MUMBAI: Nand Ghar, the flagship CSR project of Vedanta Limited, was presented with the prestigious ‘CSR Project of the Year Award’ for the year 2017 by India CSR Group, that supports practitioners and organizations in India to build responsible and sustainable business that contributes to sustainable development of society.
A one of its kind, Public Private Partnership with the Ministry of Women’s & Child Development (MoWCD), Government of India, Project Nand Ghar is one of the largest community projects in contemporary India, that will modernize the Anganwadi infrastructure in the country.
Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Bandu Athawale presented the award to Vikas Sharma, CEO, BALCO and Head, CSR Council of Vedanta Group and Ritu Jhingon, Head, Project Nand Ghar at India CSR Leadership Summit held on May 26, 2017 at Mumbai.
Vedanta Limited, in partnership with the Government of India’s Ministry of Women and Child Development, plans to modernize around 4,000 anganwadis as Nand Ghar, which will focus on children’s health and education and skilling women.
From the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s clarion call for ‘Swachh Bharat’ to ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative, the NandGhar encompasses all of these & more. It is aligned to the Government’s vision of nation-building for an inclusive, prosperous India.
The Nand Ghar is an innovative first of its kind socio infrastructure project on child care and skill development of women. Adopting a multi-pronged approach towards child development, each Nand Ghar aims at fulfilling the nutritional, educational and social needs of pre-school children.
Worth mentioning that Nand Ghars are a network of Modern Anganwadis with an integrated approach to child welfare and skill development for women. Constructed using state of the art Schnell technology, the structure is fire, damp resistant, and earthquake proof. Nand Ghars are equipped with BaLA designs (Building as learning aid) and TV for delivering interactive learning for holistic development of children. Each cluster of Nand Ghars is equipped with a mobile health van to ensure primary healthcare for children, pregnant and lactating mothers.
Project Nand Ghar is committed to Prime Minister’s national vision of eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare and empowering women with skill development. Anil Agarwal, Founder and Chairman of Vedanta, says, “India’s self-sufficiency in the natural resources sector has the capacity to create millions of employment opportunities. This will help eradicate poverty and empower our communities, ensuring our economic and social development.”
The Cairn Water Project (CSR project of Cairn India, a subsidiary of Vedanta Group) and Mid-Day Meal Project (CSR project of Vedanta Aluminium Division) were also appreciated during the India CSR Leadership Summit and CSR Community Initiative Awards that was attended by luminaries from across the CSR industry in India.
