ESL Steel Limited, a Vedanta Group Company, has been making rapid progress in planning and executing several Covid-centric initiatives at its Nand Ghars. These include online classes during lockdowns, Covid-19 vaccinations, immunization of over 200 women and children, at least 125 hand wash distribution among hundreds of children, Covid awareness programs among 4500 people, health assessment of 152 children and sanitizer distribution to promote hygiene.
Nand Ghar is a network of model anganwadis where the thrust is on inclusive development of children, women, and local communities. The project is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of providing quality education to children and facilitating skill development to rural women.
Accelerating its initiatives during the pandemic, team Nand Ghar has mobilised the community for getting vaccinated and helped them in the registration process by providing them training. The steel major also conducted other general activities including tree plantation drive, PTM meetings.
World Environment and Yoga Day celebrations, door to door visits, meeting with community people, mobile app monitoring, setting up nutri-gardens, creating and sending educational activities for children in whatsapp.,training sessions, height and weight measurement of children as well as water purifier distribution across its Nand Ghars.
Nand Ghar team has supported the community in maintaining & establishing kitchen gardens. Team has initiated a tele consultancy helpline number for the community for any medical consultancy need, said an ESL official.
“Nand Ghars are focussed on enhancing the lives of local communities and making a difference in the lives of the rural population, which was earlier deprived of quality education and nutrition,” he said.
The Nand Ghars are state-of-the-art facilities that also enhance the lives of pregnant women and young mothers by providing them nutritious meals and motivating them to learn new skills and become independent.
These structures are fully equipped with solar panels to ensure 24X7 electricity, water purifiers, clean toilets and drinking water, smart TVs for e-learning, and have become a model resource centre for the local communities. They also have nutri-gardens from which organic vegetables are sourced and served to the women and children.
N.L. Vhatte, CEO, ESL Steel Limited said, Our Nand Ghar journey began in 2015 with a vision to transform the lives of 8.5 crore children and 2 crore women across 13.7 lakh anganwadis in India.
“Today, my heart swells with pride as I see the vision take shape in making a difference to the lives of rural people who were earlier not exposed to quality education and lacked nutrition.
During the COVID times, we have reached out to several families and children to create awareness and also provided free vaccinations to everyone. We have also provided free ration and held online classes to keep the momentum going strong. I am proud to be associated with this noble cause that focuses on the overall wellbeing of children and women and hope that we continue to do more for them,” he added.
