Growing the Olympic Movement

Reliance Foundation is committed to propelling India to global sporting prominence, in medal victories and in hosting global sporting events, including the Olympics.

The Foundation’s scholarship program runs across the country in around 10 Olympic sports like shooting, wrestling, athletics, archery, badminton, boxing, judo, shooting, table tennis, weightlifting and wrestling, in which we support 200+ athletes, including the likes of Olympic and World Championship medalist boxer Lovlina Borgohain, table tennis sensation Manika Batra, weightlifting champion Achinta Sheuli, Olympian boxer Shiva Thapa, the youngest world record holder in Shooting – Tilottama Sen, and many more.

Our key interventions include:

• Scholarships that provide personalised attention tailored to the needs of elite athlete
• Systemic support to academies and coaches in talent hotpots;
• World-class High performance centres in athletics;
• Capacity building of and support to national sports organisations, including the Indian Olympic Association and the Athletics Federation of India.
• Coach and technical support staff education and development;

Through our state-of-the-art sports science and medicine center and world-class staff at the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, we also holistic provide support to athletes and organisations in areas such as sports science and medicine, nutrition, psychology, strength & conditioning, physiotherapy, and injury rehabilitation.

Recognising the global profile and medal potential of the sport, Reliance Foundation has a specialised focus on athletics, where we support 100+ athletes who have won several national and international medals.

A High-Altitude training facility in Tamil Nadu specialises in endurance running.

Odisha-RF Athletics High-Performance Centre - Set up in collaboration with the Odisha State Government, the HPC provides world-class facilities, training, infrastructure, and equipment for athletes. Athletes from the HPC have already won multiple medals at National and international competitions.

Reliance has always focused on the long-term growth of sports through partnerships with international, national, and state sports organisations. We are already working closely with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), the All India Football Federation (AIFF), The Mizoram Football Association (MFA) and the Odisha Government among others.

School and College ecosystem

Reliance Foundation Youth Sports is a country-wide, platform for school and college student athletes, aiming aims to broaden the reach of sports. It also supports development of sporting infrastructure in schools and provides free training to PE teachers.

Nine million children across over 14,000 schools and colleges in 26 states and union territories have participated in the program since its inception in 2016.

More than 800 coaches have been upskilled with RFYS-sponsored D License coaching certification in association with the AIFF.

To provide access to football in areas that receive little support, RFYS has expanded its reach to regions like Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland and most recently in Kashmir, by partnering with the Department of Higher Education (Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir) and the University of Kashmir.

Since 2013, Reliance Foundation has collaborated with the NBA (National Basketball Association – USA) to encourage more kids to play basketball. The Reliance Foundation Junior NBA program delivers world-class basketball education to schools nationwide, inspiring children to embrace the sport and adopt a healthy, active lifestyle. Over 13 million school going children across 13,000+ schools have benefited from the program.

The Education and Sports for All (ESA) initiative advocates holistic development and equal opportunities in education and sports for children. Every year, Reliance Foundation supports thousands of children, bringing them joy and celebration through engaging educational and sports activities.

Each year, the ESA Day provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for children from NGOs to experience an Indian Premier League game. In 2023, the day was dedicated to inspiring the girl child, where over 19,000 young girls from 36 NGOs and 200 special children watched a Mumbai Indians Indian Premier League match live at the Wankhede stadium – an experience Mrs. Ambani hoped would inspire more girls to take up sports.

Women Entrepreneurship

Fuelling women’s entrepreneurial dreams

In 2023, Reliance Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched an initiative to empower one million women entrepreneurs in several states in India, by strengthening women collectives, testing and scaling innovations and establishing replicable models of entrepreneurship with women-led enterprises.

This initiative has been developed with and will be delivered through partnerships with the State Rural Livelihood Missions, as well as with the support of several implementation partners. Over the next three years, this initiative will support and engage women in farm and non-farm income-generating activities, to help them achieve an annual income of at least Rs. 1 lakh as envisioned by GOI’s Ministry of Rural Development.

Women and Girls in Sports

Play, Empower, Prosper, Repeat.

Reliance Foundation's commitment to sports is driven by its belief that sports serve as a powerful catalyst to empower women to break barriers, build leadership skills, and drive positive change, especially among children from vulnerable communities.

Reliance Foundation Youth Sports

A country-wide multi sporting platform that has seen participation from over 10,000 educational institutes and 1,30,000 young athletes since inception. The best athletes receive scholarships and an opportunity to be scouted by professional football clubs and the Indian national team.

