VedantaAluminium blogs

First Ever Dongria Kondha’s Music Album Release in Kui Language.

Vedanta Aluminium — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:19:00 GMT

A Unique initiative by Vedanta to promote the culture & tradition of Dongria Kondha Tribe.

The first ever Kui Music Album ‘Niyamgiri ti Rani’ was launched here at Mayfair, Bhubaneswar on 19th October, 2010. This is the first-of-its kind initiative to bring the beauty, the rich cultural heritage, the music and the language of the Dongria Kondha community to the limelight, by Vedanta.

The Dongria Kondhas are one of the primitive tribal inhabitants of Lanjigarh, in the district of Kalahandi, Orissa. Kui, the traditional language of the Dongria Kondhas, has a rich oral history that the elders of the community pass on from generation to generation through their folk songs and stories. Dongria Kondhas, under the leadership of Jitu Jakasika, pioneered the thought to promote their culture with their own music band. aaaaa

Vedanta Aluminium is proudly associated with this unique initiative to promote the culture and tradition of Kondha tribes of Orissa. The album comprises of eight beautiful Kui songs composed by noted Oriya music director Manmath Mishra. The songs are written by Gopal Melaka; and the singers are Jitu Jakasika, Ramesh Kulesika, Gopal Melaka, Stephen and Biraji, Dongria natives of Lanjigarh & Muniguda.

Speaking on the occasion, Jitu said, "It's a dream come true for us. We have a long mission to accomplish. Hereafter, we also plan to release a video album followed by live performances across India to promote the culture of the natives of Lanjigarh."

Bijayaranjan Singh Bariha, Minister for SC & ST Development, Minorities and Backward Class Welfare, Orissa, was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Releasing the Music CD he expressed his deep gratitude to Vedanta for taking an initiative to bring forth the hidden talents among the Dongria tribes. He said that other corporate houses must emulate such responsibilities that help build and preserve the rich tradition and culture of Orissa.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Siddhanta Mohapatra MP Lok Sabha Bramhapur and eminent Cine Artist said, “Music and Art has no colour, creed or sect. Tribal Music in particular, in any form reflects the joy that emanates from the heart of people.”

Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President and COO -VAL Lanjigarh, reiterated Vedanta's vision for the overall development of the peripheral areas of Kalahandi, where it is already operating an alumina refinery. He said, "Vedanta will continuously support such endeavor to make the tribal community self-sustainable. Culture is as important to us as socio-economic development, which has been our top priority."

Other noted personalities from across the society, who graced this occasion were Odissi Vocalist Guru Ramahari Das, Noted Odissi dancer Ms Aruna Mohanty, Dr. A. B. Ota, Director SC & ST Development Institute, Orissa and Balabhadra Majhi, Former Minister Govt of Orissa.

The event witnessed a huge participation from around 40 Dongria Kondha people, who traveled especially from Lanjigarh to be a part of this Mega Event.

Vedanta provides medical aid in diarrhea hit villages in Rayagada

Vedanta Aluminium — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 11:08:00 GMT

Vedanta Aluminium Limited extended its support to the district administration of Rayagada to fight the outbreak of Diarrhoea in Bissam cuttack, Kalayansinghpur and Kashipur block of the district. The company has been providing supplementary and complementary medical support to the local community of these three blocks in collaboration with the Govt. Health Department. Till date, it has provided health service with medical & paramedical care, medicine and ORS facility to 350 patients in the Bissamcuttack and Kalayansinghpur blocks, through its mobile health unit and Special Health Camps.

The company started its mobile health service in Bissamcuttack block on September 03, 2010 and in Kalyanginghpur block from 9th September onwards. The CSR Team of the company has taken up a sanitation drive in the villages by sprinkling bleaching Powder, demonstration of clean hand practices and applying disinfectants to other water bodies and also home application of halogen tablets. More than 100 Plastic Mats have been provided to three blocks for the patients who are admitted in the temporary treatment centers. aaaaa

Besides, for facilitating the medical, paramedical staff and other volunteers to continue their services in inaccessible villages, drinking water (water bottle and water pouches) and biscuits have been provided for the medical staff as well as the patients and attendants who are at the temporary treatment centers in three blocks.

