Maruti Suzuki Launches Health Programs Targeting Anaemia and Menstrual Hygiene in Haryana

Maruti Suzuki India Limited has launched two community health programs in rural and semi-urban areas of Haryana, targeting anaemia and menstrual hygiene. The initiatives, announced on March 6, 2026, are part of the company's corporate social responsibility commitments and are aligned with three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Together, the programs are expected to benefit more than 21,000 residents across three districts over the next year.

The Anaemia Reduction Program will operate across 10 villages in Gurugram, Rohtak and Sonipat districts, aiming to reach approximately 16,500 individuals. Specific villages covered include Kundal, Rampur, Sohti and Saidpur in Kharkhoda (Sonipat); Bas Hariya, Bas Khusla, Dhana and Khoh in Manesar (Gurugram); and Baliana and Bohar in Rohtak. The program's primary focus is on children aged 6–14, adolescent girls aged 15–21, pregnant women, and lactating mothers — groups identified by health authorities as most vulnerable to iron deficiency. Activities include anaemia screening camps, nutrition awareness and behaviour change sessions, medical support, community engagement, and sustained follow-up health reviews.

The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Haryana state government and is aligned with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's Anemia Mukt Bharat Mission, a national program aimed at reducing the prevalence of anaemia across key population groups in India. Maruti Suzuki has previously undertaken anaemia-related interventions in Haryana, and the current program builds upon that prior work.

The Menstrual Hygiene Project is currently underway in two government schools in Rohtak and Kharkhoda, with plans to subsequently expand to eight schools in Manesar, bringing the total coverage to 10 government schools. The program targets around 4,500 students from classes 6 through 12 — comprising 2,500 girls and 2,000 boys. Its scope goes beyond student education, extending to parents, teachers, and community stakeholders, with the aim of building a broader support structure around menstrual health. Planned activities include interactive training sessions, parental orientation, teacher training, distribution of sanitary pads, installation of disposal bins, and periodic health checkups. Both programs are designed to run for 12 months.

Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said the company's community development work spans healthcare, education, sanitation, water access, and infrastructure. "Our Menstrual Hygiene Awareness Project and the Anaemia Reduction Program are set to reach over 21,000 people, including adolescents, women, and mothers," he said.

The programs address health challenges that remain widespread in India despite years of policy attention. Anaemia, caused primarily by iron deficiency, is a condition in which the blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body's tissues. According to the World Health Organization, it disproportionately affects young children, pregnant and postpartum women, and menstruating adolescent girls. India's National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21) found that over 57% of women aged 15–49 in Haryana were anaemic, underlining the scale of the problem in the region where these programs will operate.

Menstrual hygiene, meanwhile, continues to be an area where awareness and access to sanitation remain inadequate, particularly in rural communities. Limited access to sanitary products and hygiene facilities, combined with persistent social stigma, can affect school attendance and overall health outcomes among adolescent girls. Programs that integrate awareness with practical support — such as the distribution of sanitary pads and installation of disposal infrastructure — are increasingly seen by public health practitioners as necessary components of any sustained intervention in this space.

Maruti Suzuki's CSR program operates across three focus areas: Road Safety, Skill Development, and Community Development. The company states its CSR efforts are oriented toward building resilient communities and contributing to India's broader inclusive development. Maruti Suzuki India Limited is headquartered in New Delhi and is among India's largest passenger vehicle manufacturers, with manufacturing plants in Haryana — the state in which both new health programs are being implemented.