Nearly 20,000 of the total number of participating athletes in 2019-20 were girls and 83 of these girls have been awarded scholarships. RFYS has also partnered with the All India Football Federation to scout the best performing girl athletes from our competitions for the Indian national team.

Elevating India's Olympic Aspirations

This initiative began in 2019 with an aim to improve the country’s performance at Olympics and other prestigious international events. Reliance Foundation is supporting elite athletes that have potential under its Athlete Scholarship programme and works closely with coaches, the government and sports federations to support these athletes to enhance performance and enable them to win medals for India at the International stage. Out of the current 14 scholarships offered, eight are offered to girl athletes - Ridhi Phor (Archery), Aditi Bhatt, Unnati Hooda, Palak Arora (Badminton), Tilottama Sen (Shooting), Manika Batra (Table Tennis) and Sneha Soren, Jhilli Dalabehera (Weightlifting).

A Game-Changing Partnership with AFI

In 2022, Reliance announced a long-term partnership with Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to enable the holistic growth of Athletics in India. The partnership aims to discover, nurture and develop Indian athletes from across the country and provide them with world-class facilities, coaching and sports science and medicine support by leveraging the Reliance Foundation ecosystem including the Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High-Performance Centre and Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital.

The partnership will have a special focus on girl athletes and aim to bridge the gender divide and enable them to achieve their dreams. Reliance Foundation also runs the RF Junior NBA Programme, which is a school-based youth basketball programme that has reached out to more than 11 million youngsters of which more than 45% of the registrations are girls. Some of the athletes identified and supported by Reliance Foundation are already on their journeys to becoming world-class performers.

Empowering Tomorrow's Basketball Stars

Reliance Foundation's RF Junior NBA Programme, a school-based youth basketball initiative, has reached out to more than 11 million youngsters, with over 45% of registrations coming from girls. This programme aims to groom the basketball stars of tomorrow, providing them with valuable skills and opportunities.

Through these initiatives, Reliance Foundation is not only promoting sports but also nurturing the potential of young athletes, especially girls, to excel in their chosen fields and contribute to the nation's sporting success.

Girls’ Education

Opening doors to the future of possibilities

Reliance Foundation Scholarships:

Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarships: Established in 1996, this programme serves as a cornerstone for this mission. Its primary objective is to ensure inclusive and equitable education for meritorious students, offering vital financial support that enables them to pursue higher education without disruption. By doing so, the scholarship programme unlocks the untapped potential of India's youth, nurturing them into future leaders in their respective fields. To date, the DAS has benefitted 12,776 students, with approximately 50% being girls.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarships: In 2020, Reliance Foundation initiated the 'Reliance Foundation Scholarships,' which cater to the academic aspirations of students across diverse streams. Commencing in 2020, Reliance Foundation initiated the 'Reliance Foundation Scholarships,' which cater to the academic aspirations of students across diverse streams. Since 2020 onwards, these scholarships have been awarded to more than 5,000 students, with a significant representation of 49% being young women.

Education and Sports for All initiative:

In alignment with the broader vision of the 'Education and Sports for All' initiative, Reliance Foundation actively advocates for the convergence of sporting talent and education.

This initiative provides a platform for young girls to excel in sports, emphasising the importance of holistic development. In the year 2020-2021, Reliance Foundation extended its support to four notable NGOs—Milaan, Sakhi for Girls, Slum Soccer, and Yuwa—each dedicated to enhancing educational and sporting opportunities for girls.

Women’s Health

Creating stronger, thriving communities

Reliance Foundation's commitment to women's health is demonstrated through a comprehensive approach that encompasses accessible healthcare services, nutritional support, and preventative initiatives.

It works to increase women’s access to nutrition and health services, preventing anaemia and malnutrition and improving prenatal and postpartum care. Reliance Foundation collaborated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, MSD for Mothers, Tata Trusts and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Project ASMAN (Alliance for Saving Mothers and New-borns), a unique initiative to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality across Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The project deployed innovative tech-enabled, facility-based interventions that helped healthcare service providers provide high-quality care during childbirth and in the critical 48-60 hours just after delivery.

It played a major role in helping healthcare professionals monitor cases and equipped them to handle complications better. Over 7.5 lakhs mothers and newborns were reached through 81 government health facilities since the inception of the programme in 2015. During April 2018 to June 2021, 433,100 cases were registered and 165,000 (38%) high-risk cases were detected through the ASMAN app.

