Anil Agarwal Foundation launches a Multimedia Campaign to address Hunger & Malnourishment amongst Children

• The campaign has been launched with a heartfelt note from Vedanta Chairman, Mr. Anil Agarwal, outlining his personal experience and vision.
• It seeks to address the critical issue of child nutrition and ensure nurturing of their untapped potential.
• Launched during the National Nutrition Month, it will run across print, TV & digital platforms.
• Through the campaign, Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF) aims to engage every citizen of India in the movement to eliminate hunger and malnutrition.

New Delhi: Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF), the philanthropic arm of Vedanta Limited has launched a campaign, to address the pressing issues of hunger and malnutrition. Beginning with a personal note from the Chairman, Mr. Anil Agarwal that was released today in print media, the multi-media campaign will include video and digital assets as well. Commencing in the month of September, also observed as the National Nutrition Month or ‘Poshan Maah’, the campaign with the tagline ‘Agar Bachpan Se PuchhaKhaana Khaya Toh Desh Ka Kal Banaya’highlights the importance of basic nutrition and propagates the need for holistic development of children in our country, to nurture their untapped potential and to ensure that they are not devoid of opportunities of growth. The campaign represents the Foundation’s dedication to build a better future for children and youth in India by ensuring balanced nutrition required for growth and development.

Commenting on the campaign launch, Ms. Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Director, Vedanta Limited and Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Ltd., said, “Malnourishment is an issue that is extremely close to our hearts, stemming from my father’s personal journey and experience of hunger in his childhood. Today, as a group, our vision is that no child should go to bed hungry. The launch of this campaign marks the beginning of a movement that will harness the power of communities as we together combat malnourishment. Our Nand Ghars also focus on the dream that every child has the potential to be a leader and take India to new heights. Through our Nand Ghars, we want to give every child the opportunity she/he deserves. This campaign is another step in this direction.

The campaign, designed and executed by McCANN Erickson (India), in its first phase, strives to spread awareness among citizens to end hunger and malnutrition and provide equal opportunities to ourfuture generation for a better tomorrow. With this launch, Anil Agarwal Foundation has also revealed its new logo, inspired by a growing sapling symbolizing AAF’s philosophy that there is potential in everyonethat should be recognized and nurtured to flower to its maturity.

Sharing his thoughts on the campaign, Prasoon Joshi, CEO & CCO at McCann Worldgroup India and Chairman, Asia Pacific said, “When campaigns are born out of true-life experiences, they are authentic and strike a genuine chord with people. This is one such campaign which genuinely reflects a felt truth and a true connect. It also tries to shake one out of inertia and move society towards positive action.”

AAF through its flagship social impact project Nand Ghar, a collaborative project between Vedanta and the Government of India is contributing to eliminating hunger and malnutrition across the country. It aims to develop and modernise over 29,000 Anganwadis across the country. It has already developed 5,500 Anganwadis into Nand Ghars so far and is impacting the community, especially children and women at the grassroots through holistic development opportunities. Aligned with the Government of India’s POSHAN Abhiyaan and this year’s Poshan Maah theme of ‘Suposhit Bharat, Sakshar Bharat, Sashakt Bharat’, Nand Ghar has become a true personification of its vision to support health, education, and empowerment along with addressing nutritional needs of all beneficiaries.

Nutrition forms one of the core focus areas of the Nand Ghar initiative and National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) has extended its support to AAF by providing technical advice in public health nutrition activities carried out by the Foundation. Considering that inadequate nutrition hampers growth among children, having long-lasting consequences on learning and productivity, project Nand Ghar supports this crucial need. Nutrition is also central to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 of Zero Hunger. The project has been successful in reducing malnourishment among preschool children and include almost 20% lesser children in Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) & Moderately Acute Malnourished (MAM) categories as compared to the national average.

Nand Ghars have consistently demonstrated the ability to transform the lives of communities at the grassroots. Earlier this year, AAF launched one-of-its-kind pilot nutrition initiative for pre-school children to provide multi-millet nutri bars across Anganwadis including Nand Ghars.  These bars that have been endorsed by Nutrihub, ICAR-IIMR (Indian Institute of Millets Research)and are rich in protein, fiber, and antioxidants have not only improved the daily nutrient intake of children, but also boosted cognitive development, and reduced absenteeism in Anganwadis. As an outcome of the pilot project, there has been an increase of almost 20% in average attendance of children at Anganwadis.