The company is also taking proactive step in raising awareness among the community. It has put awareness banner in PHC and CHC of three blocks to create awareness on diarrhea besides circulating leaflets / brochures. The villages covered under the special drive are Gadaba, Hikinee, Dhamanpanga, Lakhpai, Kisingi, Upper Anchalbadi, Tala Anchalbadi, Pendamaska.

In order to prevent spread of diarrhea in the Refinery periphery villages, the company has also started an intensive drive on awareness building to control diarrhea through door to door campaign by its employees since 13thSept’10. Two Mobile Health Unit services with medical, paramedical care and medicine are on duty 24X7. For all referral cases two Ambulances services available on the site. Bleaching powder has being sprinkled in the drains, surrounding and near drinking water sources of the villages with the help of community and employees of the Vedanta Refinery. Community sensitization is going on by the VAL employee through door to door visit. CSR Head of the Company Mr. Prashant Hota and his team led by Ms Alka Minj and Dr Akshya Sahoo are in close coordination with the the Govt Medical Officers from Lanjigarh , Biswanathpur , Kasipur and Kalyansinghpur and with the Local leaders and the Village based special committees .

Simultaneous mitigation and preventive drive have been initiated in Dongria and Kutia Kandh predominant villages Phuldumer, Palberi, Balbhadrapur and Trlochanpur. Soap pieces have been provided to the tribal families while demonstrating the clean hand drives. Application of water treatment agents like sand, alum and chlorine in the Water distribution points, bleaching powder in the drains and garbage sources and halogen tablets in the drinking water containers were also demonstrated in the Tribal households in the above villages. Medical Outlets of the Company in Balbhdrapur, Trilocahnpur and Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar are fully equipped to provide outdoor treatment / rehydration facilities for Diarrheoa and malaria patients. Company CSR team is in high alert for the tribal villages for providing ambulances in odd hour for transporting the patients from the inaccessible villages. ‘CDMO and District Collector are also being reported of the Preventive and curative intervention undertaken by the Company’ said Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer of Vedanta Aluminium Limired, Lanjigarh.

Vedanta & NIT-Rourkela sign MoU for waste utilization

Vedanta Aluminium — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:35:00 GMT

MoU signed between Vedanta Aluminium Limited and NIT, Rourkela for Technology Development to recover iron oxide from waste generated in Alumina Industry
Research outcome will facilitate Vedanta’s vision of achieving Zero Waste in its refinery.

Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh in its efforts to make Alumina Refinery as Zero waste plant, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with National Institute of Technology, Rourkela (NITR) to develop technologies for recovering iron oxide from waste generated in Alumina Industry. The MoU was signed by Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer of Vedanta Aluminium Limited and Prof. Sunil Kumar Sarangi, Director, National Institute of Technology, on August 12, 2010 at Rourkela.

“The development of technology for separation of Iron oxide from Red mud will bring revolution in alumina industry as utilization of this may not require any big red mud ponds and thus help in minimizing or avoiding environmental risks” said Dr Mukesh Kumar. The MoU also includes exchange of expertise between two organizations for skill upgradation as well as future research through M.Tech/PhD program. This will provide an opportunity for bridging the gap between institution and industry and may be a model case for others, besides linking research directly with industry.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Sunil Kumar Sarangi, Director said that NIT Rourkela has already made breakthrough achievement by conducting successful laboratory scale testing and signing of this MoU will help in scaling up and commercial utilization of the Indigenous technology. On successful implementation, such technologies can be made available for other alumina refineries across the globe.
Vedanta Aluminium Limited will provide financial and technical support towards conducting the R&D projects and has presented a Cheque of Rs. 21.2 lakhs as an initial deposit for undertaking research. Vedanta Aluminium has been continuously working for environmental development at plant sites , such activities are always remain the top priority of the company to become most environment friendly organization in the country . It is noted that VAL refinery at Lajigarh has recently conferred with Green Business Leadership Award" in Mining and Metal Industry in the environment segment by The Financial Express – Emergent Venture India.

In any mineral based industry, disposal of waste is always an area of concern. They incur huge cost of processing, generate no revenue and result in unsold material which becomes a concern for the environment and community. At present, Vedanta Refinery at Lanjigarh has already implemented state of art technology viz high concentration slurry disposal system which requires almost one third of land than the conventional system.

