Lack of accessible, safe public toilet infrastructure disproportionately affects women, children and lower-income groups – violating their rights and dignity. As an administrator intent on enabling equal amenities access, Hari Chandana pioneered modular SHE Toilets designed basis underserved groups needs with financially self-sustaining operations.
Reimagining Urban Sanitation Models
In her early 30s, Hari Chandana confronted the sheer absence of secure, hygienic restrooms catering specifically to women, children and disabled in Hyderabad. Sidestepping traditional grants reliance, she envisioned SHE Toilet complexes integrating maintenance viability through revenues – aligning private interests wholly with public welfare. #SocialInnovation
Co-Creating Solutions Centered on Dignity
Hari Chandana engaged directly with women groups, welfare associations and health experts to understand public washrooms access challenges faced by vulnerable sections. Their inputs on safety, accessibility and infrastructure provisions to manage feminine hygiene needs got translated into design fixes across SHE Toilets made for women/children groups. #AccessibilityForAll
Operational Empowerment of Care Workers
Hari Chandana tapped marginalized women self-help groups for managing SHE Toilet facilities as micro-entrepreneurs – enabling livelihoods with dignity while delivering essential public services. The model interlinks financial upliftment of caretakers from underserved backgrounds with safe, dignified access experience for users. #WomensEmpowerment
Proof of Concept for Replicability
The self-sustaining adoption success of SHE Toilets on leased municipal land has seen over 650 such facilities implemented across Hyderabad until now. Hari Chandana proved governance and business innovation viability where private maintenance interests align wholly with public welfare – setting model for scaling contextually-appropriate sanitation across India’s towns/cities lacking adequate amenities. #SocialImpactAward #BritishCouncil
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