VEDANTA HINDUSTAN ZINC OPENS 2 NAND GHARS IN AJMER, RAJASTHAN

Delivering long-term benefits to communities by strengthening the foundation of children below the age of seven years - their nutrition, health and education… 

The report says, there are 7.5 crore underprivileged children living in remote rural areas, below the age of seven years, who are in need of proper nutrition, health care and education. Our primary focus, therefore, is to start at the grass root level with the holistic development of children and women, who form the future of our nation.

This is where, Vedanta came up with the concept of “Nand Ghar" designed in partnership with the ministry of women and child development. It is an extension to the existing Anganwadi initiative for providing a better environment to the children of India by addressing issues relating to pre-primary education, health care, nutrition and economic empowerment for women in rural India.

Mr. Anil Agarwal – Chairman, Vedanta Group believes “In order to secure the future of India, we have to safeguard the present. To strengthen the foundation of children, it is important to address issues relating to pre-primary education, health care, nutrition for children and economic empowerment for women in rural India”.

Taking his vision forward, Vedanta has joined hands with the Government to revamp 4000 anganwadi centres across India under the Project ‘Nand Ghar’. Today, more than 100 “Nand Ghars” across three states has resulted in marked improvement in attendance, learning abilities and school readiness, by deploying e-learning modules in education and soft skills in collaboration with world-class partners and they are now equipped with TVs, solar panels and toilets. 

On 31^st July, 2017, 2 “Nand Ghars” - Khanpura & Parbatpura have also been inaugurated in Ajmer District by the Chief Guest - Ms. Anita Bhadel – Hon’ble Minister of Women and Child Development, Government of Rajasthan and with this 10 Nand Ghars have been constructed in Ajmer district with 25 more Nand Ghars are in pipeline.

During the inaugural ceremony, Ms. Bhadel said “Government and Vedanta Hindustan Zinc have done their bit by providing well equipped facilities for primary education, nutrition services along with related healthcare services for both mother and child including skill training for women, it’s now the communities have to come forward and support it by actively participating in it.” She also mentioned that if a mother anchors the responsibility of her child’s education, the benefit will percolate to her next 7 generations.

To make the project more cohesive, “Nand Ghar” act as a focal area for immunisation, gender sensitisation and maternal care. It also aims to enhance the learning environment through an e-learning module and skill enhancement program for women where they will undergo entrepreneurship training, including skill enhancement, to start their own micro enterprise with credit linkages, thereby increasing their contribution towards the Indian economy.

The Nand Ghars are in line with Prime Minister of India’s vision of social development and will prove to be a stepping stone for building the future human capital as productive, passionate and persistent towards the growth.

Also present on the occasion were Mrs. Neelima Khetan – Head CSR, HZL, Mr. Sampat Sankhla – Dy. Mayor, Ajmer,  Mrs. Anupama Tailor – Dy. Director, Women & Child Development, Mr. Nitesh Yadav - ICDS, Mr. Raes Ahemad - Counsellor along with Anganwadi workers and Hindustan Zinc’s CSR representatives.

BUSINESS STANDARD: ADDING VALUE TO INDIA'S DEMOGRAPHIC WEALTH

Anil Agarwal  I  10th June, 2017

It is said that age is just a number, and that this number will be an advantage for India in years to come as it inches closer to becoming the youngest country in the world, and perhaps the most populous.
With women accounting for just 23 per cent of the workforce in India today as compared to China's 46 per cent, we need to look beyond the current paradigm of job seekers and job creators. Demography and economy must go hand in hand, and considering how diverse India is, our economy needs its people to fuel growth. I am confident that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already sensed this as it is aligned with his vision for launching “Skill India".
Our ultimate objective is to eradicate poverty and create employment for youth and this requires some visionary thinking. The government is already shifting focus to the growth of manufacturing industry. If we compare our economy to that of our neighbours, China for instance, as of 2015, the manufacturing industrial sectors contributed 40 per cent of China's GDP, while in India this contribution is just 25 per cent.
India is blessed with a very rich geology, and I strongly believe that India's journey to self-sufficiency in the natural resources sector, including oil and gas, has the capacity to create millions of job opportunities, which will overcome some of the greatest impediments to growth on the socio-economic and political front. We have a large amount of headroom, as mining accounts for only 2.5 per cent of India's gross domestic product, whereas in other mineral-rich countries such as Australia, it is around 10 per cent.
This process will also encourage the development of thousands of SMEs, which will lead to the building of a modern economy that will empower people and improve their lives, ultimately fuelling growth and encouraging young entrepreneurs. Efforts must also be made to ensure empowerment of women, so that they are placed in the forefront to contribute more actively towards the country's GDP.
Across the globe, educating and empowering women has proven time and again to be the catalyst for rapid socio-economic and political growth. Women form a very significant part our society and demonstrate great skill, intelligence, hard work and innovation. If we harness the potential of these attributes through a proper skill development programme, India's growth will be very equitable and inclusive.
In order to secure the future of India, we have to safeguard the present. I pledge to give 75 per cent of my wealth for the social good. To strengthen the foundation of children below the age of seven years  their nutrition, health and education  I am prepared to spearhead this responsibility in association with the government in a very structured manner. This includes nurturing 7.5 crore underprivileged children living in remote rural areas, below the age of seven years, who are in need of proper nutrition, health care and education. Our primary focus, therefore, is to start at the grass root level with the holistic development of children and women, who form the future of our nation.
It is with these objectives that we have reimagined the concept of Anganwadis, as project “Nand Ghar" (symbolising the child avatar of Lord Krishna), or “home for young ones" as centres of learning for both women and children. The project, which addresses issues relating to pre-primary education, health care, nutrition for children and economic empowerment for women in rural India, has been designed in partnership with the ministry of women and child development. These Nand Ghars have clean toilets, safe drinking water and electricity through solar panels and various education and recreation facilities.
Today, our pilot of 100 Nand Ghars across three states has shown a marked improvement in attendance, learning abilities and school readiness, by deploying e-learning modules in education and soft skills in collaboration with world-class partners. To make the model integrated, we are ensuring that the women undergo entrepreneurship training, including skill enhancement, to start their own micro enterprise with credit linkages, thereby increasing their contribution towards the Indian economy.
Nand Ghars will prove to be a stepping stone for future human capital that would be value-based, productive, passionate, and full of energy and ideas. With this upbringing, these children will contribute positively towards society and live a dignified life in future.
I firmly believe that strong social initiatives will be a game changer in terms of delivering long-term benefits to communities, and will place India at the top in the global economic arena. It is always better to bring change in the system if it simplifies procedures and brings the desired results. By incorporating facilities to empower women and children we aim to add value to India's unmatched demographic wealth.