28th April 2025: Taking a significant step towards addressing childhood growth and development, Nand Ghar by Vedanta has launched Project Balvardhan, a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing early childhood nutrition, health, and education through evidence-based, tech-enabled, and community-driven solutions using a systems lens. Nand Ghar, a flagship social impact project under the Anil Agarwal Foundation, is as model project working towards strengthening the Anganwadi ecosystem of the country by providing state-of-the art facilities.
In addition to enhanced infrastructural facilities, Nand Ghar incorporates smart education tools, interactive e-learning modules, Building as Learning Aid (BaLA) designs, and smart TVs to make learning engaging for children aged 3-6 years.
The mnemonic was unveiled, and project Balvardhan was launched by Smt. Diya Kumari, Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, in the presence of Mr. Shashi Arora, Nand Ghar CEO. The project is set to benefit over 80,000 children aged 0–6 years, and over 15,000 pregnant and lactating women through interventions in the Dholpur District identified as both an Aspirational and UTKARSH district. The district is said to be saturated by developing 800 + anganwadis into Nand Ghar. With 4,800+ Nand Ghars already developed and a plan to scale up to 25,000, this initiative sets the stage for a state-wide transformation in child and maternal welfare.
Speaking about Project Balvardhan, Smt Diya Kumari, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan and Minister Women and Child Development, said “Aligned with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government of Rajasthan is committed to ensuring that every child grows up healthy, educated, and well-nourished. Project Balvardhan by Nand Ghar is a significant step in this direction strengthening our Anganwadi ecosystem with modern tools, targeted interventions, data driven decision making and community ownership. It embodies our resolve to bring lasting change where it matters most, at the very beginning of a child’s life. It reflects our government’s commitment to converting intent into impact, ensuring that every child in Rajasthan not only survives but thrives.”
Following this, Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Ltd. and Non- Executive Director, Vedanta Ltd., added, “Project Balvardhan marks a significant step in our journey to nurture the early years of a child’s life. With over 800 Nand Ghars being developed across Dholpur, this initiative will reach more than 80,000 children and mothers, strengthening the Anganwadi ecosystem with focused care, nutrition, and early learning. By creating a scalable model rooted in innovation and partnership, we are focused on combating malnutrition and enhancing early childhood education. Together with the Sensitivity Government of Rajasthan, we are building not just centres of service, but beacons of hope for our communities.”
At its core, Balvardhan focuses on maternal and child, health and nutrition along with community awareness through a targeted SBCC awareness campaign, nutritional enhancement and health monitoring and strengthened focus on Early Childhood Care and Education for holistic development of children. This will be further reinforced by concurrent digital monitoring and evaluation.
