The
company is working with over 20 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across
its operations, driving socio-economic advancement in rural India
On World NGO Day, Vedanta
Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, announced that its impactful
outreach efforts in partnership with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have
resulted in a positive transformation in the lives of nearly 5 lakh individuals
across India in FY23 alone. Cumulatively, the company’s social interventions
have positively impacted over 6.3 lakh individuals in the last fiscal. The
company is actively collaborating with over 20 NGOs to drive socio-economic
progress in alignment with community needs, the government’s developmental
initiatives and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Vedanta Aluminium’s
operations include one of the world’s largest aluminium smelters in Jharsuguda,
a world-class alumina refinery in Lanjigarh in Odisha, India’s iconic aluminium
producer BALCO in Korba, Chhattisgarh, and a growing mines vertical. Together,
they are bringing several areas in rural India into the socio-economic
mainstream by reducing multi-dimensional rural poverty, creating opportunities
for enterprise and employment. The company’s social welfare interventions are
based on five thematic areas spanning education, healthcare, livelihood, rural
infrastructure, and grassroots sports, art & culture, with a focus on woman
& child development.
NGOs are crucial to this
entire effort, adding strengths such as deep penetration into rural
communities, programme development expertise, and insights on social structures
and customs. They function on a scientific basis, conducting need assessments
to ascertain the needs of the communities that could benefit from Vedanta
Aluminium’s social support, developing a programmatic approach to welfare
initiatives, and conducting regular impact assessments to gauge the efficacy of
the welfare programmes. The NGOs subsequently recalibrate or enhance the
ongoing programmes based on these definitive findings.
Every NGO partner working
with Vedanta Aluminium is selected only after rigorous due diligence. Once
onboarded, projects are closely monitored in terms of execution and impact,
with partners audited regularly in keeping with international standards.
Initiatives are undertaken with the long-term goal of making communities
self-sustaining. Thus, project milestones are designed such that community
members take complete ownership eventually.
Mr. John Slaven, CEO,
Vedanta Aluminium said, "Our community investments have grown by a
significant 45% between FY21 and FY23, reflecting a strong commitment to the
holistic development of the communities within which we operate. By
establishing strategic partnerships with reputed NGOs, we leverage our shared
strengths to design and deliver impactful social welfare initiatives to our
community members. At Vedanta Aluminium, we believe that inclusive growth stems
from empowering all segments of society. Our NGO partnerships deliver on this
front by catalysing transformative, sustainable development.”
Ongoing collaborations
involve working with domain-specific experts on a broad range of interventions,
such as the Punaruthan Voluntary Organisation which is addressing the
healthcare needs of over 2 lakh beneficiaries in Odisha through essential
healthcare facilities. Meanwhile, in association with the Sarthak Jan Vikas
Sansthan, the company has undertaken Project Nayi Kiran, a transformative
project focused on ensuring better menstrual health and hygiene practices among
rural girls.
Vedanta Aluminium has also
partnered with the Vedanta Foundation to implement skill development programs
in trades such as electricals and tailoring for rural youths, boosting their
employability. In collaboration with Action For Food Production (AFPRO), the
company is encouraging enhanced farming practices and food security through
initiatives such as ‘Jeevika Samridhhi’ in Jharsuguda and ‘Mor Jal Mor Maati’
at Korba. Moreover, it has also partnered with the Sportz Village Foundation to
provide archery & karate training to rural youths, which has resulted in
several laurels won at the state and national level.
Sharing the impact of these
initiatives, Dr. Jacob John, Executive Director, Action For Food Production
(AFPRO) said, “Through our partnership with Vedanta Aluminium, we are ensuring
a transformative impact on thousands of farmers and also re-establishing
farming as a sustainable livelihood choice for younger generations.” Adding his
views, Mr. Jugal Pattnayak, Managing Director, Mahashakti Foundation, said “We
have partnered with Vedanta Aluminium on entrepreneurship initiatives which are
helping women in rural areas make informed choices on their family’s wellbeing
and also play a more active role in their community’s development.”
Their cumulative impact
resonates strongly with the theme of observing this year's World NGO Day:
"Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of NGOs in Achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)." Through these strategic
initiatives, the company actively enriches the lives of community members
within its operational areas and beyond, recognizing them as integral
contributors to collective socio-economic progress and growth.
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 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the 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. www.vedantaaluminium.com
