The Business Bytes
Bhubaneswar, June 1, 2024 (TBB Bureau): Vedanta Limited, Lanjigarh, India’s premier producer of smelter-grade alumina and a unit of Vedanta Aluminium, has launched ‘Sangam: Jeevan, Prakruti Aur Sanskriti Ka Ek Milan’, an initiative aimed at supporting rural farmers by developing climate-resilient livelihoods. Integrating sustainable agricultural practices, technological interventions, and natural resource management, Project Sangam is set to benefit over 500 families across more than 40 villages.
Kalahandi, primarily an agrarian region with limited livelihood opportunities and low rainfall outside the monsoon season, stands to gain significantly from this initiative. Project Sangam is a comprehensive plan designed to boost the socio-economic development of the region by integrating natural resource management and long-term livelihood opportunities.
The project aims to facilitate sustainable livelihoods for more than 20,000 people in five years.
Key components of Project Sangam include the establishment of Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), where small farmers aggregate their produce to benefit from economies of scale. Additionally, community members will receive training in sustainable and profitable non-farm activities such as pottery. Women farmers are encouraged to pursue entrepreneurial ventures like beekeeping. Various agricultural management practices will also be deployed, including trellising, NADEP composting, and soil testing to enhance soil quality and crop yields. The project also focuses on water resource development, including the construction of surplus weirs, ponds, and the revival of canals to improve groundwater retention and irrigation, covering over 60 per cent of the cultivable areas.
Commenting on the significance of the project, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO – Alumina Business, Vedanta Ltd said, “Creating sustainable livelihood avenues for underserved communities is an endeavour towards the wider socio-economic elevation of the region. By developing an ecosystem that facilitates the creation of sustainable livelihoods, Project Sangam will contribute significantly towards our communities becoming self-sufficient and empowered.”
Shankar Chandi, a farmer in Kalahandi, expressed his gratitude, saying, “Previously, Kalahandi was renowned for its jaggery due to the fine taste and rich colour. However, sugarcane cultivation became unviable due to climate extremes and water scarcity. Today, through this project, we can revive its production with proper agronomic practices and water replenishment initiatives, enabling us to earn a livable income.”
Vedanta Lanjigarh’s social initiatives span 67 villages, impacting over 60,000 people annually with services in sustainable livelihoods, education, women empowerment, health, water, sanitation, and community infrastructure. The company has empowered over 4,000 women from 378 Self-Help Groups (SHGs), provided healthcare, and established the region’s first English-medium school, DAV Vedanta International School.
Vedanta Aluminium, a division of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest aluminium producer, manufacturing over 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. The company leads in value-added aluminium products for critical applications in core industries and ranks first in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 for the aluminium industry. Vedanta Aluminium’s mission is to drive the adoption of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow, with world-class facilities in India.
