Anil Agarwal Foundation’s flagship Nand Ghar Reaches 8,000

Chandigarh, 9th April 2025: Nand Ghar, the flagship initiative of the Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF), has achieved a significant milestone by transforming 8,044 Anganwadis into modern centres of holistic development for women and children. Spread across 15 states in India, this expansion underscores Vedanta’s commitment to rural development, impacting over 3 lakh children and 2 lakh women with early childhood education, nutrition, healthcare, and skill development.

Nand Ghars are modernised anganwadis with provision of state-of-the art facilities. In addition to enhanced infrastructural facilities, Nand Ghar incorporates smart education tools, interactive e-learning modules, BaLA designs, and smart TVs to make learning engaging for children aged 3-6 years. Each center is equipped with child friendly furniture, access to electricity, safe drinking water, and hygienic sanitation facilities, fostering a safe and nurturing environment. Beyond education, Nand Ghars combat malnutrition by facilitating fortified meals to children and essential nutritional support for pregnant and lactating mothers. Integrated healthcare services, including immunization drives and routine check-ups, further strengthen community well-being. Nand Ghar is also strengthening women empowerment by engaging community women in skill-building activities such as handicrafts, food processing, and retail, enabling them to earn an average monthly income of up to INR 10,000.

As Nand Ghar continues to scale its impact, last year marked significant achievements for the program. To combat malnutrition, Nand Ghar launched a two-phase distribution of protein-rich millet shakes, benefiting children across six states. Patented and FSSAI certified, this millet shake contains 23 essential vitamins and minerals and is crafted from a blend of ragi, bajra, foxtail and kodu millets. With the government’s focus on promoting the consumption of millets in daily diet, Nand Ghar’s initiative reaffirms its alignment with the national vision of fostering nutritional security through sustainable and locally sourced superfoods.

In March this year, AAF proudly inaugurated Maharashtra’s first-ever Nand Ghars, launching 25 new centers in Thane. Expanding its reach further, the Foundation is committed to establishing 20,000 more Nand Ghars across Rajasthan over the next two years, transforming rural communities on a scale.

The initiative is well-aligned with the Government of India’s vision for women and child development. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) empowers and supports mothers and their children under six years through various programs ensuring comprehensive childcare support in a secure environment with trained staff, educational resources, nutritional support, and activities for holistic child development. With around 14 lakh Anganwadi centres serving over 7 crore children under six years across the country, Nand Ghar’s model contributes significantly to enhancing the existing ecosystem and amplifying the government’s efforts in ensuring the well-being of children and women in rural India.

Speaking on the achievement, Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Ltd. and Non-Executive Director, Vedanta Ltd., stated, “The journey of building 8,000 Nand Ghars reflects our deep commitment to transforming lives at the grassroots. These centers are not just reimagined Anganwadis, they are spaces of opportunity where children learn, grow, and thrive, and where women gain the tools to lead empowered, self-reliant lives. It is incredible to witness how Nand Ghar is evolving into a nationwide movement- one that is creating real change. Our partnership with the Government and the Ministry of Women & Child Development continues to strengthen this mission, helping us scale with purpose and bring meaningful change to communities across India.”

Adding to this, Mr. Shashi Arora, CEO, Nand Ghar, commented, “At Nand Ghar, we are committed to holistic community development, where impact is measured not just in numbers but in the lives we transform. By integrating smart learning, digital tools, and sustainable nutrition programs, we are redefining the Anganwadi ecosystem in India. Over the past year, we have introduced cutting-edge digital learning modules and expanded nutrition programs to ensure that every child receives a balanced meal daily aligned with the Poshan 2.0 guidelines. Flagship initiatives such as Khaana Khaaya Kya?, the millet bar and shake distribution drive, and our digital smart learning model have further reinforced our commitment to child development and women’s empowerment. We will continue to deepen our impact within communities, ensuring that early childhood education, nutrition, and women empowerment drive for meaningful and sustainable change.”

WCD’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Department is celebrating its 50 years in 2025, and Nand Ghar continues to set benchmarks in early childhood care and women’s empowerment. With this milestone, the program is reaffirming its mission to uplift India’s rural communities, ensuring that the nation’s children and women have access to quality resources for a brighter and healthier future.

Hindustan Zinc Recycles 18 Billion Litres of Water Saving 1 Lakh Households

Udaipur, 24th March 2025: Ahead of World Water Day, Hindustan Zinc Limited (NSE: HINDZINC), India’s largest and the world’s second largest integrated zinc producer, announces the recycling of more than 18 billion litres of water in FY24 roughly equivalent to the annual water usage of nearly 1 lakh households in Rajasthan. Operating in Rajasthan, one of the India’s most water stressed regions, Hindustan Zinc remains steadfast in its commitment to sustainable water management, reinforcing its position as a 2.41 times water positive and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) company. The company has maintained a zero liquid discharge approach that ensures process water & effluent is treated, recycled, and reused, significantly reducing its reliance on freshwater while eliminating liquid discharge.

As the world’s most sustainable metals and mining company, Hindustan Zinc’s approach to water conservation encompasses operations and community led water stewardship initiatives. Ahead of World Water Day, Hindustan Zinc unveiled major water management initiatives in progress at operations and community level across various districts of Rajasthan. The company is set to inaugurate a 4,000 kilolitres per day (KLD) Zero Liquid Discharge plant at Rampura Agucha, home to the world’s largest underground zinc mining operations in the coming week. The company has maintained a zero liquid discharge stance and with this new facility, alongside existing zero liquid discharge plants at Zinc Smelter Debari, Dariba Smelting Complex, Chanderiya Lead Zinc Smelter, and Zawar Group of Mines – across its operations in Rajasthan – further propels the company’s vison of responsible water management.

