The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 25, 2024
On the occasion of National Girl Child Day (January 24), Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, reaffirmed its dedication to empowering girls and young women residing in rural Odisha and Chhattisgarh, where its operations are based. The company has undertaken a range of initiatives aimed at enhancing access to education, improving healthcare, combating child malnutrition, and fostering skill development, thereby contributing to bridging the gender gap and ensuring a more equitable future for young women and girls across rural India.
As part of this year’s commemoration, the company launched several initiatives focused on promoting financial independence among young girls and raising community awareness on health and gender-related issues. This included collaborative efforts with banking representatives to conduct financial literacy sessions for over 100 young girls around the Jharsuguda unit in Odisha, elucidating various savings and deposit schemes available for girl children in India.
Moreover, an expert session was organized at Lanjigarh, Odisha, in collaboration with government medical staff, to raise awareness about girls’ rights, female health, and hygiene among more than 200 students. Employee volunteers from the company’s alumina refinery in Lanjigarh also organized engaging activities such as singing, painting, and essay writing competitions at local schools.
At BALCO, located in Korba, Chhattisgarh, special activities including tree plantation were conducted, with one sapling planted for every community member and employee raising a girl child. Over 100 saplings were planted under this initiative. Additionally, health and wellness workshops focusing on essential infant care practices, childhood nutrition, and overall child well-being were organized for new mothers.
Emphasizing the significance of creating opportunities for girl children to thrive, Vedanta Aluminium CEO John Slaven remarked, “Women are the true architects of society, leading the development of their families and communities. By educating girls, providing them with access to quality healthcare, and empowering them with essential skills, we support their journey towards becoming independent contributors to a truly inclusive society. At Vedanta Aluminium, we are committed not only to building sustainable industries but also to fostering strong communities, empowered by resilient women.”
A standout initiative among the company’s community endeavors focused on children is its flagship social impact program, Nand Ghar. These modernized anganwadis serve as vibrant community hubs for holistic women and child development, offering quality healthcare and nutrition to children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
Aligned with its vision to empower rural women, Vedanta Aluminium recently launched the third phase of Project Panchhi, a unique recruitment initiative, in Jharsuguda, Odisha. Conceptualized under the visionary leadership of Vedanta’s Chairman, Anil Agarwal, the project aims to support high-potential girls from marginalized communities who may otherwise forego further education and fulfilling careers due to financial constraints.
The company is also empowering nearly 10,000 girls through its Nayi Kiran project in Chhattisgarh, focusing on enhanced Menstrual Health Management (MHM) practices. Additionally, it is unlocking growth opportunities through comprehensive grassroots sports training, including 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 production, i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. Renowned for its value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries, Vedanta Aluminium ranks first in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, reflecting its sustainable development practices. With world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery, and power plants in India, the company is committed to advancing emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.
