_~ Highlights BALCO’s Cancer Care Centre, Sustainable Livelihoods Creation & Women Empowerment Success~
Raipur, Chhattisgarh, November 22, 2024 – The Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF), the social impact arm of Vedanta Limited, has announced its impactful social initiatives for FY2023-24, contributing ₹437 crore to transform the lives of over 1.73 crore individuals across India, including significant contributions in Chhattisgarh state through Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) and BALCO Medical Centre (BMC). The Foundation’s annual Social Impact Compendium, titled “Nurturing, Transforming, Leading: India’s Growth Story”, showcases its 153 high-impact social projects, which spanned over 1,200 villages and focused on key areas including education, healthcare, women and child development, skilling and livelihood, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.
Vedanta’s subsidiary BALCO, India’s iconic aluminium producer located at Korba, Chhattisgarh, is deeply committed to fostering social progress by giving back to the communities surrounding its operations. Through its CSR initiatives, BALCO aims to empower and uplift neighbourhood communities, impacting around 0.17 Mn people across 123 villages in Chhattisgarh’s Korba, Kawardha, Surguja, and Raipur districts. A total of 1,69,056 lives were benefitted in the year through various social impact initiatives focused on sustainable livelihoods, women empowerment, healthcare, community infrastructure and more.
Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc Ltd. and Non-Executive Director of Vedanta Ltd, emphasized the Foundation’s holistic approach to community development, “At Vedanta, our core philosophy of Artha (the value we create) and Dharma (the value we give back) guides our commitment to empowering communities. Every initiative we undertake—from child nutrition and healthcare to skills development & livelihood to sports promotion, cultural preservation and more—aligns with our vision of an empowered, inclusive India.”
BALCO Medical Centre (BMC) in Naya Raipur, a flagship initiative of the Vedanta Medical Research Foundation, has emerged as a leader in affordable cancer care. Since its inception in 2018, the 170-bed tertiary care oncology facility has treated over 38,500 patients, providing cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic services. In 2023, BMC secured a prestigious US$25 million Cancer Grand Challenges grant for research on Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer, in collaboration with Cancer Research UK and the US National Cancer Institute.
A transformational story from BALCO Medical Centre is that of a 7-year-old girl from Mungeli, Chhattisgarh, suffering from Ewing’s Sarcoma, a severe bone cancer affecting her leg and thigh bone. She received life-saving treatment at BMC. Traditional reconstruction using metallic implants would have led to significant limb length discrepancies, rendering the limb almost unusable. Amputation was considered but deemed less optimal. Instead, the medical team at BMC opted for a unique and rare surgical procedure known as rotationplasty. Covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the young patient’s chemotherapy and surgery were fully funded, eliminating any financial burden on the girl’s family. Remarkably, 6 months post-treatment, the child walked comfortably and has now seamlessly reintegrated into her daily life.
BALCO’s Mor Jal Mor Maati project exemplifies its commitment to community welfare and sustainable livelihoods. By improving water management and introducing innovative farming practices, the initiative has enabled farmers to achieve year-round income. Through this program, BALCO built 107 water structures, generating cumulative water storage capacity of 1,06,061 Cu m. Amongst the farmers who adopted the modern techniques, there has been increase in productivity by 1.4 times and by 50% in income. The project has so far benefitted 4,749 farmers, addressing the needs of 85% of farming families by securing 1,800 acres of land for irrigation across 32 villages.
Another transformative success story is that of Tulsi Manjhwar, a farmer from Bundeli hamlet, struggling with limited income. He turned to lac cultivation with BALCO’s guidance which resulted in him producing 130 kg of lac, and an additional income of ₹65,000, significantly improving his family’s livelihood. This initiative demonstrates BALCO’s role in fostering resilience and prosperity in rural communities.
Its Project Unnati which focusses on women empowerment by mobilising them into SHGs, honed their capacities and skills for entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods. The project empowered 5,741 women in 531 SHGs and economically engaged 2,087 women to cumulatively save ₹12 Mn. The project also trained 1,400 women under 7 Micro Enterprises to offer 44 products, generating ₹1 Mn in revenue.
Vedanta, through its social impact arm, has also been committed to preserving India’s rich cultural heritage by empowering indigenous artisans. The Vedanta Culture Festival at Dilli Haat in Delhi provided the women from BALCO’s Unnati to showcase and market their products, extending their reach beyond the state of Chhattisgarh.
Anil Agarwal Foundation’s flagship women & child project Nand Ghar reported a network of 6,044 modern Anganwadis centres across 14 states which includes 262 in Chhattisgarh, operated by BALCO. Nand Ghars across India lend support to 238,161 children and 178,620 women with essential services like early childhood education, nutrition, healthcare, and skill development for women.
Vedanta Ltd., one of the world’s leading players in critical minerals, energy, and technology, continues to make a tangible social impact through its 19 subsidiaries, with an operational presence in multiple states across India. The company has committed to a ₹5,000 crore investment over the next five years to deepen its CSR initiatives and strengthen its focus on creating a sustainable, inclusive future.
Key Statistics of AAF’s Social Impact in FY2023-24:
• ₹437 crore invested in over 153 social projects across India
• Benefited 1.73 crore individuals in 1,200+ villages
• Supported 6,044 Nand Ghars, impacting 238,161 children and 178,620 women
• Benefitted 1.48 lakh animals through its animal welfare projects
• Contributed to the success of over 140 women footballers; won 11 national level medals at the 13th All India Karate Championship 2024
• Supported 17 lakh individuals through healthcare initiatives
• Improved community infrastructure for 5.22 lakh people
Key Highlights of Vedanta’s BALCO and BALCO Medical Centre in Chhattisgarh state:
• BALCO benefitted 1,69,056 lives through various social impact initiatives
• BMC secured a prestigious US$25 million Cancer Grand Challenges grant for research on Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer
• 77,025 direct beneficiaries of the BALCO Medical Centre
• Empowered 5,741 women in 531 SHGs and economically engaged 2,087 women to cumulatively save ₹12 Mn under Project Unnati
• Under Mor Jal Mor Mati farmers who adopted modern techniques, increased their productivity by 1.4t times and income by 50%.
• 1,241 youth were trained across 6 trades, with 81% securing employment or starting their own businesses under Vedanta Skill School.
• 49,000+ people availed healthcare and 8,500+ benefitted via health camps under BALCO’s Project Arogya
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