Speaking on the occasion of World Water Day, Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Limited, said, “At Hindustan Zinc, we recognize that water is the foundation of a sustainable future. Our water stewardship approach extends beyond operational efficiency to ensuring long-term water security for both communities and industries. As a 2.41 times water-positive company, we are actively replenishing and fortifying water resources. By embedding sustainable water management at the core of our strategy, we continue to demonstrate that industrial growth and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.”

Beyond its operational commitments, Hindustan Zinc is driving large-scale community water initiatives to enhance groundwater recharge and improve rural water access. At Agucha, in Bhilwara district, Hindustan Zinc has undertaken pond renovation work covering Agucha panchayat. This project will revitalise the biodiversity around villages, enhance the availability of water and positively impact nearly 25,000 people. In Rajsamand district, the company has undertaken pond deepening activity for 4 ponds covering 4 villages that is benefitting more than 10,000 people by collectively augmenting the capacity of these ponds by 55,000 m3 or 55 million litres. Plans are in place to extend this initiative to two more ponds in the next fiscal year. In Chanderiya, Hindustan Zinc launched a lift irrigation scheme benefiting over 100 farmers, supporting cash crop cultivation across 50 acres, ensuring efficient water usage for sustainable agriculture.

As a pioneer in sustainable water management, Hindustan Zinc has established Udaipur’s first sewage treatment plant (STP) under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, a pioneering initiative in Rajasthan that treats 60 million litres of wastewater daily. This initiative plays a crucial role in keeping the lakes of Zinc City Udaipur free from polluted water while supplying treated water to Hindustan Zinc’s operations via a state-of-the-art pipeline network. This reduces freshwater consumption significantly.

Expanding its community impact, Hindustan Zinc has undertaken a large-scale artificial groundwater recharge project in Bhilwara district, spanning four blocks. Through desilting of ponds, strengthening embankments, and constructing 358 recharge shafts across 84 ponds, the initiative has created a groundwater recharge potential of 87 lakh cubic meters (or 8700 million litres)—a critical intervention in Rajasthan’s arid landscape. Hindustan Zinc’s community development initiative also includes providing potable drinking water in Rajasthan that has ensured supply of nearly 4 million litres of safe water to communities through water ROs (reverse osmosis plants) and water ATMs.

At Rajsamand the company has also launched a first-of-its-kind Jal Sakhi initiative that fulfils the triple goal of women empowerment, entrepreneurship and availability of clean water wherein this women-led enterprise has provided clean water to nearly 50,000 people by operating the water ATMs for the community. Additionally, Hindustan Zinc has also supplied over 15 million litres of water to more than 20 water-scarce villages in FY24 across Rajasthan through tankers. According to community members, the availability of the potable drinking water has marked a decrease in water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery etc.

Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Group company, is the world’s second-largest integrated zinc producer and the third-largest silver producer. The company supplies to more than 40 countries and holds a market share of about 75% of the primary zinc market in India. Hindustan Zinc has been recognized as the world’s most sustainable company in the metals and mining category for the second consecutive year by the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024. The company also launched EcoZen Asia’s first low carbon ‘green’ zinc, produced using renewable energy, that has a carbon footprint about 75% lower than the global average. Hindustan Zinc is also a certified 2.41 times Water-Positive company. As a world leader in the metals and mining industry, Hindustan Zinc is pivotal in providing critical metals essential for the global energy transition for a sustainable future.

Priya Agarwal Hebbar: $1.7 Trillion Needed for Energy Transition Mining

Chandigarh, January 27, 2025: World will need an estimated investment of US $1.7 trillion in its mining sector for energy transition, Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc and Non-Executive Director Vedanta Limited has said. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Priya also stressed on India’s unique potential to drive global energy transition. She added that while countries like US, China, and the Middle East have extensively harnessed their natural resources to fuel their economies, India has explored less than 15% of its reserves. This presents a unique opportunity for India to unlock its resource wealth and contribute significantly to the global shift toward clean energy.

Priya acknowledged the Indian government’s proactive measures in opening up the mining sector and said, “The Indian government is already taking steps in this area by launching the critical minerals mission and auctioning of critical mineral blocks. This has already seen Vedanta emerge as the preferred bidder for six blocks, paving the way for significant progress in this sector”. She also emphasized Vedanta’s commitment to sustainable mining by leveraging advanced technologies to ensure that mining operations have minimal or zero impact on the environment.

“Our commitment to achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050 is not just a goal—it’s a responsibility we hold toward future generations. I’m proud that three of our largest companies—Hindustan Zinc, Zinc International, and Cairn Oil & Gas—will reach this milestone within the next five years. By embracing renewable energy and deploying battery-operated vehicles, including fully battery-powered logistics by 2030, we’re proving that sustainability is not just essential for the planet but also the smartest path for long-term business growth. At Vedanta, we are committed to turning ambition into action”, she said.

Detailing Vedanta’s plans and innovations in developing zinc-based batteries as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to lithium, Ms. Priya Aggarwal Hebbar said, “We are already conducting some pilots in this area. Hindustan Zinc, as the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, is collaborating with IITs and global institutions to advance this technology, which could disrupt the energy storage market by offering environmentally friendly solutions”.

She concluded by outlining Vedanta’s ambitious plans to double production across multiple verticals, including increasing zinc and silver output to 2 million tons annually, aluminium production to 4 million tons, and doubling oil and gas output through substantial capital investments.