Its efforts aim to boostwater conservation, strengthen mitigation infrastructure andcreate community awareness on waterborne diseases
Jharsuguda, Odisha, 29thJuly 2023:Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, has undertaken comprehensive efforts to help the residents of Jharsuguda district, Odishaboost their preparedness for the onset of the monsoon season. In particular, the company has implemented a series of proactive initiatives to address the water and health needs of the community during this season.
To mitigate the potential impact of heavy rainfall and enhance the overall resilience of the region’s infrastructure, the company conducted a comprehensive cleaning drive to ensure smooth flow of drainage systems from Sunarimunda region to DAV School area and in Maa Samaleshwari Nagar, Jharsuguda. These are instrumental in managing rainwater flow and preventing waterlogging issues. Additionally, damaged sections were inspected and repaired to ensure optimal functioning, covering a significant stretch of critical drainage infrastructure.
As part of the initiative, Vedanta Jharsuguda has alsocleaned and rejuvenated10 community ponds in Badmal, Katikela, and Dalki gram panchayats of the district, towards facilitating groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting throughout the monsoon season. These steps will help ensure round-the-year availability of water for household, agriculture, and livestock uses. Since the beginning of this year, the company has, in collaboration with local authorities and community members,successfully revivedover 19 community ponds, thereby benefiting over 3,000 residents in the district and helping them suitably meet their water needs.
In addition tothese efforts, the company has initiated a week-long awareness campaignto educate the community on the prevention and management of major water-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and diarrhoea, whichare prevalentin the region during the monsoon season.These sessions will be undertakenby medical professionals through the company’s Mobile Health Unit (MHU),which providesfree primary healthcare to communities in remote areas. The initiativewill focus on identifying symptoms, deploying mitigation measures and the importance of timely medical care. By empowering community members through these interactive sessions, the company aims to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to protect themselves and their families effectively.
Commenting on the company’s monsoon preparedness program, Mr. Sunil Gupta, COO, Vedanta Limited – Aluminium Business said,“The wellbeing of our communities is of utmost importance to us, and our community initiatives in the region are aimed at improving their quality of life. Through the comprehensive monsoonpreparedness program, our focus is on mitigating risks, protecting public health, and fostering a stronger, more resilient community. We believe that by collectively addressing the challenges posed during the monsoon season, we can achieve a safer and healthier environment for all.”
Thanking the company for their monsoon preparedness program, Mr. Parakhit Naik, Ward Member of Kurebaga village, Dalki Gram Panchayat, said, “We extend our sincere appreciation to Vedanta Aluminium for this initiative, which will help usinpreparing for themonsoon season. The pond restoration activity will also ensure adequate water supply for our community post-monsoon. Vedanta’sunwavering dedication to our welfare is truly praiseworthy, and we firmly believe that with their support, we can ensure collective well-being of our community during this season.”
Vedanta Jharsuguda’s social interventions in the domains of sustainable livelihood, quality education, women empowerment, health, water and sanitation, bio-investment and community infrastructure reach out to 80 villages in Jharsuguda and nearby areas, benefiting over 3 lakh people in a year. It empowers more than 4000 women from over 350 SHGs, provides doorstep healthcare services to about 43,000 people annually, gives educational support to more than 13,000 students.
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.
