains, such as rural development, urban governance, infrastructure, environment, and social welfare. She has initiated and executed several innovative and impactful projects and programs that have improved the lives of the people and the environment in Telangana. Some of her notable achievements are:

Creating India’s first ever pet park for dogs in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 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.

Reviving and rejuvenating several lakes in Hyderabad and Narayanpet districts, such as Durgam Cheruvu Lake, Mir Alam Lake, Neknampur Lake, Pedda Cheruvu Lake, etc., which enhance the water quality, biodiversity, and recreation value of the lakes .

Restoring heritage step wells in Narayanpet district, which preserve the cultural and historical legacy of the region.

Initiating ‘T-Consult’, a free telemedical service connecting rural areas with specialist doctors, which improves 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 empowers the women economically and socially.

Bridging the digital divide for rural children by providing coding, app development and digital learning skills to government school kids, which enhances their employability and creativity. #PetPark #LooCafes #Recycling #LakeRejuvenation #HeritageStepWells #TConsult #Aarunya #EarlyCoders

One of the most remarkable achievements of Hari Chandana is her ‘Feed the Need’ initiative, which aims to fight hunger and food waste in Hyderabad. The initiative involves installing community refrigerators in various locations in the city, where anyone can donate or take food for free. The initiative is based on the principle of ‘share what you can, take what you need’. The initiative also promotes hygiene, dignity, and social responsibility among the donors and the beneficiaries. The initiative was launched in 2017, with the support of various partners, such as the GHMC and the Apple Home’s Real Need India Foundation. #FeedTheNeed #CommunityRefrigerators #Hunger #FoodWaste #Hygiene #Dignity #SocialResponsibility

The ‘Feed the Need’ initiative has been a successful and impactful initiative that has benefited thousands of people in Hyderabad, especially the homeless, the poor, and the migrant workers. The initiative has also reduced the amount of food waste that goes into the landfills, and has increased the awareness and sensitivity of the people towards the issue of hunger and food security. The initiative has also created a sense of community and solidarity among the people, who share and care for each other. The initiative has also received praise and appreciation from various quarters, such as the media, the public, and the government. #Success #Impact #Benefit #FoodSecurity #Community #Solidarity #Praise

Hari Chandana has also received many awards and recognitions for her outstanding work and contribution to the society and the environment. Some of them are:

British Council Alumni Award for Social Impact in 2021, recognizing her contribution to sustainable development through localized governance solutions.

FICCI, Women in Public Service Award in 2021, for her exemplary leadership and service in the public sector. #BritishCouncilAlumniAward #PMsAward #ScienceAndSustainabilityAward #FICCIWomenAward

Hari Chandana is a role model and an inspiration for many people, especially women and young aspirants, who want to make a difference in the world. She has shown that with passion, dedication, and innovation, one can achieve great heights and fight hunger and food waste in Hyderabad with her ‘Feed the Need’ initiative. #RoleModel #Inspiration #Hunger #FoodWaste #FeedTheNeed #Hyderabad