Ritu Jhingon, President of the Anil Agarwal Foundation and Group Director of Communication at Vedanta, has been with the organisation for nearly two decades. A communications expert, she has played a key role in Vedanta’s shift towards social impact and sustainability. Closely working with Chairman Anil Agarwal, she is currently collaborating on a new project with him and Riverside Studios, continuing her commitment to inclusive, community-focused change.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Ritu Jhingon, President of the Vedanta Foundation, highlighted the impact of Nand Ghar, the group’s flagship CSR initiative envisioned by Chairman Anil Agarwal. The project transforms rural Anganwadi centres into modern, solar-powered preschools equipped with digital learning tools, clean water, sanitation, and nutrition support.
“Nand Ghars serve as hubs for early childhood education and maternal care. A KPMG study found that 96% of children in Nand Ghars were healthy—well above the national average. Dropout rates have also plummeted, with nearly 100% of children progressing to primary school. With strong support from Mr Agarwal and now his daughter Priya, we’ve established over 8,000 such centres across India.”
“At Vedanta, our core narrative is simple: inclusive growth and nation-first. Beyond GDP contributions, our focus is on uplifting communities. We quietly drive impact—running one of India’s largest oncology hospitals in Raipur for affordable cancer care, and launching TACO (The Animal Care Organisation), which includes India’s largest camel park. Post-Covid, we’ve promoted wellness through marathons and sports, supporting hockey, para-athletes, indigenous games like archery, and residential football schools for girls. We empower communities through education, skilling centres, women’s programmes, and support three universities, including one in Rajasthan. We’ve also helped preserve national heritage sites—choosing action over attention,” she added.
About the biggest systemic gaps preventing women from becoming decision-makers in India’s corporate and social sectors, Ritu said, “I don’t believe systematic gaps are unique to India — it’s a global phenomenon. Just look at the number of women on corporate boards worldwide — still very low. That said, India has been progressive in some areas. For example, it is mandatory to have independent and women directors on boards. At Hindustan Zinc, one of our group companies, women make up 50% of the board — a significant achievement, especially in a traditionally male-dominated sector like metal and mining.”
“This progress has been possible because we’ve had a progressive chairman who actively champions inclusion. However, broader data from planning bodies still shows that women have a long way to go, and more needs to be done to shift mindsets and drive participation. Patriarchal norms still dominate, not just in rural but also in urban settings. That said, change is happening. I’ve seen incredible talent emerge from smaller towns — it often comes down to parenting and early support. And in a country where the President is a woman, we are definitely on the right path. The pace of change was slow before, but now we are truly moving forward,” she added.
Speaking about the ‘We The Women’ at the Riverside Studios, Ritu said, “I believe this is the first time Barkha is hosting her show in London, and when she approached us, we saw real value in it. When credible voices speak about change, it creates impact. There may be just 500 people in the room, but the message will reach millions online. If even a few are inspired or moved to act, we’ve done our job. Platforms like this bring together grit, gravitas, and a touch of glamour, making important conversations more engaging. It’s about real issues, “mudde ki baat” (talking about what truly matters), with real people. We’re proud to support this by offering our space and helping bring together a diverse audience ready to listen and engage.”
Offering advice to young women aspiring to lead in business and purpose-driven roles, Ritu said, “The one thing I always emphasise is: live your dreams. If you're disciplined and committed, everything falls into place. I come from a male-dominated environment, and what helped me was continuous learning, it doesn’t have to be Harvard or Oxford. Even now, I’m learning how to work with AI. Discipline in daily life—how you wake up, eat, manage yourself and others—is key. Combine that with big dreams. Aim for the stars, because that’s how things begin to align. Live without regrets. You should be able to say: ‘I tried, again and again, and I got there.’ Failure is inevitable, but it should strengthen, not demoralise you.”
