What Made IAS Hari Chandana Dasari Leave World Bank's Lucrative Job?

“When you think back on your life, is it about bank balance? Is it about home and cars? Or is it also the fact that I could have an impact or I could do something?", Dasari said. "People remember what you could do for them, even if it’s a small thing. Even if you give one weaver a livelihood, that is some satisfaction all of us have, and that is my motivation.”

There are ample examples of people who have achieved their biggest dreams, but there are very few who have left their cushioned dream job to come back and do something for their country. A woman with an agenda to do something good for others, Hari Chandana Dasari left her prestigious job at World Bank in London and came back to India to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officer.

She completed her Post Graduate from the University of Hyderabad and moved to London for further studies.

Humble Beginnings

Hari Chandana Dasari completed her schooling at St. Anns, Hyderabad. She then went on to complete her graduation from St. Anns College. After that, she enrolled at the University of Hyderabad and completed her postgraduate studies.

She then went to the London School of Economics to study MSc in Environmental Economics. Soon, after completing he studies, she got a job at the World Bank. She also worked at BP Shell, London, for some time, but eventually decided to move back to India and serve her nation.

Throughout her childhood, she has seen her father work hard as an Indian Administrative Service officer. Besides, she did not enjoy doing a job that would keep her away from her family and her country. She felt a void inside and longing for her country which made her quit the job at World Bank and prepare for the Civil Services Examinations.

“Initially, we felt this job (IAS) was more stressful as my father could barely give time to the family due to his work . My brother and I grew up under the influence of our mother. That is when I decided to get into a job that wouldn't take away my family time. Later, I realized the kind of impact this job can have on people’s life and the betterment of society,” said Hari Chandana Dasari.

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Journey from World Bank to IAS

Daughter of an ex-IAS Officer, Mr. D. Srinivas of 1987 batch who served the then united Andhra Pradesh government, Hari Chandana Dasari found inspiration at home itself. It was almost like a career diversion for Hari Chandana.

“Once when I came back home on a vacation, I happened to interact with an old man who came to meet my father. The old farmer was one of the beneficiaries of the land distribution that my father took up when he was the joint collector in Medak district (United Andhra Pradesh). Even after 20 years, he still remembered my father and came to convey his regards. This chance meeting triggered me to choose IAS as a profession, which has much wider public reach than any other work profile,” Ms. Hari Dasari explained.

Recycling crusades

Hari Chandana has not only proved her mettle as an IAS officer but has championed the cause of environment protection at Hyderabad. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her work in the field of ecology. In fact, people often associate Hari Chandana with bringing about “another Green Revolution” in Hyderabad.

“I am passionate about sustainable and clean planet initiatives which I personally believe in. As for Hyderabad, I was born and brought up in this city and I have a desire to do something for the city. Fortunately, I got the opportunity to work in this post and I am doing my best,” she said.

Hari Chandana is also an advocate for recycling discarded products. Passionate about the environment, she has been spearheading several plastic recycling initiatives in Hyderabad. In a great example of excellent waste management, IAS Hari Chandana Dasari has been instrumental in building an initiative to turn plastic into footpath tiles.

“Recycling is not a new concept but it can be an innovation in the city. Earlier recycled materials were used only in footpath tiles and laying roads. Now, we have taken it up in boards and cardboards, the kind of things that are used in building houses.”

She has also implemented numerous pathbreaking schemes with excellent results on the ground. Some of the examples include Pet Parks, She Toilets, She Marts, Feed The Need, Give and Share, among others.

One such initiative led by Chandana Dasari is the ‘Give and Share' center, where numerous kiosks across Hyderabad have erected small 3-walled structures where people can donate anything and everything for underprivileged people to pick up.

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More Feathers in the Hat

When the local economy was teetering under the weight of the COVID-19, Hari Chandana engaged 4,000 women to make masks. In just a year’s time, the enterprise generated a profit of INR 50 Lakhs. Due to this initiative, Ms. Hari Chandana Dasari got the British Council’s Social Impact Award.

Her initiatives, such as building innovative parks, with park seats made up of old tyres and oil drums and sheds made out of recycled material, have made Hyderabad a leader in recycling initiatives.

Today, if one visits a public park in Hyderabad, they would find benches, seats, flower pots, and even dustbins made of recycled tyres or oil drums. They would also see colorful paver tiles - made of recycled plastic waste - lining the walkways for pedestrians!

“Compared to regular structures, the cost of recycled plastic construction materials might prove to be a little high, but we believe that this will be an offset to the cost that our environment is paying while answering to all our needs and requirements,” states Dasari.

Her Pride, Her Achievements

In her own words, she lists some of the most beneficial undertakings by her as a public servant.

“As the sub-collector of Vijayawada, we took up the first-ever Land-Pooling Scheme of India which happened to be a big success. It was a satisfying experience as it gave decent housing to the poor and development rights to the landowners who contributed to the pooling.

"Another initiative was implementing a tax on sand mining which helped to curtail illegal mining to a large extent. Further, my first project in GHMC, which was building the IDH Colony in Secunderabad (double bed-room housing for the poor), was the first such project in the state of Telangana."

Hari Chandana is the epitome of female empowerment. She has debunked all theories of women not capable of balancing their work and family. She stresses the importance of family and the support system they bring. She has indeed achieved her ambition of serving society with her wit and initiative. She works tirelessly for the betterment of people and continues to strive for numerous recycling initiatives.