Buruga Harika- Cluster Coordinator

Burugu Harika is a sustainability and rural development professional currently serving as a Cluster Coordinator at the Bharti Institute of Public Policy (ISB). In this role, she leads the implementation of Community Forest Rights (CFR) and forest-based livelihood initiatives across tribal regions. She collaborates closely with district administration, ITDA, Forest Department officials, and local institutions to strengthen community-led governance and promote sustainable resource management. She has facilitated the formation of over 35 Community Forest Rights Management Committees (CFRMCs) and supported the establishment of multiple producer companies to improve market access for forest-based products such as bamboo.

Harika holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Sustainability Management from the Indian Institute of Forest Management and a B.Sc. (Hons) in Agriculture from Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University. Her professional experience spans forest governance, regenerative agriculture, rural livelihoods, institutional convergence, and grassroots mobilization. She has also managed large-scale field operations in the rural finance sector and conducted research on carbon emissions and cost optimization in sustainable agricultural systems.

Passionate about community-led natural resource management and inclusive development, she works at the intersection of policy, institutions, and grassroots implementation to strengthen sustainable livelihood systems in tribal landscapes.