THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 1, 2026

The health and well-being of a nation begin with the health of its mothers and children. Breastfeeding, backed by proper maternal nutrition, timely healthcare and informed caregiving, plays a vital role in giving every child the best possible start in life. Reinforcing this commitment on the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1 to 7), Vedanta Group, one of the world's leading conglomerates spanning metals, oil and gas, critical minerals, power and technology, highlighted the impact of its flagship social impact initiative, Nand Ghar, in strengthening maternal and child health across rural India. By transforming anganwadis into modern centres that integrate healthcare, nutrition, early childhood education and women's empowerment, Nand Ghar is helping create healthier families and stronger communities while equipping mothers with the knowledge and support they need to nurture the next generation.

Through a network of more than 15,000 centres across 18 states, Nand Ghar currently supports over 4 lakh women and more than 5 lakh children. Working closely with government health systems, the initiative is strengthening grassroots healthcare while improving maternal and child nutrition and health outcomes across rural India.

Breastfeeding is widely recognised as one of the most effective interventions for improving child survival, nutrition and cognitive development. However, ensuring positive health outcomes also requires equipping mothers with the right guidance, healthcare and community support. As India observes World Breastfeeding Week under the theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” recent findings from the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) underscore the need to reinforce efforts to protect, promote and support optimal breastfeeding practices. Strengthening the continuum of care through early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, complementary feeding, adherence to Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) guidelines, and wider adoption of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) for low-birth-weight and preterm infants can significantly improve child survival, nutrition and development.

Aligned with this vision, Nand Ghar works in convergence with the Government’s Saksham Anganwadi 2.0 and the National Health Mission to build stronger community-based support systems for mothers and young children. Under its Maternal and Child Care pillar, the initiative facilitates regular antenatal and postnatal care, growth monitoring, nutrition counselling, immunisation and health screening camps in partnership with local health departments. It also promotes early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding practices and maternal nutrition through counselling sessions, Poshan Maah (Nutrition Month) campaigns, community outreach and home-based engagement. Fortified nutritional supplements are provided where required, while women with high-risk pregnancies and children requiring specialised care are linked to appropriate referral services, ensuring continuity of care during the most critical stages of life.

Speaking on the occasion, Shashi Arora, CEO, Nand Ghar, said, "The first 1,000 days of a child's life are among the most critical in shaping long-term health, nutrition and development. Through Nand Ghar, we are strengthening community-led systems that empower women with informed choices, improve maternal and child health outcomes, and enable every child to receive the healthiest possible start in life. As we mark World Breastfeeding Week, we reaffirm our commitment to building healthier families and stronger communities through sustainable, grassroots interventions."

At the heart of Nand Ghar’s impact are dedicated community champions like Anju Dubey, a Nand Ghar didi whose work exemplifies how informed local leadership can transform lives. For more than a decade, Anju has served as a trusted guide for mothers in Khojwa, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, counselling pregnant and lactating women on maternal nutrition, early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, immunisation and child growth. She has transformed her Nand Ghar into a safe and trusted space where mothers seek guidance with confidence, children receive better care, and healthier beginnings become a reality. Her journey reflects Nand Ghar’s larger vision of empowering every mother with the knowledge and support needed to nurture healthier generations.

Beyond improving maternal and child health outcomes, Nand Ghar is strengthening the ecosystem of care surrounding mothers and young children by integrating healthcare, nutrition, early childhood education and community development under one roof. Through sustained collaboration with frontline health workers, local communities and government programmes, the initiative is fostering an enabling environment where informed caregiving becomes the norm rather than the exception.

As India continues to prioritise maternal and child health as a national development agenda, Vedanta remains committed to expanding community-led interventions that improve nutrition, strengthen access to healthcare and empower mothers with the resources they need to raise healthier children.