The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
JHARSUGUDA, JAN 23, 2024
Vedanta Aluminium, a prominent player in India’s aluminium production landscape, recently unveiled a remarkable initiative by inaugurating 130 Nand Ghars in Jharsuguda. This significant endeavor underscores Vedanta’s steadfast commitment to the well-being of women and children in the region. These state-of-the-art anganwadis, generously supported by Vedanta, now stand as pivotal hubs for women and child development, poised to make a transformative impact on the lives of over 7,000 children across 127 villages within the Jharsuguda district.
The inauguration ceremony, graced by distinguished guests including Dipali Das, MLA, Jharsuguda; Prabir Kumar Nayak, Project Director, District Rural Development Agency; Punyabati Helen Khes, District Social Welfare Officer, Jharsuguda; and Sunil Gupta, COO, Vedanta Aluminium, marked a significant stride in advancing community development.
Launched in 2015, Nand Ghar stands as Vedanta’s flagship community initiative, a collaborative effort with the Government of India’s Ministry of Women & Child Development. Going beyond the conventional scope of anganwadis, these hubs offer comprehensive services encompassing education, nutrition, healthcare, and skill development for women.
Appreciating Vedanta’s developmental efforts in Jharsuguda district, MLA Dipali Das said, “I would like to thank Vedanta and Anil Agarwal Foundation for modernising our anganwadis with all essential amenities for the holistic development of children and their mothers. I must commend Vedanta for their unabated efforts to drive deep developmental initiatives such as its state-of-the-art diagnostic centres in Jharsuguda and Laikera. Businesses like Vedanta that are driven with community welfare at their core truly bring about a positive change in the community.”
Sunil Gupta, COO, Vedanta Aluminium, emphasized the company’s unwavering commitment to grassroots development, stating, “Vedanta’s Nand Ghars represent our Chairman Anil Agarwal’s vision of accelerating women and child development across India at the very grassroots through focused development programs. Through substantial investments in modern infrastructure and holistic trainings, we are opening new avenues for rural women and ensuring that India’s children have a strong start in life. This is helping transform entire communities in rural areas and bringing them into the socio-economic mainstream.”
Nand Ghars are equipped with smart TVs for immersive education, water purifiers, clean toilets, and solar panels, embodying an integrated approach to child welfare and women’s empowerment, aligning seamlessly with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
DRDA Project Director Prabir Kumar Nayak highlighted the crucial role of Nand Ghars in laying a robust foundation for quality education during children’s pre-schooling years.
On this momentous occasion, Punyabati Helen Khes said, “I express my gratitude to Vedanta for infusing a sense of enjoyment into children’s learning, and earnestly urge Vedanta to extend its transformative efforts to all anganwadis, ensuring comprehensive growth for every child.”
Vedanta’s impactful social interventions, spanning education, healthcare, livelihood, skill development, and more, extend to nearly 80 villages in Jharsuguda and nearby areas, positively impacting the lives of over 3 lakh people annually.
Vedanta Aluminium, a key player in Vedanta Limited, proudly stands as India’s largest producer of aluminium, contributing to over half of the nation’s production. The company’s noteworthy ranking as the 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2022 for the aluminium industry underscores its commitment to sustainable development practices and the realization of a greener future.
