As
part of its celebrations, the company's units in Odisha and Chhattisgarh
organized several activities focussed on improved education and health for
young women and girls
On the occasion of National
Girl Child Day (24 January), Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of
aluminium, has renewed its commitment to empowering girls and young women
living in the vicinity of its operations in rural Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The
company has implemented several initiatives with a thrust on ensuring access to
better education, improving healthcare, eradicating child malnutrition, and
creating wider avenues for skill development. Together, they are helping bridge
the gender divide and ensuring an equitable future for young women and girls
across rural India.
As part of this year’s
celebrations, the company undertook several initiatives focused on building
financial independence among young girls and also imparting greater community
awareness on health and gender issues. These included a collaboration with bank
representatives to conduct financial awareness sessions for over 100 young
girls around the Jharsuguda unit in Odisha, explaining the several savings and
deposit schemes for girl children in India.
An expert session on
greater awareness of the rights of girls and the importance of female health
and hygiene was conducted for more than 200 students at Lanjigarh, Odisha in
collaboration with government medical staff. Employee volunteers from the
company’s world-class alumina refinery in Lanjigarh also organized activities
such as singing, painting, and essay writing competitions at local schools.
Meanwhile, at BALCO,
India’s iconic aluminium producer in Korba, Chhattisgarh, special activities
such as a tree plantation were organized, where the unit planted one sapling
each for every community member and employee raising a girl child. Over 100
saplings were planted under this initiative. In addition, health and wellness
workshops for new mothers were also organized, focused on imparting essential
knowledge about infant care practices, childhood nutrition, and ensuring the overall
well-being of the child.
Highlighting the importance
of creating opportunities for girl children to progress, Mr. John Slaven, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium said, “Women are the real
architects of society, leading the development of their independent family
units and through them, their entire communities. By educating girls, providing
them with the best possible healthcare facilities, and empowering them with the
right skill sets, we support their journey towards developing into independent
women who contribute to building a truly inclusive society. At Vedanta
Aluminium, we are not only committed to building strong sustainable industries
but also strong societies, backed by strong and empowered women.”
A standout among the
company’s slew of community initiatives oriented towards children is its
flagship social impact program, Nand Ghar – which are modernized anganwadis
that function as vibrant community hubs for holistic women & child
development, providing quality healthcare and proper nutrition to children,
pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
In line with its vision to
empower rural women, Vedanta Aluminium has also recently launched the third
phase of Project Panchhi, a unique recruitment initiative, earlier this month
in Jharsuguda, Odisha. Conceptualized under the visionary leadership of
Vedanta’s Chairman, Mr. Anil Agarwal, the project is focused on meeting the
needs of girls from marginalized communities. Through Project Panchhi, the
company seeks to extend support to those high- potential girls who are likely
to opt out of pursuing further studies and a fulfilling career due to financial
constraints. The company is also empowering nearly 10,000 girls through its
Nayi Kiran project in Chhattisgarh, focused on enhanced Menstrual Health
Management (MHM) practices. Further, it is also unlocking avenues for growth
through comprehensive trainings in
grassroots sports, such as archery and karate.
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow. www.vedantaaluminium.com
