Raipur | 7th February 2026 – BALCO NEWS : Nand Ghar, the flagship social impact initiative of Vedanta Group under the Anil Agarwal Foundation, has announced the launch of a non-invasive, technology-enabled anaemia screening programme across Nand Ghars in India. The programme will have a focused emphasis on the early detection and prevention of anaemia among children aged 2–6 years. With 531 Nand Ghars in Odisha and 262 in Chhattisgarh, the initiative is set to reach thousands of young children in some of the most underserved communities, significantly expanding access to preventive healthcare at the grassroots.
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The programme will deploy bloodless, prick-free screening technologies for safe, child-friendly testing. AI-enabled data tools would support real-time tracking, early risk identification, and timely referrals to public health systems. Aligned with national priorities under Anaemia Mukt Bharat, the National Health Policy 2017 and POSHAN 2.0, the initiative seeks to strengthen community-level nutrition and health systems while complementing existing government efforts.
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Beyond screening, the initiative adopts a holistic, community-rooted approach to anaemia prevention. It integrates nutrition counselling for caregivers, behaviour change communication, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) awareness, and structured linkages with frontline health services, ensuring that detection translates into action and sustained outcomes for children.
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Speaking on the launch, CEO, Nand Ghar, Mr. Shashi Arora said, “Anaemia in early childhood often goes unnoticed, yet it can have lasting consequences for a child’s physical and cognitive development. Through this programme, Nand Ghar is bringing anaemia screening closer to communities while removing the fear and discomfort associated with traditional testing. By combining technology with strong on-ground engagement, Nand Ghar aims to build a scalable and evidence-based model for anaemia detection that supports both children and caregivers.”
Commenting on the initiative, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium, Mr. Rajiv Kumar said, “Through Nand Ghar, we are committed to tackling critical health challenges affecting children in regions like Odisha and Chhattisgarh. At Vedanta Aluminium, we believe industrial progress and community wellbeing go hand in hand, and this effort reflects our commitment to ensuring every child has the chance to grow, learn, and thrive.”
Anaemia continues to be one of India’s most persistent public health challenges, disproportionately affecting young children and women and posing long-term risks to physical growth, cognitive development, learning outcomes, and overall wellbeing. According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), 67.1% of children under five years of age, 59.1% of adolescent girls, and 57% of women aged 15–49 years in India are anaemic.
Nand Ghar is a nationwide network of modernised Anganwadi centres delivering integrated services across nutrition, early childhood education, primary healthcare, and women’s empowerment. The anaemia screening programme is expected to serve as a proof-of-concept for technology-led, community-based prevention, implemented through partnerships with specialised agencies possessing on-ground expertise in rural healthcare delivery. The model is designed for scale-up across other states in collaboration with public health systems and stakeholders.
