THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
MAY 9, 2026
In a significant
boost to rural transformation and women-child welfare in Odisha, Vedanta
Limited has expanded its flagship social impact initiative, NandGhar, with the
inauguration of a new modernised centre at Gunpur village under Saisurni Gram Panchayat
in Kalahandi district.
Developed under the
aegis of the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the new NandGhar was inaugurated by local
Sarpanch Sujata Majhi and marks another milestone in Vedanta’s commitment
towards strengthening early childhood care, nutrition, healthcare, and women
empowerment in remote tribal regions of the state.
The newly launched
centre is designed to enhance the delivery of Integrated Child Development
Services (ICDS) through upgraded infrastructure and technology-enabled learning
support. Equipped with child-friendly facilities, the centre features Building
as Learning Aid (BaLA) walls, LED-enabled smart learning tools, hygienic
kitchens and sanitation systems, safe drinking water facilities, solar power
infrastructure, and age-appropriate furniture.
Vedanta’s NandGhar
initiative has emerged as a transformative rural development model across
India, creating modern Anganwadi ecosystems that support holistic growth for
women and children. The Gunpur centre is expected to play a crucial role in
improving nutrition access, immunisation, health check-ups, and behavioural
awareness programmes in the underserved tribal belt of Kalahandi.
The initiative also
focuses on economic empowerment of rural women by linking them with self-help
groups, skill development programmes, and livelihood opportunities aimed at
fostering financial independence.
The new facility has
been launched under a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the District
Social Welfare Offices of Rayagada and Kalahandi to modernise 100 Anganwadi
centres into NandGhars across both districts.
Speaking during the
inauguration, Sarpanch Sujata Majhi appreciated the initiative and said the
NandGhar would significantly support the development and education of children
in the village while improving community infrastructure.
Aligned with national
missions such as Poshan 2.0, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and Digital India, the initiative
complements government efforts to combat malnutrition, strengthen early
childhood education, and improve healthcare outreach in rural areas.
NandGhar today represents one of India’s largest networks of modernised Anganwadi centres, delivering integrated services in nutrition, education, healthcare, and women empowerment. With more than 13,000 centres spread across 17 states, the initiative aims to positively impact millions of children and women across the country.
The newly inaugurated centre in Kalahandi further reinforces Vedanta’s vision of creating sustainable and inclusive community development models in Odisha’s tribal heartland.
