THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
FEBRUARY 7, 2026
Nand Ghar, the flagship social impact
initiative of the Vedanta Group under the Anil Agarwal Foundation, has
announced the launch of a non-invasive, technology-enabled anaemia screening
programme across its network of Nand Ghars in India. The initiative places a
strong focus on early detection and prevention of anaemia among children aged 2
to 6 years, addressing a critical public health challenge at the grassroots
level. With 531 Nand Ghars operational in Odisha and 262 in Chhattisgarh, the
programme is poised to benefit thousands of children in some of the country’s
most underserved communities, significantly strengthening access to preventive
healthcare.
The programme will utilise bloodless,
prick-free screening technologies, ensuring a safe and child-friendly testing
experience. AI-enabled data tools will facilitate real-time monitoring, early
risk identification, and timely referrals to public health systems. Aligned
with national priorities such as Anaemia Mukt Bharat, the National Health
Policy 2017, and POSHAN 2.0, the initiative aims to reinforce community-level
nutrition and health systems while complementing ongoing government efforts.
Going beyond screening alone, the
programme adopts a comprehensive and community-centric approach to anaemia
prevention. It integrates nutrition counselling for caregivers, behaviour
change communication, awareness on WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)
practices, and structured linkages with frontline health services. This
integrated framework ensures that early detection leads to timely intervention,
follow-up care, and sustained health outcomes for children.
Speaking at the launch, Shashi Arora,
CEO, Nand Ghar, said, “Anaemia in early childhood often goes unnoticed, yet it
can have lasting consequences for a child’s physical growth and cognitive
development. Through this initiative, Nand Ghar is bringing anaemia screening
closer to communities while eliminating the fear and discomfort associated with
conventional testing methods. By combining advanced technology with strong
on-ground engagement, we aim to build a scalable, evidence-based model for
anaemia detection that supports both children and their caregivers.”
Commenting on the initiative, Vedanta
Aluminium CEO Rajiv Kumar said, “Through Nand Ghar, we remain deeply committed
to addressing critical health challenges affecting children, particularly in
regions such as Odisha and Chhattisgarh. At Vedanta Aluminium, we firmly
believe that industrial progress must go hand in hand with community wellbeing.
This initiative reflects our commitment to ensuring that every child has the
opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive.”
Anaemia continues to be one of India’s
most persistent public health concerns, disproportionately impacting young
children and women, with long-term implications for physical growth, cognitive
development, learning outcomes, and overall wellbeing. As per the National
Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), 67.1 per cent of children under five years of
age, 59.1 per cent of adolescent girls, and 57 per cent of women aged 15–49
years in India are anaemic, underscoring the urgent need for early and
preventive interventions.
Nand Ghar operates a nationwide
network of modernised Anganwadi centres, delivering integrated services in
nutrition, early childhood education, primary healthcare, and women’s
empowerment. The anaemia screening programme is envisioned as a
proof-of-concept for technology-driven, community-based prevention, implemented
in partnership with specialised agencies possessing strong on-ground expertise
in rural healthcare delivery. Designed for scalability, the model is expected
to be expanded across other states in collaboration with public health systems
and key stakeholders.
