Nand Ghar, the flagship initiative of the Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF), marked a remarkable year of growth and progress in 2024, making a transformative impact on rural women and children. The initiative, which focuses on holistic development, has upgraded over 6,600 anganwadi centers across 15 states, benefitting more than 2,60,000 children and 1,90,000 women. This milestone underscores its commitment to empowering communities and fostering sustainable change.

The year began with the Vedanta Culture Festival in February at Dilli Haat, a vibrant celebration of India’s artistic heritage. Organized by Vedanta and AAF, the festival brought together artisans from across the nation. Among the highlights was a showcase by Ms. Rajni Rathor and Mr. Shyam Singh Rathor from Jaipur’s Samota Mata Self-Help Group, who displayed their candle-making expertise. This initiative exemplified the project’s commitment to skill development and women’s entrepreneurship.

Nand Ghar also took center stage as the Social Impact Partner at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2024, highlighting its work in early childhood education, health, and nutrition. At the festival, the Nand Ghar Bagaan experience center featured interactive workshops in candle-making, block printing, puppetry, and cooking indigenous recipes like millet laddoos. These activities empowered local women while showcasing the crucial role of Self-Help Groups in driving community growth.

In May, Nand Ghar launched the ‘Khaana Khaaya Kya’ campaign with celebrated actor Manoj Bajpayee as its ambassador. This initiative aimed to prioritize child nutrition as a national agenda with the message, “No child should go to bed hungry.” The campaign mobilized over 600 volunteers and received significant public support through donations and partnerships, inspiring Indians to join the movement to nourish the nation’s future.

Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc Ltd. and Non-Executive Director of Vedanta, highlighted the year’s accomplishments:

“This year has been significant as we expanded our impact in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, transforming over 6,600 anganwadis into vibrant Nand Ghars across 15 states, touching thousands of lives. We remain committed to scaling these efforts, aiming to positively impact 7 crore children and 2 crore women, ensuring a brighter future for India’s next generation.”

The fight against malnutrition took center stage in September during Poshan Maah 2024, with a two-phase distribution of protein-rich, dairy-free millet shakes. Designed to combat malnutrition, over 50,000 shakes were distributed in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand, followed by an additional 52,500 shakes in Punjab, Karnataka, and Goa. These initiatives promote millet consumption, aligning with the goal of enhancing supplementary nutrition for children.

Rajasthan received special focus, with over 550 Nand Ghars developed across six districts, bringing the state’s footprint to 3,500 centers. With plans to upgrade 25,000 Nand Ghars in the next two years, the initiative aims to transform lives through nutrition, education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment in Rajasthan’s rural areas.

In Odisha, AAF plans to develop 700 Nand Ghars in Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, and Raygada districts. An MoU with the District Social Welfare Office of Jharsuguda will see 500 anganwadi centers upgraded into state-of-the-art Nand Ghars.

Expansion efforts are also underway in Maharashtra (Thane, Gadchiroli, and Wardha districts), Andhra Pradesh (Visakhapatnam and Nellore), Chhattisgarh (Sakti district), and Rajasthan (Udaipur, Rajsamand, and Barmer).

Nand Ghar’s transformative journey reflects Vedanta’s dedication to social responsibility, addressing the needs of India’s most vulnerable populations. As the initiative prepares to celebrate 50 years of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in 2025, it aims to set the gold standard for anganwadi centers, paving the way for a healthier and more prosperous future for millions of children and women across India.