Granules India Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Government of Telangana, to strengthen breast cancer screening and awareness among underprivileged women in rural areas of Sangareddy district.

The initiative aims to promote early detection and preventive healthcare by bringing organised screening services closer to communities that have limited access to medical infrastructure. Under the collaboration, Granules India, along with its healthcare partners—AIG Hospitals, Asian Medical Foundation and UC Breast Foundation—will conduct breast cancer screening and awareness camps across the district.

The camps will be held using the Breast Health Express, a mobile screening unit designed to reach underserved and remote populations, enabling women to access timely screening without the need for long-distance travel.

The programme was launched in the presence of senior officials and healthcare leaders, including Divya Devarajan, IAS, Chief Executive Officer of SERP; P. Pravinya, IAS, Collector and District Magistrate of Sangareddy; Uma Chigurupati, Executive Director of Granules India Limited; and Dr Pragnya Chigurupati Narra, oncologist and oncoplastic surgeon at AIG Hospitals and founder of the UC Breast Foundation.

SERP will play a key role in implementing the initiative by leveraging its extensive grassroots network and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to mobilise women, raise awareness about early detection and ensure strong community participation across rural areas.

Divya Devarajan said improving access to preventive healthcare for rural women remains a priority for the Telangana government. “SERP’s grassroots network allows us to reach women at the community level. This partnership with Granules India will help strengthen awareness, participation and early screening for breast cancer. Such collaborations are essential for achieving long-term health outcomes among underserved populations,” she said.

Uma Chigurupati said the initiative reflects Granules India’s commitment to community health. “Through this collaboration with SERP and our healthcare partners, we aim to make breast cancer screening more accessible in rural areas, reinforce the importance of early detection, and contribute meaningfully to women’s health and well-being,” she said.

Dr Pragnya Chigurupati Narra highlighted access as a major challenge in rural breast cancer diagnosis. “Lack of access remains one of the biggest barriers to early detection. Partnerships like this are vital to ensuring women receive timely screening and guidance. The MoU with the Government of Telangana is a significant step forward and reinforces our ongoing efforts to expand breast cancer awareness and screening,” she said.

Since its launch in September 2024, Granules India’s breast cancer screening and awareness initiative has screened more than 5,000 women and reached thousands more through community outreach programmes, marking a growing impact in improving women’s health outcomes in underserved regions.