A frail young woman, barely 20, walks into a public health clinic and faints. She had gone there from her village in Farakka, West Bengal, for a prenatal check-up. In Chandrapur, Maharashtra, a teenager is weeping as she talks to the Ambuja Foundation Sakhi. She is distressed that her mother is accusing her of doing something wrong with a boy because her menstruation stopped a few months ago. In a tribal area nearby, 55 people test positive for sickle cell disease. Somewhere in rural India, the women of the house sit down to their meal after all the men have been served, there's no fish left for them. They'll make do with the bones.

Picture the sun rising over the fields, casting a golden hue as groups of villagers gather for their daily exercise routines. This scene, traditionally uncommon in rural India, is becoming a symbol of change to combat the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Among these groups in Chandrapur, Maharashtra are Sunita Thamke and her husband Vinod Thamke.

Executing a number of community welfare activities and creating awareness around nutrition, Ambuja Foundation zealously celebrated Poshan Maah 2024 in the month of September. The Foundation, known for its pan-India social development work to transform rural communities, conducted a month-long nutrition campaign focusing on awareness, health camps, community engagement programs and rallies in collaboration with ICDS and Health Department of the districts. Many events such as ‘god bharai’, ‘Annprashan’, counselling on breastfeeding and family planning were organised, focusing on maternal nutrition and balanced diet in association with ICDS and Health Department at AWCs and Block level. Even at the skill training centres and amongst women and adolescent groups health camps and check-up sessions.

Ajija Bibi (35) was just 12 years old when she rolled her first bidi (cigarette). She grew up, and today lives in Murshidabad, West Bengal, which has emerged as a prominent centre for the bidi industry in India. Women in every household spend their days rolling bidis and have become so proficient at the task, that they can roll up to 3000 bidis a day!

To those who once knew it, Mohi Kalan is almost unrecognisable! Once a ‘dumping ground’ for household rubbish, today village streets are squeaky clean and ponds are a thriving oasis for birds and other local animals – a transformation that has earned them not one, but 3 awards for being the ‘Cleanest Village’.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally - also topping the list of cancers among women in India. However in rural India, women barely know about breast cancer, fear examination and have to defend a host of social and cultural taboos - leading to delayed detection, and a higher risk of mortality.

This year marks a decade since Ambuja Foundation and Apollo Tyres Foundation partnered together to initiate health interventions for truckers in India. Ms. Rinika Grover, Head - Sustainability & CSR at Apollo Tyres Ltd, speaks at length about the power of ‘going together’ when it comes to CSR.

Ambuja Foundation has won the CII Western Region ‘Innovation in Healthcare and Hospital Technology’ Award 2023 in the Primary Care Initiative category at a glittering ceremony filled with health professionals.

We have a new community clinic in Chandpur, Ropar, Punjab, taking our total to 13 community clinics completely setup and facilitated by Ambuja Foundation across Chandrapur, Bhatapara and Ropar.

The women in Mehma Sawai were having a lot of issues with their health, but with the Primary Health Centre located 4 km away and without transport, they sat back and ignored it.

Rural India accounts for nearly 69% of the total population, yet only has 26% of total hospital beds and 33% of total healthcare professionals. A popular way in the past to address this vast need, whilst ensuring last mile reach, was the Mobile Medical Van (MVM) model – with both the government, and private NGOs like ACF, running MVM programs to tackle pressing rural health needs.

In continuation of interventions on Non-Communicable Diseases in rural areas, Ambuja Foundation is moving forward towards creating a ‘Tobacco Free Workplace’. This initiative is being rolled out in partnership with Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation under its LifeFirst program – an evidence based tobacco-dependence treatment program - and will reach 1500+ Ambuja Foundation staff across locations and project sites.