Vedanta sets up first Science College at Lanjigarh, in Kalahandi District of Orissa

Vedanta Aluminium Limited — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 11:17:00 GMT

The College will impart education from the academic session 2011-12
The College will be managed by DAV School management
LPADF to open graduate level Science College Lanjigarh

Vedanta Aluminium has announced to set up first ever science college at Lanjigarh of Kalahandi District in Orissa. The full session will begin from the academic year 2011-12. The college will impart graduate level studies in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Zoology, Botany and Environment Science. The college will be funded by the Lanjigarh Project Area Development Foundation (LPADF) – the special purpose vehicle formed for as per the advice of the Supreme Court.

In the last Lanjigarh Project Area Development Foundation (LPADF) meeting, it has been decided to open a graduate science college at Lanjigarh to provide opportunities to large no of students of Lanjigarh block as well as nearby area like Muniguda, Ambodola and Biswanathpur area; as no such college is available within 50 KM radius of Lanjigarh. The opening of the science college will fulfill the demand of local residents, who are demanding the science college for a long time.

Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh and Director of LPADF said, “It is the long due for the people of Lanjigarh. The opening of graduation level Vedanta Science College at Lanjigarh will provide opportunity to students living in the interior villages, who are finding it difficult to pursue graduation courses after XII, due to non-availability of any science college in the locality.” This college will be a great help for carry forwarding the education system, he also added.

Vedanta Aluminium Limited has proactively agreed to provide land for the college. DAV College Trust and Management society has also agreed to be the partner of the project by providing best education practice for the pupils of Kalahandi. A letter of confirmation to the effect has already been submitted to Collector of Kalahandi. DAV College Trust and Management is a premier education society in the country and has already set up more than hundred colleges across India.

In Lanjigarh, DAV College Trust and Management society has jointly set up an international school, which has been operating for the last four years and is one of the most modern schools within Kalahandi and Rayagada district . A number of renowned persons, including Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has visited the school and has appreciated the level and quality of education being provided by this school.

‘Mining Project will bring development for Dongria Kondh People’ – Jitu Jakasika

Kailash Tudu — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:57:00 GMT

“Dongria Kondh Community want development and mining from Niyamgiri will bring a lot socio-economic development opportunity for the tribals,” says Jitu Jakasika, one of the few English Speaking youths in the Kondh Community. However, few days before, He was well known for his hardcore and stiff opposition for Vedanta and its mining project.

He had visited almost all Dongria Kondh villages to organize people to oppose the mining plan. Continuous feeding of misleading facts and systematic brainwash made him to believe that industrialization and development would dilute the originality and culture of Dongria Kondh tribe. He left his education mid-way to join activists and vehemently opposed industrialization and associated development in the locality.

However, one incident opened eyes of Jitu. He was in Bada Denguni village to organize people against industrialization. The village has no motorable road. A pregnant lady suddenly became critical and was required to be taken to the hospital. However, in absence of any ambulance or vehicle, she was portered to the hospital. Jitu was also with her. On the way, she delivered a baby, who died just after birth. Jitu was shocked by the incident. At that time, the lady told Jitu that due to opposition to industrialization and development linked with it, her child died. If he would not have opposed industry and development work carried out by it, there would have been motorable road to the village and she could have gone to hospital in time. “This was a great learning for me. It forced me to think, whether I am doing the right things by blocking development,” said Jitu Jakasika.

He explored more on industry and development. He visited other industrial sites in the locality and mainly the ongoing bauxite mining sites. He saw for himself that neither Bauxite mining is ecologically hostile, nor it dries the spring and underground water. He also realized that ‘industrialization and development do not dilute tribal culture or lifestyle’.

“We did not want mining at Niyamgiri. We were misguided by different NGOs and groups,’ admits Jitu. He reveals that different NGOs from different countries and political parties, who are working only to fulfill their interests, were claiming that Vedanta’s mining at Niyamgiri would destroy the hill and would adversely affect the environment of the area and the lives of the tribals. Of late, he realized that all these were false claims which were intended to instigate the poor and ignorant tribals against Vedanta. They never want the development of the Dongria Kondhs.

Now, He has stopped to help the outsiders who campaign against industrialization and development of tribal children. After seeing the social development initiatives of Vedanta in periphery villages, he was convinced that development through industrialization can bring development for Dongria kondh people by providing them basic services like, health, education, infrastructure and sustainable livelihood. “I always wanted development of Dongria Kondh community and I believe industrialization can bring rapid development for tribal people,” says Jitu.

