New Delhi, Nov 22, 2024: The Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF), the social impact arm of Vedanta Limited, has announced its impactful social initiatives for FY2023-24, contributing Rs 437 crore to transform the lives of over 1.73 crore individuals across India. The Foundation's annual Social Impact Compendium, titled "Nurturing, Transforming, Leading: India’s Growth Story", showcases its 153 high-impact social projects, which spanned over 1,200 villages and focused on key areas including education, healthcare, women and child development, skilling and livelihood, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.
Among the year's highlights is the flagship Nand Ghar initiative, which made significant strides in addressing child nutrition and early childhood education. As part of its collaboration with the POSHAN 2.0 mission and the International Year of Millets, the Foundation distributed 72 lakh multi-millet nutri-bars across 1,400 Anganwadi centers in Varanasi, directly benefiting 50,000 children. This effort contributed to a notable 15% reduction in Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and a 12% drop in Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) among children in the area. In addition, the visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a model Nand Ghar in Varanasi during his Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra underscored the project's success.
The Foundation's reach continued to expand with the establishment of 6,044 Nand Ghars across 14 states, supporting 238,161 children and 178,620 women with essential services like education, nutrition, healthcare, and vocational skilling. These modern Anganwadis are helping create an inclusive ecosystem for the development of children and women in rural India.
In the field of animal welfare, AAF’s The Animal Care Organization (TACO) extended its impact by providing care to over 1.48 lakh animals and offering emergency medical aid during 2023 Delhi floods, assisting nearly 5,000 animals in need. The Foundation's animal welfare projects also extended their reach to Ranthambore National Park and Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, contributing to wildlife conservation efforts.
Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc Ltd and Non-Executive Director of Vedanta Ltd, emphasised the Foundation’s holistic approach to community development: "At Vedanta, our core philosophy of Artha (the value we create) and Dharma (the value we give back) guides our commitment to empowering communities. Across our social impact projects spanning the entire nation, we are focused on our aim of positively impacting more than 100 million lives. Every initiative we undertake—from child nutrition and healthcare to skills development and cultural preservation—aligns with our vision of an empowered, inclusive India."
One of the inspiring stories of transformation comes from Rajesh, a young man from Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, born with hearing impairment. Thanks to the Jeevan Tarang project, Rajesh received training in Indian Sign Language, English, personality development, and computer literacy. Today, he aspires to become an IAS officer, a testament to the power of inclusivity and skill development for people with disabilities. Project Jeevan Tarang is an initiative by Vedanta’s subsidiary, Hindustan Zinc, centered on inclusivity to empower persons with disabilities (PwD), particularly hearing and visually impaired students.
The Foundation’s sports initiatives also celebrated significant achievements. Mohammed Kaif, a standout player from the Zinc Football Academy, became the first Rajasthani footballer in 40 years to captain India at the SAFF U-16 Championship. Similarly, athletes from the Vedanta Sports Development Initiative brought home 11 national-level medals at the 13th All India Karate Championship. AAF's programs, including the Vedanta Women’s League and grassroots academies in football, squash, and archery, continue to empower youth across India. Apart from skilling grassroots, AAF mobilized communities for social causes, powered by initiatives such as #RunForZeroHunger at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon and other marathons in Jaipur, Gurugram, Faridabad, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
In the realm of healthcare, the BALCO Medical Centre in Naya Raipur achieved a significant milestone by securing a US$25 million Cancer Grand Challenges grant for research on Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer, funded by Cancer Research UK and the US National Cancer Institute. Additionally, over 17 lakh people benefitted from 32 healthcare initiatives across India, including mobile health vans, awareness campaigns, and hospitals.
In education, 31 initiatives reached over 1.33 crore children and individuals, with programs like Sathi Shiksha Amrit Pariyojana and Project Prerna, playing a key role.
On the infrastructure front, AAF invested in key community development projects that improved solar-powered street lighting, public sanitation facilities, and community center renovations, impacting over 5 lakh people. Through its Gram Nirman and Nirmaan initiatives, the Foundation improved the living conditions of communities in remote areas. 6.9 lakh people benefited from initiatives focused on clean drinking water and sanitation.
AAF has also been committed to preserving India’s rich cultural heritage by empowering indigenous artisans. Through initiatives like the Vedanta Culture Festival at Dilli Haat and the Nand Ghar Bagaan at the Jaipur Literature Festival, the Foundation provided artisans from across India a platform to showcase their work to wider audiences in Delhi and Jaipur, expanding their reach and supporting local talent.
