Building Brighter Futures: UltraTech empowers girls in rural India to learn, rise and lead

Every year on the 24^th of January, UltraTech observes National Girl Child Day, a reminder that a nation’s true progress is driven by the education and empowerment of its daughters. The Company remains committed to equipping girls with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to rise above social and economic challenges.

UltraTech’s CSR efforts focus on promoting gender equality and empowerment, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and have positively impacted thousands of girls across India. Through focused interventions across education, healthcare and hygiene, digital learning, sports, leadership development, and the provision of school infrastructure, the company’s CSR initiatives address long-standing barriers faced by girls in underserved or marginalised communities. UltraTech’s unit-led initiatives support and help shape aspirations, nurture resilience, and empower the next generation of changemakers.

Empowering girls through education

As set out under SDGs 4 and 5, education is foundational to women empowerment, enabling girls to unlock their potential and build a brighter future. UltraTech’s initiatives include support programs such as the provision of desk and bench facilities in schools, computer access and literacy programs, school bus facilities, and notebook and stationery distribution.

In addition, unit-led events and programmes such as science exhibitions are regularly hosted at UltraTech’s unit locations. Some examples of these programmes include ‘Maths4All’ and career awareness sessions held at Andhra Pradesh Cement Works, or educational exposure visits held at Gujarat Cement Works. UltraTech’s manufacturing units also provide academic coaching to students at various levels of education. For example, Kotputli Cement Works has launched a transformative coaching initiative for girls studying in Class 10 from local villages. It also covers tuition, transport, and materials, with regular assessments to manage individual learning needs, addressing challenges like poverty, domestic responsibilities, and societal barriers.

UltraTech’s ‘Pravesh Utsav’ initiative promotes 100% primary school enrolment for children above six in the operating communities. Smart classes, bridge courses, and board exam preparation have helped achieve 100% girl enrolment and retention at the primary school level and over 90% at the secondary school level.

UltraTech has partnered with Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas to reduce dropout rates among secondary school girls.  Through its partnership in Kharia (Madhya Pradesh), Maihar (Chattisgarh), Malkhed (Karnataka), Reddipalayam (Tamil Nadu), Shambhupura (Rajasthan), and Budawada & Tadipatri (Andhra Pradesh), UltraTech has helped support the education of more than 1,800 girls.

Further, the Vocational Training Centre at Khor prepares girls for government and other organised sectors. Girls from local community have also been inducted as police personnel, school-teachers and bank employees. Additionally, a special drive for upskilling girls in industrial training centres supports 25 girls.

UltraTech has helped to empower over 6000 girls in remote rural areas across India through all these educational support initiatives, strengthening learning outcomes, confidence, and future opportunities.

UltraTech also works to strengthen school environments, making them safer, more hygienic, and more student‑friendly. From classrooms and skill centres to health camps, sports grounds, and safe school spaces, UltraTech works to ensure that no girl is left behind—regardless of her location, background, or circumstances. Over 800 girls have benefited through UltraTech’s efforts to improve educational infrastructure in the local communities across India.

Advancing health, hygiene & dignity for girls

In many rural communities, adolescent girls are often compelled to discontinue their education due to inadequate amenities, social stigma, and health or hygiene challenges. Aligned with SDG‑3, the Company recognises that good health, hygiene, and personal dignity are fundamental for adolescent girls to stay in school and build confident futures.  UltraTech has implemented targeted initiatives and interventions that have significantly improved access to essential healthcare and hygiene services for adolescent girls across its operating communities.

UltraTech’s ‘Anganwadi Excellence Initiative’ has strengthened early childhood development services across rural areas by transforming centres into model facilities. For example, Doctors at UltraTech’s Anganwadi Centres conduct antenatal check-ups for expecting mothers, deliver child vaccinations, and monitor the nutritional status of mothers as well as of adolescent girls. As of FY25, UltraTech has supported over 100 model Anganwadis located around its units in Hirmi, Rawan, Malkhed, Khor, Maihar, Satna and Rewa.

Safe, inclusive, and well‑equipped school infrastructure is essential for uninterrupted learning for girls. UltraTech supports this by repairing or providing girls’ toilets, installing sanitary pad infrastructure, and improving classroom facilities.

Together, all these efforts have positively touched the lives of over five thousand girls and women through unit-led healthcare programmes, enhancing health awareness, hygiene practices, school attendance, and overall well-being.

Encouraging girls to lead and excel

Sports, cultural activities, and social awareness also play a vital role in building confidence, leadership, and community participation among girls. Initiatives like the Umang Khel Mahotsav at our unit Maihar Cement Works, or initiatives for sports kit distribution and cultural dance competitions organised at our unit Gujarat Cement Works play a vital role in this. Participating in such events can help provide young girls with leadership opportunities and experience, enhancing their organisational skills and confidence.

UltraTech launched a Self‑Defence Coaching Programme for 160+ girls and 70+ girls at our units in Khor and Kotputli respectively. The programme helps strengthen their physical skills, enhances awareness, and builds confidence and resilience. Programmes like these allow UltraTech to create inclusive platforms that help encourage young girls to nurture their self-confidence, express themselves, and support their personal and academic development. Together, these initiatives have positively impacted over one thousand girls and women.

UltraTech undertakes its social initiatives under the aegis of The Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development with Mrs. Rajashree Birla as its Chairperson. UltraTech’s CSR focus areas are education, healthcare, sustainable livelihoods, community infrastructure and social causes. UltraTech reaches out to more than 1.8 million beneficiaries in over 500 villages in 16 states across India.