Vedanta Aluminium expands Nand Ghar footprint in Odisha with new centre in Gunpur, Kalahandi
9th May 2026
- Inaugurated by Sarpanch Sujata Majhi; part of plan to transform 200 Anganwadis across two districts
Bhubaneswar, May 9, 2026 – Nand Ghar, the flagship social impact initiative of Vedanta under the aegis of the Anil Agarwal Foundation, has marked a key milestone with the inauguration of a new centre at Saisurni village in Gunpur gram panchayat, Kalahandi district by Sarpanch Sujata Majhi. It is set to further strengthen the last-mile delivery of early childhood care and women-centric services in a remote tribal region of Odisha, while adding to the company’s growing network of 631 Nand Ghars across the state.
Nand Ghars are modernised anganwadis developed by Vedanta, which have emerged as crucial hubs of women and child development across rural India. Designed to enhance service delivery under the national Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) framework, the Nand Ghar in Saisurni is equipped with child-friendly infrastructure including Building as Learning Aid (BaLA) walls, LED-enabled smart learning tools, hygienic kitchens and sanitation facilities, solar power, safe drinking water systems, and age-appropriate furniture.
The model combines improved infrastructure with programme support through implementation partners, enabling access to millet-based nutrition, regular health check-ups, immunisation, and community-led interventions focused on behavioural change. Women from the village are also engaged in the project through self-help groups, supporting skilling and livelihood opportunities that contribute to greater financial independence.
The new centre was launched under a MoU signed with the District Social Welfare Offices of Rayagada and Kalahandi to modernize 100 Anganwadis into Nand Ghars in each district. Aligned with national priorities such as Poshan 2.0, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and Digital India, the initiative complements government efforts to address malnutrition, strengthen early childhood education, and expand access to primary healthcare services in underserved areas.
Speaking at the inauguration, Sarpanch Sujata Majhi said, “Vedanta’s Nand Ghar is a blessing for Saisurni. The facility, and the infrastructure and education support for our children will be good. This will help improve our block and support its development. We are thankful for this initiative.”
Nand Ghar is a nationwide network of modernised Anganwadi centres delivering integrated services across nutrition, early childhood education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment. With over 13,000 centres across 17 states in India, the initiative is envisioned to impact 7 crore children and 2 crore women. The Saisurni centre represents a scalable model of community development in Odisha, anchored in strong institutional partnerships and designed to deepen impact across tribal districts.
About Nand Ghar:
Nand Ghar, a flagship project under the Anil Agarwal Foundation, is modernizing India’s Anganwadi ecosystem to empower women and children. With over 13,000 centres across 17 states, Nand Ghars provide integrated services in nutrition, early childhood education, healthcare, and women empowerment through skill development. Currently reaching over 4 lakh children and 3 lakh women, the project aims to impact 8 crore children and 2 crore women across the country’s 14 lakh Anganwadis. For more information, visit: www.nandghar.org
About Anil Agarwal Foundation:
The Anil Agarwal Foundation is the umbrella entity for Vedanta’s community and social initiatives. The focus areas of the Foundation are child health & nutrition, child education, women empowerment, animal welfare projects, and sports promotion. Anil Agarwal Foundation aims to empower communities, transform lives, and facilitate nation building through sustainable and inclusive growth. For more information, visit: https://www.vedantalimited.com/eng/social_impact_csr.php
About Vedanta Aluminium Metal Limited:
Vedanta Aluminium Metal Limited (NSE: VAML, BSE: 544780) is one of the world’s leading producers of aluminium, ‘the Metal of the Future’ powering advanced manufacturing, the energy transition, and next generation technologies. As India’s largest aluminium producer, the Company operates integrated, world-class assets including a state-of-the-art alumina refinery, one of the world’s largest aluminium smelter complex in Odisha, and the iconic Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO). With a diverse portfolio of high-quality aluminium products, Vedanta Aluminium caters to discerning customers across more than 60 countries and plays a vital role in global industrial supply chains. The Company is recognised among global peers for its sustainability leadership, as reflected in its strong performance in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. By advancing the possibilities of aluminium—the Metal of the Future—Vedanta Aluminium continues to enable next generation industries while creating enduring value for customers, communities, and shareholders. For more information, visit: https://vedantaaluminium.com/
