VEDANTA KHUSHI : SPREADING MESSAGE ON CHILD CARE – THEIR NUTRITION, HEALTH AND EDUCATION

Vedanta Group has a strong focus towards care for the underprivileged children. Since 2008 the group has got associated with about 14,000 child care centres in India, reaching out to about 500,000 rural children – for their nutrition, health and education. Mr. Anil Agarwal, Chairman -Vedanta Group says, “No child in India should be deprived of nutrition, health and primary education. Let us make India a child malnourished free nation.”

India houses the largest number of children in the world but it is also home for largest malnourished children and largest child deaths.  Government, corporate and NGOs are doing their bit, but today common people need to come forward and help these underprivileged children.

With this focus Vedanta Group launched “KHUSHI”, a 100%  non-funding global child care campaign, that pro-actively engages with different sets of people through direct interventions and encourages them to take individual steps towards child care.

See few amazing pictures of "KHUSHI" Centres at Zawar in Rajasthan :- 

FIRST WORKSHOP OF HINDUSTAN ZINC "SAKHI" CAMPAIGN, A GRAND SUCCESS

350 rural and tribal Women got together to participate in the First Workshop of Hindustan Zinc's women empowerment campaign "SAKHI".  The workshop was held at Vidhya Bhawan Auditorium in Udaipur today. These women from Hindustan Zinc self-help-groups traveled from the nearby villages of our business locations at Rajsamand, Chittorgarh, Bhilwara, Ajmer and Udaipur districts. 

The interactive workshop was taken by Prof. Anuja Sisodia, Indian Institute of Crafts & Design. From Hindustan Zinc, Mr. C.S.R. Mehta- Head Corporate Relations, Mr. Pavan Kaushik - Head Corporate Communications, Ms. Sushma Sharma - Incharge CSR, HZL also spoke about various aspects of socio-economic empowerment in rural and tribal women.

The workshop saw discussion and interactive sessions on changing scenario in the garments and home-furnishing market, development of handicraft industry, quality check in production, colour combination as per changing seasons, production as per current fashion trends and pricing of the products. 

Here, we present the glimpse of the Workshop-

BUSINESS STANDARD : SETTING THE AGENDA - CEO WISH LIST

MAY 13^th, 2014

CEO WISH LIST 

India Inc’s prescription Anil Agarwal, Chairman - Vedanta Group

We look at a few things that might top its to- do list:

AUCTION NATURAL RESOURCES

This could generate more funds, improve the employment scene and help fight poverty 

CLEAR ECONOMIC STRUCTURE

Transparent and simplified economic structure needed; should inspire global confidence in India’s policies, commitment and government support.

INVEST MORE IN E & P

Exploration & production (E& P) and development of natural resources will eradicate poverty & unemployment 

SELL PSUs 

Government should divest 51% in 250 state and central PSUs, with a caveat that no one can own more than 10% in these companies 

INVEST IN CHILD CARE

Could generate more funds and employment to help fight poverty. 

MANUFACTURING & INVESTMENTS

A new government will soon be taking on the various challenges facing the Indian economy. 

Kick- starting the National Manufacturing Policy. 

It was rolled out in 2011 but failed to bring in required investment

Increasing the share of manufacturing in gross domestic product. 

The share has fallen to 15%, while the NMP aims to increase it to 25% by 2020.

Boosting foreign direct investment ( FDI) inflows, which has dwindled over the past few years. 

Reviewing the FDI policy for multi- brand retailing. It has failed to rope in big investors.

Should allow FDI in railways, real estate and e- commerce. These got stalled due to the impending elections.

EDUCATING THE NEEDY...

Vedanta Post Graduate Girls College at Ringus in Sikar, Rajasthan reaches 3000 rural and tribal girls 

India has the 2nd largest educational system in the world but less number of enrollments of girls from school to colleges, primarily in rural areas, is a matter of concern. 

Early marriage, distant schools, household chores, lack of transport, lack of safety, absence of female teachers and most importantly poverty are some of the several reasons not permitting Girl's education. The fact that 'educating a girl or a woman leads to educating the whole family' is still not known to the people.

Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company operating in Rajasthan in zinc-lead-silver business, has always been focused towards community service and to build a strong self-sustaining community in the rural and tribal areas. Vedanta Post Graduate Girls College at Ringus in Sikar, Rajasthan is one such project that is providing quality education to rural and tribal girls since its inception in the year 1995 in a fully integrated sustainable environment.

Vedanta Post Graduate Girls College has developed the environment for personal growth, knowledge, exposure, personality and career development of about 3000 girl students. While charging either a nominal fee or free education for BPL students selected by Hindustan Zinc, the college has become a craze for girl students. But, convincing the parents for sending to college has never been easy. The interest of girls in pursuing higher education and to be recognized in life has been a motivating factor for all.

Sugna Salvi lives in village Peepawas, Rajsamand with her parents and 2 younger brothers. Her father, Bhagwanlal Salvi is a small painter who somehow manages to earn about Rs 4000 per month. Sugna good in her studies, completed her 12th in PCB with 1st division in year 2011, wanted to join college to pursue higher studies. But insufficiently low income of her father and poor economic status left her in a thinking mode.

Then, Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc team came to know about Sugna. The team tried convincing her family but her parents were not willing to send their daughter outside the village. But then Hindustan Zinc team informed them about the Vedanta College and assured them of the protective environment. The team also convinced them about the need of higher education for better future and career development of their daughter. The parents finally agreed. 

At present, Sugna has completed her 2nd year of graduation in B.Sc with 1st division and now is in final year. Like Sugna, there are many girls who are pursuing their higher education.

Lalita Khati from Khatikhera village of Hurda Tehsil at Bhilwara District is daughter of small farmer who is the only earning member of the family of seven members. She was aware that with a very limited source of income, it was difficult for her father to meet both ends with a lot of responsibilities ahead. But she was also aware that Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc has sponsored girls from her village earlier. 64% marks scorer, she was approached by HZL team and Lalita is now pursuing her education in Arts stream. She even won third prize for her presentation in Public administration subject and now Lalita is willing to complete her Master’s degree further.

With Reshma Meena from Gram Panchyat Singhatwara, Zawar, things were little different. Even she planned to drop-out from her studies seeing low family income and not finding any financial help from relative and friends. Then, in year 2011-12 she was selected for the higher studies in B.A. Course at Vedanta Post Graduate Girls College, Ringus. But unfortunately, her mother refused to send her at a distant place away from the village. Then HZL CSR team did regular dialogues with her mother. Finally she got convinced on one condition i.e., she would herself visit to the college for assurance. She then visited the college, liked it and got agreed; now Reshma is in final year - B.A.

For the prosperity and development of our country, girls' education is must. It is also one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty and build a strong society.

14TH CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF DHARMSINH DESAI UNIVERSITY, NADIAD, GUJARAT

9th May, 2014 

Shri Anil Agarwal was invited as Chief Guest at the 14th Convocation Ceremony of the Dharmsinh Desai University, Nadiad, Gujarat on 9th May 2014. The convocation ceremony was attended by over 2000 students, faculties and parents of the students. 

The program saw screening of recently completed Chairman's Biopic. Chairman addressed the mammoth gathering and presented PhD Degrees to the passing out students. Students were also keen to ask questions on Chairman's vision and inspiration, to which Chairman keenly replied.