The rural childcare and women’s development programme now spans 16 states and plans 25,000 centres in Rajasthan within two years

The Anil Agarwal Foundation, the social impact arm of the Vedanta Group, has expanded its Nand Ghar network to 10,000 centres across 16 states, covering more than four lakh children and three lakh women each day.

The initiative works within the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and upgrades traditional anganwadi centres with early learning tools, nutrition services and community facilities. Each centre includes smart classrooms, digital learning aids, reliable electricity, safe drinking water, sanitation and child-friendly furniture.

The programme also supports children aged three to six years with hot-cooked meals and nutrition supplements. It has distributed over 80 lakh supplements and delivered digital modules in regional languages. Health screenings and awareness drives have reached more than 90 lakh people, while vocational training has helped women earn up to Rs 10,000 per month.

Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal said, “When we started the Nand Ghar journey, the dream was simple – to ensure every child gets the right nutrition and early education and every woman has the opportunity to stand on her own feet. As we cross the 10,000 Nand Ghars milestone across 16 states, that dream is being translated to reality. Each Nand Ghar is a symbol of empowerment, education, and aspiration. This milestone has been possible only because of the unwavering partnership and support of the Government of India, state governments and local communities. My heartfelt gratitude to everyone who believes in this vision. We are fully committed to transforming the lives of 8 crore children and 2 crore women across India. I would like more and more people from all walks of life to join us on this mission.”

Local workers and parents said the upgraded facilities have encouraged higher attendance and greater trust. A worker from Rajasthan said the centre has become “the pride of our village”. A mother from Odisha said the programme has helped women acquire skills and income.

As the network grows in Rajasthan, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and other states, the next target is 25,000 centres in Rajasthan within two years. The foundation said the aim is to build a scalable model of community development across rural regions.