PUNYA – Solution Challenge 2024

Overview

PUNYA - Give today, so they can thrive tomorrow! This project was developed for the Google Solution Challenge 2024 by our team—Ayush Raj, Pritam Burnwal, Hritik Kumar Bhadani, and me—to address global hunger and food wastage. With over 1.2 billion people suffering from hunger worldwide and massive food waste in India (exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic), PUNYA connects food donors, NGOs, and delivery agents to redistribute surplus food efficiently. Featuring 'Hungry Spots 🍽️,' a unique tool to mark local areas in need, the platform ensures targeted distribution. Built as a full prototype in Figma, PUNYA aligns with the UN’s Zero Hunger goal by 2030, showcasing our team’s commitment to social impact through innovative design and collaboration.

Problem Statement

Globally, over 1.2 billion people face hunger, while in India, vast amounts of food are wasted daily—especially in restaurants due to unpredictable business and lockdowns post-COVID-19. Meanwhile, NGOs and communities struggle with food shortages. PUNYA bridges this gap by connecting surplus food sources with those in need.

Features

• User Registration: Streamlined onboarding for donors, NGOs, and delivery agents with role-specific workflows.
• Food Availability Posting: Donors categorize and list surplus food for NGOs to claim.
• Hungry Spots: Mark specific local areas needing food for targeted distribution.
• Real-Time Tracking: Monitor donations and deliveries as they happen.
• Punya Coins: Reward delivery agents with coins to encourage participation.

Technologies Used

• Figma: Full prototype design for UI/UX, showcasing the platform’s flow and features.
• Tech Stack for Implementation:
  • Next.js: For a scalable, SEO-optimized frontend.
  • Node.js: Backend for API and real-time logic.
  • MongoDB: Database for user and food data.
  • Google Maps API: For Hungry Spots geolocation.
  • WebSockets: For real-time tracking.

Design Screens

My Contributions

• Team Collaboration: Worked closely with Ayush Raj, Pritam Burnwal, and Hritik Kumar Bhadani to ideate and refine the solution.
• Prototype Development: Designed the full UI/UX in Figma, including Hungry Spots and tracking features.
• Feature Design: Conceptualized real-time tracking and Punya Coins to enhance usability and engagement.

Challenges Faced

Overcame challenges like designing an intuitive interface for three distinct user types (donors, NGOs, agents) in Figma, ensuring Hungry Spots was both practical and visually clear, and aligning our prototype with the Zero Hunger goal under tight competition deadlines. Coordinating as a team to balance creativity and feasibility was key.

What I Learned

This project taught me collaborative design with Figma, the importance of user-centered solutions for social impact, and how to address real-world problems like hunger through technology. I gained insights into team dynamics and prototyping for global challenges.

Future Improvements

Plans include developing a functional app with Next.js and Node.js, integrating Google Maps for Hungry Spots, adding a blockchain layer for donation transparency, and implementing AI to predict food surplus areas.

Impact

PUNYA’s prototype offers a scalable model to reduce food wastage and combat hunger, connecting donors, NGOs, and agents efficiently. By targeting local 'Hungry Spots,' it fosters community-level change, contributing to the UN’s Zero Hunger goal by 2030.

And more, including collaborative design, social innovation, and prototype-driven development.