Vedanta Aluminium Jharsuguda Empowers Women Through Subhalaxmi Cooperative’s Mahila Kalyan Panthi Fund

Jharsuguda: Subhalaxmi Co-operative, supported by Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has been transforming the lives of rural women in Western Odisha since 2008. Through innovative livelihood and welfare initiatives, the cooperative is enabling sustainable economic empowerment.

A cornerstone of this effort is the Mahila Kalyan Panthi Fund, a unique social welfare mechanism. Under this model, 1% of every loan availed by members is set aside to provide financial assistance for critical life-stage needs. To date, over 1,400 beneficiaries have received support for maternity care, scholarships for meritorious students, and assistance during family crises such as the loss of a spouse.

Mr. Sunil Gupta, COO – Vedanta Aluminium,commended the cooperative’s success, and said,“The Subhalaxmi Co-operative exemplifies the power of corporate-community partnerships. It is a testament to how rural women can achieve economic and social empowerment. With initiatives like the Mahila Kalyan Panthi Fund, we remain committed to helping women realize their aspirations and become equal contributors to the development of the community.”

Speaking about the positive impact of Vedanta’s Subhalaxmi Co-operative on her life, Pankajini Oram, President of Subhalaxmi Co-operative, said, “Joining Subhalaxmi Cooperative was a turning point in my life. Beyond financial aid, it fosters skill development and personal growth, empowering women to thrive. I am deeply grateful to Vedanta for their unwavering support, which has paved the way for countless women to benefit from this initiative.”

Highlights of Subhalaxmi Co-operative’s journey so far:

• One of India’s largest women-led cooperatives, with over 4,800 members across 434 Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
• Financial support worth ₹39.36 crore extended to 19,660 beneficiaries, boosting local economic growth.
• Governed by 15 elected women directors, the cooperative nurtures leadership through management and governance workshops.

Vedanta’s social interventions in the domains of education, healthcare, livelihood, skill development, grassroots sports, art & culture, with a focus on women and child development, reach out to nearly 80 villages in Jharsuguda and nearby areas, benefiting over 3 lakh people in a year. It empowers almost5,000 women from over 350 SHGs, provides doorstep healthcare services to about 50,000 people annually, gives educational support to more than 13,000 students, has planted almost 1.50 lakh trees in partnership with locals at the community level.

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.37 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 leading 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.