1000 Anganwadis in Rajasthan to be converted into Model Anganwadi Centres
IndiaCSR News Network
UDAIPUR: Government of Rajasthan, Hindustan Zinc (a Vedanta Group company) and Vedanta Foundation today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) to adopt 3056 Anganwadi centres in five districts of Rajasthan – Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Bhilwara, Rajsamand and Ajmer for 5 years.
This adoption will benefit more than 90,000 underprivileged children in the age group of 3-6 years and will contribute significantly towards their overall development that would include nutrition, education and primary health.
As part of further strengthening of these Anganwadi Centres, Hindustan Zinc and Vedanta Foundation would also convert 1000 Anganwadi Centres into model Anganwadis. This project would also be spread across a period of 5 years, and in each year 200 Anganwadis would be converted into model Anganwadis.
In these selected Model Anganwadi Centres, Hindustan Zinc and Vedanta Foundation will carry out repair & renovation of the building, construction of child friendly toilets, story painting on inside wall, provide water filters, daris and swings. Uniform will also be provided to all the enrolled children.
All the Anganwadi Centres will get clean drinking water, new utensils and smokeless chulha for the kitchen. Supplementing morning breakfast, poha and groundnut will be provided.
Pavan Kaushik, Head of Corporate Communication, Hindustan Zinc, informed that “our focus is on overall growth and development of these rural children. Colorful books & charts, toys and other pre-school educational material will be provided by the company to encourage interactive play-way method.
Hindustan Zinc will also provide special training on pre-school education to the Anganwadi workers of the all these Centers and to our own field coordinators for better coordination, understanding and learning.”
As per the new WHO guideline, adopted at all selected Anganwadi centers, digital weighing scale and hygiene up-keep items like hair oil, talcum powder, hand wash shop, phenyl and detergent will be provided. Special emphasis will be given to health & hygiene and weight measurement of these children.
Vedanta Group has a strong focus towards care for the underprivileged children. Mr. Anil Agarwal, Chairman – Vedanta Group has set his vision to make India a child malnourished free nation.
Since 2008 the Group has been associated and supported about 14,000 child care centers in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Chattisgarh, and Odisha reaching about 500,000 rural children – for their nutrition, health and education. Incidentally the first MoU on adoption of Anganwadi Centres by Vedanta Group company Hindustan Zinc was also signed about 7 years back in the presence of Rajasthan Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje and Chairman of Vedanta Group, Anil Agarwal.
Vedanta had launched campaign “Khushi” that sensitizes common people towards care for the underprivileged children and take-up individual steps for such cause. The campaign is first of its kind ‘Non-Funding’ campaign which has more than 45,000 members across the globe on facebook. “Khushi” itself has 75 child-care Centres across India benefiting directly to about 2500 underprivileged children. Hindustan Zinc and Vedanta Foundation will be executing this project under “Khushi” campaign.
The MoU was signed today by Tribhuvan Pati, Additional Director (ICDS) from Government of Rajasthan and by CSR Mehta, Head-Corporate Relations, Hindustan Zinc. Also present on the occasion were Smt. Anita Bhadel (Independent Charge), Women and Child Development and Dr. Gurjot Kour, Additional Chief Secretary(WCD), GoR, Jaipur.
