NEW DELHI (India CSR): Marking National Girl Child Day and International Education Day, Vedanta today reaffirmed its long-term commitment to advancing girls’ education, health and empowerment, having positively impacted over five lakh girls across its operational regions in India so far in FY26.
Guided by a holistic, lifecycle-based approach aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals including SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), Vedanta supports girls through three key stages of their journey: building strong foundations in early childhood and schooling; enabling healthy, confident adolescence through education, health and sports; and unlocking opportunities for higher education, skills and livelihoods. These interventions are rooted in a simple belief that when girls are educated, supported and given opportunities, families and communities progress together.
Vedanta’s engagement begins in early childhood through its flagship Nand Ghar programme, which has reached over 2 lakh girls through more than 11,000 modernised Anganwadi centres across 17 states. By integrating early childhood education with nutrition, healthcare access and community engagement, Nand Ghars lay a strong foundation for learning, health and confidence while also empowering mothers and caregivers at the grassroots.
As girls transition into formal schooling, Vedanta focuses on improving learning outcomes in government schools across its operational regions. At Vedanta Aluminium in Jharsuguda, Odisha, Project Vidyagraha adopts a digital-first approach to deliver structured lessons and academic support, enabling students to build confidence and improve performance. Students like Kashish Kalse, a Class 10 student who showed significant improvement in her board examinations, reflect the programme’s impact on academic continuity. Complementing this, Project VIDYA strengthens learning environments through improved student–teacher ratios and enhanced teacher capacity. Similar interventions—Project Shiksha by ESL Steel Limited in Jharkhand, Shiksha Sambal by Hindustan Zinc Limited in Rajasthan, and Project Vriddhi at Vedanta Sesa Goa—support foundational and secondary education through digital access, STEM exposure and scholarships, ensuring infrastructure and financial constraints do not limit girls’ educational aspirations. Notably, girls constitute 50 percent of Utkarsh Scholarship beneficiaries by Sesa Goa.
Recognising that education cannot thrive without health and dignity, Vedanta implements targeted interventions for adolescent girls across its locations. At Vedanta Aluminium in Lanjigarh, Odisha, focused programmes on Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health and Menstrual Health and Hygiene have reached girls through awareness sessions, anaemia screening, nutritional support, menstrual hygiene education and pad-making training, building confidence and self-reliance. Further in Odisha, FACOR’s Project Laadli is reshaping conversations around menstrual health by creating safe spaces through Kishori Clubs, distributing hygiene kits and engaging adolescent boys to challenge stigma. The initiative has reached community members, using dialogue, art and storytelling to build supportive ecosystems. The impact is reflected in stories like that of 13-year-old Sneha from Odisha, who credits FACOR’s Project Laadli and Kishori Clubs with helping her overcome menstrual stigma, access hygiene support and speak openly about her health with confidence.
As girls progress towards higher education and career aspirations, Vedanta supports structured academic and competitive preparedness. Programmes such as Unchi Udaan at Hindustan Zinc in Rajasthan and BALCO Connect in Chhattisgarh provide coaching for IITs, government engineering colleges and state-level examinations, enabling first-generation learners to compete nationally and pursue ambitious career pathways.
Beyond academics, Vedanta recognises the role of sports and skills in building confidence, discipline and leadership. From India’s first residential girls’ football academy at Hindustan Zinc to the Sesa Football Academy in Goa, where the senior women’s team has qualified for the Indian Women’s League 2026, these initiatives are enabling girls to challenge traditional norms, build resilience and excel on competitive platforms. At the Sesa Football Academy, players such as Aaroshi Govekar, who earned her maiden India team call-up in 2025, exemplify how structured training and mentorship are enabling girls from grassroots communities to compete on national platforms.
To mark National Girl Child Day and International Education Day, schools across Vedanta’s locations organised activities celebrating women achievers and inspiring students to reflect on leadership, aspiration and the power of education. These efforts reaffirm Vedanta’s commitment to empowering girls across their lifecycle and enabling them to realise their full potential.
(India CSR)
