The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
JHARSUGUDA, JUNE 27, 2023
Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, has announced the successful completion of the first phase of the Ni-kshay Mitra program in Jharsuguda. As part of this initiative, aimed at supporting the Government of India’s ambitious “TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (TB-Free India Campaign)”, the company has been supporting nearly 550 tuberculosis patients across Jharsuguda and Kalahandi districts in Odisha since last year.
Aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision for a TB-free India, Vedanta has actively collaborated with the district administrations in Jharsuguda and Kalahandi to maximize community awareness of tuberculosis (TB) and extend support to those in need of specialized care.
The Ni-kshay Mitra program aims to eliminate stigmas associated with the disease, encouraging citizens to symbolically adopt tuberculosis patients and provide them with the crucial support needed for their recovery, including proper nutrition and guidance. Vedanta Aluminium’s support towards the Ni-kshay Mitra program has been instrumental in enabling enhanced healthcare access and providing much-needed assistance to several tuberculosis patients in Jharsuguda and Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district. By focusing on quality nutrition and counselling, the program has played a vital role in improving the lives of the patients. Additionally, the company’s Mobile Health Units (MHUs), which are fully-equipped vans that visit remote areas in the state to provide primary healthcare free-of-charge, have also been involved in screening and encouraging community members showing symptoms of TB to undergo further tests at government facilities.
Sharing Vedanta Aluminium’s health interventions for the community, Vedanta Limited Jharsuguda CEO Gupta said, “The health and well-being of our community is a top priority for Vedanta Aluminium. In response to the Prime Minister’s call for a ‘TB Mukt Bharat’, we are honoured to join forces with the Jharsuguda District Administration to raise awareness about tuberculosis. Our initiatives in this regard augment the comprehensive health and wellbeing programs that we undertake for community members.”
Adding his views, Vedanta Limited Deputy CEO (Alumina Business) GG Pal said, “Tuberculosis is a debilitating disease that can be overcome through timely interventions, and we are proud to support the Ni-kshay Mitra program to maximise community awareness on the disease in Lanjigarh. By ensuring good health within our neighbouring communities, we also unlock added opportunities for their growth and progress.”
Speaking on the partnership with Vedanta Aluminium, Chief District Medical Officer and Public Health Officer of Jharsuguda Dr. Dolamani Patel said, “Our collaboration with Vedanta aims to raise awareness among individuals on tuberculosis, its prevention, and available treatments. Further, by providing necessary support to the needy, this campaign is significantly contributing towards eradicating TB from our society. Through our joint efforts, we aim to create a healthier and stronger nation.”
Vedanta Aluminium provides a wide spectrum of basic and specialized health services in and around its areas of operations through Mobile Health Units, Nand Ghars, Health camps, Sanitation drives, and Cataract Surgeries.
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 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for 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.
