Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Visits Nand Ghar Model during Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Varanasi
Varanasi, Dec 17, 2023: In a momentous occasion, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited the one-of-a-kind model of Nand Ghar, developed by Anil Agarwal Foundation, at the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra Exhibition held at Cutting Memorial Inter-college grounds in Varanasi district. Hon’ble Prime Minister also spent time at the Nand Ghar model interacting with children and Anagwandi didis.
The purpose of Prime Minister’s visit was to commend the remarkable success of various developmental initiatives in the Varanasi district and under this ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) in Varanasi presented Project Nand Ghar, which has developed 1421 Anganwadis into Nand Ghars in the Varanasi district. Notably, this transformation includes the innovative incorporation of Porta Cabins as Nand Ghars, a pioneering addition to the traditional Anganwadi structure of Greenfield, Brownfield and Rented Anganwadis.
Ms. Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director of Vedanta and Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc Ltd., conveyed her sincere appreciation, stating, “We are deeply honored and thankful to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for visiting Nand Ghar model in Varanasi at the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. The Prime Minister's visit underscores his commitment to the comprehensive development of Varanasi and the entire nation. We also extend our gratitude to Shri Yogi Adityanath, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and all officials of the Varanasi Administration for their continuous support. Embracing innovative social impact initiatives such as Nand Ghar, the Vedanta Group and Anil Agarwal Foundation remain dedicated to supplementing the government's endeavours in empowering the nation.”
Shri Himanshu Nagpal (IAS), Chief Development Officer of Varanasi District credited the Anil Agarwal Foundation for the project's success, stating, “
Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision for a viksit bharat stresses on women empowerment and upliftment of children and ensuring their holistic growth and development. Anganwadis play a pivotal role in realising this mission and supporting us in upgrading Anganwadi Kendras across Varanasi district is Anil Agarwal Foundation. From 3914 Anganwadis in the district, the foundation is developing 1478 Nand Ghars, introducing Porta Cabins and has also rolled out a unique initiative of multi-millet nutri bar for the children of Varanasi which is receiving positive feedback.“
Nand Ghars, positioned at the forefront of the Varanasi district's transformation, epitomize a paradigm shift in community resource centers, integrating state-of-the-art technology. Nand Ghar models offer essential facilities such as 24×7 electricity from solar panels and grid, modern sanitation, e-learning through smart TVs and tablets, safe drinking water from purifiers, and smart Kits that support comprehensive child development. In collaboration with world-class partners, Nand Ghars have significantly enhanced attendance, learning capabilities, and school readiness through e-learning modules and playful learning strategies.
Furthermore, the project supports women to undergo skilling and entrepreneurship training and establish credit linkages, thus empowering them to be self-reliant. Hot cooked meals and take-home rations are facilitated, alongwith establishment of nutrition gardens, for children and pregnant and lactating women. To supplement the daily intake of children, multi-millet nutri bars are provided to almost 50,000 children daily, in 1364 Anganwadis including Nand Ghar, across the three model blocks of Prime Minister Shri Modi ji in Varanasi district adopted by him- Arajiline, Sewapuri and Kashi Vidyapith. Primary healthcare services are rendered through mobile health vans and telemedicine services. With an unwavering commitment to transforming the lives of millions, Nand Ghar stand as a testament of integrated development and sustainable progress.
Project Nand Ghar, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, has been a catalyst for change, ensuring access to quality education, healthcare, nutrition, and skill development. With a goal to develop 29,000 Nand Ghars by the year 2025, Anil Agarwal Foundation has already developed nearly 6000 Nand Ghars across 14 states in India. Project Nand Ghar also aligns with several government programmes like POSHAN Abhiyan, Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, and Digital India.
