Gadchiroli: In a transformative step towards rural development and community empowerment, Vedanta’s Anil Agarwal Foundation, through its flagship initiative Vedanta Nand Ghar, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zilla Parishad, Gadchiroli, to upgrade 100 Anganwadi centres into modern, technology-enabled Nand Ghars.
This initiative, supported by the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Maharashtra, is set to benefit over 3,900 children and 1,700+ women and adolescent girls.
The announcement was made in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, reaffirming the state’s focus on public-private partnerships for last-mile impact in underserved regions.
This partnership aims to provide holistic early childhood development, combining education, nutrition, primary healthcare, and women’s skill development.
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The upgraded Vedanta Nand Ghar centres will align with key national initiatives like Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Poshan 2.0, while also furthering the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Quality Education, Zero Hunger, and Gender Equality.
“The transformation of 100 Anganwadis in Gadchiroli into Vedanta Nand Ghars exemplifies the power of strategic public-private collaboration,” said CM Devendra Fadnavis. “It reflects our commitment to empowering every child and woman across Maharashtra, especially in remote and tribal belts.”
Key Features of the Vedanta Nand Ghar Centres:
- BaLA-designed infrastructure (Building as Learning Aid)
- LED TVs and tablets for digital learning
- Child-friendly furniture, sanitation, and clean drinking water
Two-phase daily operations:
- Morning: Early childhood care and education
- Afternoon: Skilling, health awareness, and community development programs for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls
The afternoon programming will include training and awareness sessions for over 600 pregnant/ lactating mothers and 1,100 adolescent girls, helping them become self-reliant and financially empowered.
Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta Ltd., and Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Ltd., stated: “This initiative is a continuation of our vision to transform rural India. Every child deserves education and every woman deserves empowerment. Nand Ghar in Gadchiroli is a step toward achieving both, while supporting the nation’s larger developmental goals.”
To ensure long-term sustainability, Anganwadi workers will be trained to deliver e-learning content, while ASHAs and ANMs will be equipped to improve healthcare delivery and community well-being.
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The Zilla Parishad Gadchiroli will facilitate implementation by identifying centres, deploying nodal officers, and ensuring operational excellence. A joint working group will oversee execution and monitoring.
With 8,300+ centres already operational across 15 states, the Vedanta Nand Ghar network continues to expand. Its recent MoU with the Government of Rajasthan to build 25,000 centres reinforces its national vision. The launch in Gadchiroli marks another milestone in building a healthier, educated, and self-reliant India.
