“Growing up, I always envied our cattle—they were fed daily while I struggled for even one meal a day. Our family faced relentless poverty, and the 1994 floods devastated us, forcing us to uproot our lives and seek a fresh start in Nizamabad.

At just 5 years old, I began working wherever I could—hotels, construction sites, and even as a lorry cleaner. But amidst the struggle, hope found me through Shri. Hemalata Lavanam, a beacon of change and the founder of Samskar Ashram Vidyalayam. Spotted by a volunteer while toiling away at a construction site, I was welcomed into the ashram. With their support, I pursued education and took up odd jobs to stabilize my family’s finances.

Simultaneously, while working as a caterer, I found myself drawn to a glaring issue. In the catering business, I witnessed the shocking amount of food wasted daily. Those memories of hunger and homelessness were still fresh in my mind, pushing me to start ‘Don’t Waste Food’ in 2012. Together with friends, we began collecting surplus food from the city and distributing it to the underprivileged, a small step that has now grown into a big movement. Today, with the help of volunteers and donors, we provide meals for 1500-2000 people every day, collectively across India.

Reflecting on our journey, I know we’re making a difference—working to ensure that fewer children go to bed hungry.

As we mark World Food Day, let’s remember that no one should suffer from hunger, and every effort counts in this fight to end it. It’s a day to unite, educate, and advocate for a world where every stomach is filled with nourishment, and every heart with hope.”

– Malleshwar Rao Nemani, Founder of Don’t Waste Food Org.
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