He also expressed his desired to resume his studies, so that he could know the mainstream world better and work for development of his community. Vedanta Aluminium Limited, under its Scholarship program provided support for his education. Jitu, a dongria kondh tribe, is now studying at a reputed management college at Bhubaneswar in Bachelor of Business Admission (BBA) program. In holidays, he comes to his villages and encourages fellow community members for education and other development initiatives. He is now playing a key role in facilitating education of tribal children from his villages in formal schooling and Colleges. To him “education alone can remove superstition, reduce vulnerability to contamination and can bring empowerment and in turn development”.

Vedanta’s venture into the aluminium sector of Orissa with signing MoU for an alumina refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi and an aluminium smelter at Jharsuguda was an important event in the aluminium industry of the State. After 25 years, Vedanta set up the first Refinery in the state, which is having more than 55% of India’s Bauxite. And also, Vedanta is the only company that has rolled in its project in Orissa as per its agreement with the State Government and has already started its production partially from its Lanjigarh refinery. The company, which has placed itself in a significant position in the global aluminium industry, is very well concerned towards carrying out its Corporate Social Responsibility and has taken up several initiatives with the aim to bring qualitative improvement in the lives of the community surrounding its plant. VAL has expressed and reiterated its commitment towards socio-economic transformation has now reached ‘the society at large’. And fortunately, the particular society, to which it aimed to transform, has now realized the real intention and motive of Vedanta and has now accepted it. This is very much evident from the positive vibes coming from the statements of some tribal leaders including Jitu.

Vedanta stands beside jobseekers

Vedanta Aluminium Limited — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:22:00 GMT

October 2009 will remain firmly etched in the memory of Kamini Koshi for a long, long time. That month she was forced to resign from her job because her employer had to downsize and she became another victim of the raging global recession. Just a statistics for the world, this undergraduate lady who is the sole breadwinner in a family of seven residing in the suburbs of Mumbai was entirely clueless about how to make the ends meet.

The same month she found Vedanta Foundation!

The placement team in Vedanta Foundation saw her potential and swung into action. After two rounds of interviews she has landed a much better job with a pay packet that is over 40 per cent larger. She is overjoyed for being rescued from the spectre of joblessness and penury and at a loss of words to describe her gratitude to the foundation.

However, for the placement team at Vedanta Foundation it is just a job well done, like so many others that they regularly log every day. Ask Sangram Goilkar, Swapnali Wadhe, Mujahid Shaikh or Pratik Shirke and their story is as joyous Kamini Koshi. And the thread of happiness is the Vedanta Foundation that has bound the lives of 9 lakh persons in the same thread in its 17 years of existence.

Established in September 1992 the foundation has blazed a trail of social and economic empowerment of weaker sections that must be a source of envy to many older and well reputed organizations.

The Chairman of Vedanta Group, Anil Agarwal, takes active interest in the functioning of the foundation where his wife Kiran Agarwal is an Executive Trustee. “Vedanta Foundation believes in empowering the society to fulfill its obligation, towards all the strength, the intellect and the resources that it has built and obtained in its long journey. We at Vedanta believe that the word empowering defines a broader spectrum of responsibility which holds the key to uplift, educate, strengthen and bring about an optimistic path which leads towards achievement and faith,” says T Ravi Krishnan, CEO, Vedanta Foundation

The footprint of the foundation is spread across 24 of the 29 states in India and is not confined to only the areas where the group companies are operational. The computer literacy projects are still at the core of its activities. With a large emphasis being placed on computer literacy skills in the labour market, it has become important for the less privileged to be assisted in acquiring these skills. Since the start of Vedanta Literacy campaign, a large number of youth have availed of the basic computer courses offered by the foundation at its computer centers spread out across India. At the conclusion of the courses, exams are conducted and certificates are awarded to the students. The Foundation currently operates more than 315 such Literacy Centers. Recently it has signed a MoU with Government of Maharashtra to provide for computer aided learning in 3,590 schools where the foundation provides E-learning content, computer books, and teachers training and ensure close monitoring of the project. The annual budget for the computer literacy project is around 2.5- 3 cores.

