New Delhi : The #RunForZeroHunger movement by Vedanta has reached a remarkable milestone, raising 10 million meals for children and animals during the third edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (VDHM) 2024. Concluding on October 20, 2024, the event united over 72,000 participants nationwide in the fight against hunger and malnutrition in India.
Through the Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF)’s social impact initiatives, Vedanta committed to providing one meal for every kilometer run, effectively doubling last year’s achievement through #RunForZeroHunger. This initiative will support animal welfare through AAF’s Animal Care Organization (TACO) and provide meals for children across nearly 6,500 Nand Ghars in 14 states throughout India.
Among the participants, 36,000 were members of the Vedanta community, including leadership, CXOs, employees, and partners. They participated in the marathon across 19 business locations and virtually through the StepSetGo app to increase the meal count. Leading up to race day, Vedanta engaged its community by organizing workouts, walkathons, and mini marathons, showcasing the power of sports to mobilize communities and raise awareness for social causes. Participation extended beyond the Delhi-NCR region, with contributions from areas where Vedanta operates, including Udaipur, Barmer, Mumbai, Korba, Goa, and more.
Community-driven initiatives leading up to the race created significant momentum for the cause. Notable figures, such as sustainability advocate Milind Soman, humorous radio personality RJ Naved, motivational speaker Capt. Dharmveer Singh, and others, encouraged public participation in the #RunForZeroHunger movement, complementing Vedanta’s efforts to rally a large community united in addressing hunger and malnutrition.
Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director of Vedanta and Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc Ltd., expressed, “We witnessed an extraordinary display of determination and unity as people across the globe came together, not just for fitness, but for a cause that resonates with us all. I am proud to have participated and contribute to the broader vision of combating malnutrition. With every kilometer run, all marathoners added to the number of meals provided for nourishing children and feeding animals. I am confident that we have created history by raising 10 million meals this year. Together, we have run for zero hunger.”
In the past two years, VDHM raised over 7 million meals to combat child hunger and malnutrition. This year, the target was increased to 10 million as AAF expanded the #RunForZeroHunger initiative to encompass animal welfare through a ‘One Health’ approach, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Through the ‘Meals for All’ initiative, AAF will support animal welfare via TACO while continuing to assist children in Nand Ghars, having distributed 7.2 million multi-millet bars to date, significantly reducing the cases of Severe and Moderate Acute Malnutrition among children.
With VDHM 2024, Vedanta proudly marks its third year partnering with the Delhi Half Marathon, furthering its mission to drive positive social change through sports and community engagement. Vedanta looks forward to expanding the #RunForZeroHunger movement to other marathons in India, striving for a hunger-free future and demonstrating how sports can lead to large-scale social impact.
About Vedanta :
Vedanta Limited (Vedanta), a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading companies in critical minerals, energy, and technology, operating in India, South Africa, Namibia, Liberia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. With significant operations in various sectors, Vedanta has contributed significantly to nation-building over the past two decades. Sustainability and governance are core to Vedanta’s strategy, with a strong emphasis on health, safety, and environmental responsibility. The company aims to be an ESG leader in the natural resources sector, targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and planning to invest $5 billion over the next decade to support this transition. Vedanta is committed to enhancing local communities’ lives and has been recognized as a top performer in corporate sustainability assessments.
About Anil Agarwal Foundation :
The Anil Agarwal Foundation oversees Vedanta’s community and social initiatives, focusing on healthcare, women and child development, animal welfare, and sports. The Foundation aims to empower communities, transform lives, and facilitate nation-building through sustainable and inclusive growth.
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– Aarti Laxmanan, Group CSR Communication Head: [email protected]
– Sriparna Banerji, MSL India: [email protected]
(Disclaimer : All information is provided by Vedanta through its press release. CSRNews is not responsible for any inaccuracies.)
