Vedanta Aluminium rolls out ‘Shishu Sanjeevani’ to boost child nutrition across Anganwadi centres

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, DECEMBER 6, 2025

In a significant step toward enhancing early childhood nutrition, Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has launched ‘Shishu Sanjeevani’, a fortified nutrition support programme across 25 Anganwadi centres in Kashipur and Bhawanipatna. The initiative is set to benefit over 600 children aged 3 to 6 years, marking a major stride in combating malnutrition and supporting holistic child development in Odisha’s tribal regions.

Developed by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Shishu Sanjeevani is enriched with essential micronutrients formulated in alignment with ICMR-NIN guidelines. The supplements — distributed in the form of tasty and nutritious laddoos — ensure a safe, consistent, and supervised nutritional intake for children, with Anganwadi workers overseeing distribution and consumption.

The new programme further strengthens Vedanta’s longstanding commitment to child well-being and complements its flagship Nand Ghar initiative, launched in 2015 under the Anil Agarwal Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Women & Child Development. Nand Ghars have been instrumental in modernising Anganwadi infrastructure across India. In Odisha alone, 531 Nand Ghars offer preschool education, nutritious meals and take-home rations, basic healthcare facilitated by Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, and skill development avenues for women — creating strong, self-sustaining community ecosystems.

Speaking on the launch, Rajiv Kumar, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “This initiative reflects our commitment to strengthening early childhood nutrition and supporting holistic community development. Through this effort, we align with the nationwide vision of Rashtriya Poshan Maah, ensuring children receive strong foundations in health and education for a brighter future.”

Echoing the positive impact on the ground, Jyotsana Barik, Child Development Program Officer, Kashipur, Rayagada, said, “This initiative has been very helpful for the children. The laddoos are nutritious and the children enjoy them, and we feel reassured that they are receiving proper nutrition at the Anganwadi.”

Vedanta Aluminium continues to enrich lives through diverse social impact programmes spanning education, healthcare, sustainable livelihoods, rural infrastructure, and grassroots sports and cultural development. Working in close partnership with local authorities and community stakeholders, the company ensures its interventions deliver measurable and meaningful socio-economic progress.

A business of Vedanta Limited, Vedanta Aluminium is the country’s largest aluminium producer, contributing 2.42 million tonnes in FY25 — over half of India’s total output. The company is a global sustainability leader, ranking 2nd in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 for the aluminium industry. With world-class smelters, an alumina refinery, and power assets, Vedanta Aluminium continues advancing aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener, more sustainable world.