Three members CSR advisory team of Vedanta Aluminium has visited Vedanta`s Lanjigarh refinery plant at Orissa today and expressed their satisfaction on the company’s initiative for sustainable development. CSR activities of Vedanta Aluminium Ltd, Lanjigarh is mainly concentrated on four areas i.e Health, Education, Livelihood and Infrastructure. The team has reviewed the overall progress of all the areas and shared their views to the local Management. Dr Mukesh Kumar, the Chief Operating Officer of VAL, Lanjigarh accompanied them during their visit.

The CSR Advisory Board members visited the Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar and met the displaced families who have been rehabilitated in this colony. They interacted with the women at the Tailoring centre and Phenyl-making unit in the Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar. Appreciating the initiative of VAL in providing enhanced livelihood to the tribal women, Dr. S.B. Mishra said, “the innovative livelihood development project by Vedanta will definitely help in financial and social empowerment of women in the region.” The visitors were pleased to see the health centre, child care centre and primary school in the rehabilitation colony, established by Vedanta.

They also visited the Strawberry fields, developed under Vedanta’s Shashya Shilpa Abhiyan program. Dr. Pratibha Ray praised the local farmers and Vedanta’s CSR Team members for this novel initiative. Growing strawberry , an alien fruit, at Lanjigarh is a remarkable achievement, she said.

The advisory board members also had an over view of the alumina refinery by visiting key plant areas and the central control room. Prof. Mohanty commended Vedanta for using latest technology and equipments in the plant. The members also planted saplings inside the plant premises.

The three-member-team also interacted with VAL’s senior management team members. Dr. Mukesh Kumar presented an overview of the plant and various development initiatives taken up by the Company for local area development.

Source: orissadiary.com

Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh with an objective to enhance the livelihood of tribal families, provided 40 Sewing Machines to 20 Tribal Women groups for leaf plate making. The sewing machines were distributed by Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer of VAL in a function, attended by about 300 Dongria Kondh Women on April 18, 2009 at Khemdipadar village (Trilochanpur GP).

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mukesh Kumar said, “VAL is committed for overall development of the area and the impact of VAL's initiatives aimed for bringing drastic changes shall be visible very soon in the areas of education, health, communication besides maintaining and improving cultural heritage”. Recently, the Aluminium Company has launched a project ‘Jeevika’ for women residing in eight villages on the slope of Niyamgiri. Under the project the company has trained 300 tribal women on making of leaf plate and cups. Out of the 300 women, 120 women are from Dongria Kondh, 90 from Kutia Kondh community.

The rest 90 women are from Schedule Caste and other backward caste community. About 50 Joint Livelihood Groups (JLG), comprising 300 enterprising women have been formed under this project.  “The Sewing Machines will help the tribal women in producing market standard leaf-plate and also increase their income. Other JLG members will also get their sewing machine very soon,” added Dr. Mukesh Kumar. The group members were taken on exposure trip to visit the enterprises in Bhawanipatna and Bolangir to gain practical knowledge about leaf plate making.

The stitched leaf-plate making business is expected to enhance the income of each JLG member by at least Rs. 100 per month as Sal or Siali leaves are available in the locality abundantly. Vedanta will also provide marketing support for the leaf-plate. The tribal women also see a new future in their newly found income opportunities. “After seeing leaf-plate making and its business in other places, our group members are highly motivated. With sewing machine we can earn more than Rs. 100 a day,” says Katli Majhi a Dongria Kondh women from Phuldumer Village.

This is a pilot initiative by the Company and after seeing response from the tribal women. The company is all set to expand the livelihood intervention to other villages, as well.

Providing improved livelihood to the periphery area villagers has been the focus of the company. It has contributed in better income and living of several tribal people in Lanjigarh through various livelihood initiatives such as Shashya Shilpa Abhiyan (Vegetable cultivation program); Strawberry Cultivation; Phenyl making business by women, rice processing unit by SHG members and fishery.

Source: www.orissadiary.com

The Alumina Refinery of Vedanta Aluminium Limited observed the 39th National Safety Week on March 4, 2010 at Lanjigarh, Orissa. The program started after hoisting of National Safety Day Flag by Mr. N. Nagesh, Vice-President of Vedanta Aluminium Limited.  Employees also conducted a Safety March inside the plant area in order to build awareness about occupational health and safety.

All employees of the Company along with employees of Associate Companies reiterated National Safety Day Pledge. The observation of 39th National Safety Week will end in March 10, 2010.

In order to increase awareness about occupational safety and health, the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) department of Vedanta Aluminium has taken up several activities such as Essay competitions and Poster competition etc among the employees and other participants.

Special training and demonstration program on road safety, fire safety and emergency preparedness would also be organized as a part of national Safety Week Observation. The company is campaigning with safety posters and slogans - displayed in the Plant premises to create more awareness among the employees and others. Employees would also be awarded for their safety performance.

The observation of 39th national safety week is being coordinated by the Health Safety and Environment Department, lead by Dr. RC Rout, Head (HSE).

Source: www.orissadiary.com