Nand Ghar

Vedanta’s Nand Ghar Partners with JSI and Rocket Learning to Revolutionize Early Childhood Development in Dholpur, Rajasthan

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Dholpur, Rajasthan | June 1, 2025 — Vedanta’s flagship CSR initiative, Nand Ghar, has officially partnered with John Snow Inc. (JSI) R&T India Foundation and Rocket Learning under Project Balvardhan, marking a transformative leap in early childhood care, education, and nutrition delivery across Anganwadi centres in Dholpur, Rajasthan.

Nand Ghar

This strategic collaboration is part of Vedanta’s broader vision to modernize traditional Anganwadi centres into digitally enabled Nand Ghars—smart learning and healthcare hubs designed to serve children aged 3 to 6 years and their mothers. Equipped with LED TVs, BaLA (Building as Learning Aid) designs, child-friendly infrastructure, and fortified meal services, these centres also empower rural women through skill development initiatives that support sustainable livelihoods.

Project Balvardhan: Tackling Malnutrition and Strengthening ECCE

Led by the Anil Agarwal Foundation, Project Balvardhan directly targets malnutrition among children and aims to enhance the capabilities of Anganwadi workers. According to NFHS-5, 31.8% of children under five in Rajasthan suffer from stunting, while 16.8% are wasted. To address this, over 800 Anganwadi centres in Dholpur are being upgraded to Nand Ghar standards, positively impacting more than 80,000 children, 14,000 women, and reaching over 100,000 community members.

This initiative takes a 360-degree systems approach, focusing on:

  • Strengthening Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)

  • Addressing all forms of malnutrition

  • Ensuring quality supplementary nutrition under ICDS guidelines

  • Driving behavioural change for long-term health and nutrition outcomes

Strategic Roles of JSI and Rocket Learning

JSI will lead health and nutrition interventions, enhancing maternal and child health outcomes through:

  • Infrastructure upgrades

  • Digital growth monitoring (anthropometry)

  • Maternal nutrition awareness using evidence-based strategies

Rocket Learning will strengthen ECCE by:

  • Increasing child attendance and engagement

  • Training Anganwadi workers in modern pedagogy

  • Developing state-aligned interactive learning content

Together, with support from the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Rajasthan, this partnership aims to establish a holistic and scalable development model, driving long-term improvements in service delivery and child development.

Commitment from Stakeholders

Shashi Arora, CEO of Nand Ghar, reaffirmed their commitment:

“At Nand Ghar, we believe transformative change begins at the grassroots. Project Balvardhan is a key step in our mission to fight child malnutrition and empower Anganwadi workers. With strong support from the Rajasthan Government, JSI, and Rocket Learning, we are committed to creating a secure and healthy future for generations to come.”

The project is being implemented under the guidance and blessings of Smt. Diya Kumari, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Women & Child Development, Rajasthan.

About Nand Ghar and Project Impact

With over 8,300 Nand Ghars established across 15 Indian states, the initiative has already impacted 320,000 children and 240,000 women. With a goal of transforming 25,000 Anganwadis, Nand Ghar aims to empower 70 million children and 20 million women across India by integrating technology, policy, and community participation.

For more information, visit: www.nandghar.org
To learn more about Vedanta’s CSR work, visit: Vedanta Social Impact

Author Profile

Ganpat Singh Chouhan
Ganpat Singh Chouhan
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.