The company is working with over 20 non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
across its operations, driving socio-economic advancement in rural India
New Delhi, 28 February 2024: 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.”
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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
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