The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR/TIKIRI, FEBRUARY 24, 2022
In pursuance to its pursuits in creating an enterprise ecosystem around its periphery, Utkal Alumina, a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Limited of Aditya Birla Group, has achieved its first milestone under project UDYAMEE and inaugurated 12 micro-enterprises – eight in Kashipur of Rayagada and four in Thuamul Rampur of Kahalandi – in January while the target for the first year is 100.
Project UDYAMEE is a unique and innovative enterprise development project in the CSR fraternity launched by Utkal Alumina in partnership with Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII). Under this flagship project, Utkal Alumina has embarked on a journey of promoting and handholding around 300 youth entrepreneurs in a span of three years through setting up Rural Incubation Centre.
The enterprises were inaugurated by Mazhar Beig, Unit Head & President of Utkal Alumina along with other dignitaries Dr. Lopamudra Priyadarshini, Head CSR, CR & Sustainability, Land, R&R, PR & Communication and Mukesh Jha, Head Mines operation and Dr. Subrat Biswal, Regional Head EDII.
The enterprises inaugurated are of diversified nature like Slipper Making Unit of Maha Laxmi SHG at Tikiri, Fabrication unit of Suresh Naik at Surugunja, Oil-Extraction Unit of Asis Naik at Surugunja, Mop Making Unit of Ananta Majhi at Chandragiri, Fancy Store of Biswanath Sahu Hadiguda, Fabrication Unit of Debabrata Gouda, Hadiguda, Ladies Corner of Debaki Naik of Dudukabahal, Oil extract Unit of Akhila Majhi, Pukesh at Kashipur Block. Online Centre of Harish Chandra Naik, Adri, Slipper Unit of Hiran Naik, Maligaon, Fancy store of Sarojini Naik, Adri, andOnline center of Saba Naik, Maligaon of Thuamul Rampur block.
These enterprises were being promoted under project UDYAMEE and are provided with a package of business development services which includes business plan preparation, technical handholding, financial and market linkages.
Motivating the emerging entrepreneurs, Utkal Alumina Unit Head said that these entrepreneurs would become the role model for others and set benchmark in the field of small and microenterprises. He encouraged UDYAMEE team for taking this in mission mode and develop an entrepreneurial environment in the vicinity.
The Head CSR, CR & Sustainability of Utkal Alumina Dr. Lopamudra Priyadarsini reinstated that Utkal Alumina would always be at the forefront in devising strategies and coming up with kind of its own initiatives under its CSR ambit for promoting the rural economy through strengthening community institutions and local groups.
Dr. Subrat Biswal, Regional Head of EDII extended the gratitude towards Utkal Alumina for the noble effort and assured to create benchmark sustainable enterprises in the vicinity. As a responsible corporate citizen, UAIL is deeply engaged in executing its CSR activities in peripheral villages in the area of education, healthcare, sustainable livelihood, and rural infrastructure and addressing the issues of social concern, overall UAIL is engaged in 84 villages serving more than 30,000 populations in Odisha.
