Headline: Vedanta’s Nand Ghar Achieves Milestone of 10,000 Centres Across 16 States

New Delhi (Daily Kiran): On the occasion of Children’s Day, the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the social impact arm of the Vedanta Group, announced a major milestone in India’s development journey. Vedanta’s flagship social initiative, Nand Ghar, has now established more than 10,000 centres across 16 states, positively impacting over 4 lakh children and 3 lakh women every day.

In Rajasthan alone, more than 6,500 Nand Ghars have been set up across 27 districts, with Hindustan Zinc playing a key role in strengthening these modern anganwadis. The initiative has benefited nearly 3.7 lakh women and children through improved early childhood development, maternal health and rural women’s empowerment.

Nand Ghar aims to modernise India’s anganwadi network by providing better nutrition, early learning, healthcare and skill development for women and children. The project aligns with the government’s Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), which completes 50 years this year, by transforming traditional anganwadis into technology-enabled, efficient centres.

Each Nand Ghar is designed as a model of change—equipped with smart classrooms, digital learning tools, reliable electricity, clean drinking water, hygienic toilets and child-friendly furniture. These centres offer safe and inclusive spaces for children aged 3 to 6, while also serving local communities through nutrition programmes, health check-ups, vaccination drives and women’s skill development.

Reflecting on the achievement, Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal said, “When we started Nand Ghar, our dream was simple — every child should receive good nutrition and early education, and every woman should stand strong on her own. Today, as we reach 10,000 Nand Ghars in 16 states, this dream feels real. Each Nand Ghar represents empowerment, education and hope. This achievement has been possible only with the strong support of the Government of India, state governments and local communities. We remain committed to transforming the lives of 8 crore children and 2 crore women.”

From the deserts of Rajasthan to the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, Nand Ghar has upgraded traditional anganwadis into centres of local development. Children receive hot meals and nutrition supplements, with more than 80 lakh supplements distributed so far. Digital modules in regional languages are strengthening preschool learning. Health camps and awareness drives have reached over 90 lakh people, improving maternal and child health. Skill training has enabled thousands of women to earn up to ₹10,000 per month, helping them achieve economic independence and social dignity.

Significant infrastructure upgrades have ensured that every Nand Ghar is digitally enabled and powered through sustainable energy. These improvements have made Nand Ghar a scalable model for rural development, aligning closely with government efforts.

Sunita Devi, a Nand Ghar didi from Rajasthan, said, “Earlier, our anganwadi was just a small room. Today, the Nand Ghar is the pride of our village. Children come happily and mothers trust us more than ever. Smart TVs, clean facilities and nutritious meals have turned it into a centre of learning and joy.”

Rekha from Odisha added, “Nand Ghar changed how our village looks at women. I learned new skills, started earning and now I train others. Women’s progress is community progress — that is what Nand Ghar has given us.”

This year’s Children’s Day celebrations were special, as communities across several states marked the achievement of 10,000 Nand Ghars with art, storytelling and cultural activities. Strengthening its presence in Rajasthan, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and others, Nand Ghar continues to expand rapidly across rural India. Over the next two years, the goal is to establish 25,000 Nand Ghars in Rajasthan alone, reaching nearly 20 lakh people and setting a new benchmark for public–private collaboration.