Her Circle

Building a safe and supportive community for women

Founded by the Founder Chairperson Mrs. Nita M. Ambani, Her Circle is an inclusive, collaborative, diverse, interactive, socially-conscious digital movement for the women of India. This fast-growing digital platform achieved a remarkable milestone in 2022-23 by reaching over 310 million users. In its second year of operation, the platform has been dedicated to establishing a network of women to foster meaningful collaborations and connections. Through social experiments, expert interactions, and inspiring women's stories, Her Circle continues to provide a vital space for dialogues on issues impacting women profoundly.

With an impressive outreach to over 310 million users and a registration count exceeding 2,25,000 entrepreneurs, the program has made significant inroads in the digital landscape. In 2022, Her Circle expanded its reach by launching Her Circle Hindi on its one-year anniversary, extending its support to a wider audience.

Breaking gender stereotypes and shattering barriers, Her Circle initiated diverse and innovative initiatives across various domains, including environment, health, science, entrepreneurship, and more. Her Circle extended its reach by launching Her Circle Hindi, making its valuable content accessible to a broader audience.

It also launched innovative initiatives spanning various fields, challenging societal norms, through various campaigns like promoting body positivity through the EveryBODY Project, and raising awareness about the water crisis through socio-documentaries, sustainability special cover shoot for World Environment day, breaking taboos around menstruation through initiatives like #periodallies and much more.

Digital Empowerment for women

WomenConnect Challenge India: Connecting Women, Transforming Communities

Women's inclusion in digital technology is a crucial catalyst for education, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and information access. The WomenConnect Challenge India was launched in 2020 by Reliance Foundation and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and aims to address the gender digital divide. This initiative is identifying and supporting innovative solutions to empower women in India, facilitating their access to and use of digital technology to drive positive health, education and livelihood outcomes for themselves and their families.

Through Round 1, Reliance Foundation provided Rs. 8.5 crore ($1.1 million USD) in grants for 10 not-for-profit organisations between Rs. 75 Lakh to 1 crore ($100,000 - $135,000) each. Projects kicked off in July 2021 and focused on building entrepreneurship skills, relevant digital literacy for low-literate users, edutainment-based courseware, mentoring and value-chain linkages and support for women working in agriculture. These projects have reached and created sustainable impact in the lives of over 320,000 women and girls directly and indirectly, spread over 19 states of India.

Building on the momentum from Round 1, Reliance Foundation and USAID launched Round 2 in October 2022 to continue to discover innovative ways to bring women online with the support of their families and communities, and create sustainable long-term programming that helps bridge the gender digital divide.

Under Round 2, Reliance Foundation is supporting 7 not-for-profit organizations implementing innovative projects focused on building digital literacy skills using applications and digital platforms for access to relevant information, promoting entrepreneurship and growing micro-enterprises, and financial inclusion.

COVID-19 Response

Strengthening India’s fight against COVID-19 with a 360-degree approach

The COVID-19 pandemic, the largest humanitarian crisis in recent times, affected every aspect of life in the early 2020s. In India, even as the government provided relief measures and emergency services, people faced new challenges and there was urgent need for coordinated efforts from private partners to enhance and support these initiatives.

Reliance drew on its emergency response and disaster management experience, deploying the combined strengths of 600,000+ members of the Reliance family for on-ground efforts, material resources and support for community efforts across the country.

Reliance contributed Rs 571 crore to the PM CARES and other funds to help tackle the pandemic. Specific efforts were taken to provide 360-degree support to rural communities for lives and livelihoods. This note encapsulates the different components of the support Reliance provided in responding to COVID-19.

Specialised healthcare infrastructure

To address the critical need for specialised healthcare facilities, Reliance Foundation, along with entities across the Reliance ecosystem, had set up medical, quarantine, and intensive care units, providing over 2,000 COVID-19 hospital beds across India.

Reliance Foundation's swift response and collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation led to the establishment of India's first COVID-19 dedicated hospital in just two weeks.

The Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre played a pivotal role in providing specialised medical facilities and quarantine services, ensuring safety and care of patients within the comfort of their homes.

As the second wave struck, Reliance Foundation further expanded its support, establishing a dedicated COVID-19 care facility at the National Sports Club of India, Mumbai, and Gujarat's first pediatric COVID-19 hospital in Jamnagar, all in record time to meet the urgent needs of the prevailing situation.

Mission Oxygen

Providing crucial support to the nation to meet a sudden shortage of medical oxygen for COVID-19 patients, especially during the second wave, Reliance repurposed its factory in Jamnagar in record time to produce liquid medical oxygen.

This was ramped up to meet the life-saving needs of 1,00,000 patients on a daily basis, delivered free of cost to various states. The facility contributed to 11% of India’s total production of medical-grade liquid oxygen.

Though Reliance was not a manufacturer of medical-grade liquid oxygen, it became India’s largest producer of this life-saving resource from a single location in order to stand with the country in its hour of need. Under the personal supervision of Shri. Mukesh D. Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, the manufacturing facility at Jamnagar in Gujarat was repurposed to produce over 1,000 MT medical grade liquid oxygen and increase transportation capacities.

This two-pronged approach helped ensure swift and safe supply to various states and Union Territories across India.

Ensuring primary healthcare

Reliance Foundation's Mobile Medical Units continued to be a lifeline for rural communities during the pandemic, providing crucial medical assistance and raising awareness about preventive measures such as social distancing, mask-wearing, and hand hygiene in surrounding villages.

They played a crucial role in providing continued primary healthcare to the most vulnerable communities, especially those such as pregnant and lactating mothers. Since many people returned to their hometowns and villages due to the pandemic, this was especially important in providing bridge health care.

To ensure uninterrupted emergency services, Reliance Foundation provided free fuel to government-authorised vehicles and ambulances, supporting the transportation of COVID-19 patients across 21 states and three Union Territories. This initiative carried out during the second wave of COVID-19, bolstered emergency response services and facilitated timely medical attention to those in need.

Mission COVID Suraksha

Mission COVID Suraksha was vital in raising awareness on prevention and safety, distributing 1.4 crore masks to frontline warriors and communities across 26 states and union territories. Reliance Foundation's dedication to protecting vulnerable populations was evident as masks were distributed to police personnel, municipal workers, and high-risk communities.

A multi-lingual booklet accompanying the masks provided valuable guidance on proper mask-wearing and hygiene.

In addition to masks, Reliance Foundation distributed over 9.5 lakh sanitizers, 5+ lakh ORS packets, and 2+ lakh gloves across 20 states and Union Territories, further supporting communities and frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19.

Mission Vaccine Suraksha

In April 2021, Reliance Foundation launched Mission Vaccine Suraksha. With a vision of providing free COVID-19 vaccination across the country, this mission covered communities, employees, and families, ensuring equitable access to vaccination for all.

Reliance Foundation collaborated with local authorities, governments, and various organisations under the 'We Care' umbrella, providing free vaccination doses to states like Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and others, expediting the vaccination drive.

The initiative aimed to reach every last-mile resident, including vulnerable groups.

ASMAN Project: Alliance for Saving Mothers and Newborns

Empowering Mothers and Newborns through Innovative Healthcare Solutions

In 2015, Reliance Foundation along with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, MSD India, Tata Trusts, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched Project Alliance for Saving Mothers and Newborns (ASMAN), a first-of-its-kind initiative in India.

The primary objective of ASMAN was to expedite the reduction of neonatal and maternal mortality rates by enhancing the quality of care provided to mothers and newborns from admission to discharge, a critical period characterised by heightened mortality risk.

Employing an innovative approach, Project ASMAN harnesses multiple technology-based healthcare solutions in the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to bolster the capacity of healthcare providers to deliver safe health outcomes for mothers and newborns.

By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, ASMAN aims to significantly curtail preventable maternal and neonatal deaths in selected health facilities across eight districts in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Remarkable strides

From 2015 to 2022, the ASMAN programme made remarkable strides, impacting the lives of over 7.5 lakh mothers and newborns through 81 government health facilities.

From April 2018 to June 2021, the ASMAN app played a pivotal role in registering 4,33,100 cases and detecting 1,65,000 (38%) high-risk cases.

ASMANs was recognised with various awards through the duration of the programme until 2021.

To gain deeper insights into the ASMAN project and explore its achievements further, access the comprehensive project report by clicking here. - https://reliancefoundation.org/documents/35704/35773/ASMAN.pdf/4db1cbf0-9787-c89c-9ad7-9a724d6e1f09?t=1676898682730

The project has also garnered significant attention in the media, with the following articles published on its groundbreaking initiatives and far-reaching impact: 1) The role of digital clinical decision support tool in improving quality of intrapartum and postpartum care: experiences from two states of India 2) Acceptability and Barriers to Use of the ASMAN Provider-Facing Electronic Platform for Peripartum Care in Public Facilities in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, India: A Qualitative Study Using the Technology Acceptance Model-3 3) The role of digital clinical decision support tool in improving quality of intrapartum and postpartum care: experiences from two states of India