In the process of providing training it was noticed that the trainees still need support to negotiate their way through the minefield of selection process by employers whose requirements varied from each other. The foundation realized that without proper placement their job remained half done. Vedanta Foundation strongly believes that providing quality training to the under privileged can not be an end by itself and the beneficiaries must be provided with the basic job opportunity. Keeping in mind the imperative of placing as many students as possible, the foundation set in motion a new project called Vedanta Job Assistance programme.

The Vedanta Job Assistance Program (VJAP) focuses on providing appropriate job opportunities to the less privileged unemployed youth.

The VJAP team is constantly in touch with the prospective Industrial or Corporate employers to explore job opportunities for the unemployed youth.

Orissa tribals get electricity 60 yrs after independence

Akshaya Sahoo — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:23:00 GMT

For them, it’s a dream come true. Four Dongria Kondh-dominated villages- Phuldumer, Khemdipadar, Kunakadu and Palberi- in Orissa’s most backward district Kalahandi district now have electricity.

Significantly, this power has not come from the grid which is still at a distance that makes it difficult to create infrastructure to carry electricity to these remote villages. The source is solar energy which enables them to come out from darkness. Thanks to the efforts of Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), a London-based company that facilitated the installation of the facility. At least 74 households have been facilitated by this noble mission. “For the first time in their life and after six decades of India’s independence, the primitive Dongria Kondh tribals now have light at their doorsteps. This is indeed a great achievement,” says Pramod Sahukar, a local social worker.aaaaa

The effort of VAL has brought conventional electricity to 11 other villages in Lanjigarh Block of the district, lighting up life of more than 10,000 persons in about 700 households.

In a glaring contrast, the electrification drive under the Central Government funded Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bidyutikaran Yojana has covered only 2 villages in Lanjigarh Block and 22 in the Kalahandi district. And the electrification process using the non-conventional source of energy is a virtually a non-starter here so far, informs Mr. Sahukar. What is interesting is to note that the head of VAL’s Lanjigarh Project Dr. Mukesh Kumar personally monitors the electrification activity.

VAL, which has installed automatic traffic light system in Bhawanipatna, the District Headquarters town; has also decided to focus on improving civic amenities in peripheral villages which is demonstrated by 75 street lights already provided in the local Ambadola town. Besides, it has plans for street lights in Lanjigarh town in quick time.

The Dongria Kondhs live in hillside villages and depend on agriculture as their main source of livelihood. Since a section of environmentalists apprehend that the tribals would be affected by the alumina refinery project implementation, the Government and VAL have been trying to resettle and rehabilitate them in every possible manner, CM Mr. Naveen Patnaik has visited the area more than once and asked the local authorities to to ensure better living standard to the Dongria Kondhs.

Leave anti-development path

Minaketan Sahoo — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:01:00 GMT

It is always being said that the people of Orissa are poor despite the land having rich natural resources. These resources are not being able to change the fate of the people of the State due to lack of proper utilization. During the tenure of Mr. Biju Patnaik as the Chief Minister, the Government took up steps to make the state industrially developed by investing a portion of the natural resources of the State. The process of industrialization kicked during this period to utilize the iron ores, manganese, chrome ores, limestone, dolomite and coal reserved in the State. The process still continues with the establishment of many mega and medium scale steel and aluminium industries and thermal power plants. The per capita income of the people of Orissa has also gone up as they have become the stakeholders in the process of development. With this, the infrastructures of the State have been developed and many steps are being taken up towards the development of education, agriculture and forest conservation. With the private business houses being partners in this development process, the lifestyle of the State has started to change. But industrial development of Orissa is not one-sided. The State Government, industrial houses and people of the land are making concerted efforts towards the progress of the State. Parallel efforts are also on in the field of the development of the tribals and people belonging to backward classes. They have been entitled with the Forest Rights and their productivity is being enhanced through development of education and healthcare facilities. But the process of including the tribals in this stream of development is being delayed due to the democratic nature of the procedure being followed. Taking this delay as an opportunity, some terrorist and leftist groups, voluntary organizations and people with vested interests have started movement against industrialization in the name of environment and displacement. It is unfortunate that while Amnesty International has taken the lead in this movement, some outfits like Chasi Mulia Sangha in Koraput are continuing agitations against land acquisition and protesting the industries in the name of R&R and land acquisition issues. But in real practice the rehabilitation and peripheral development of different industrial houses have contributed to further the socio-economic development of districts like Kalahandi, Jajpur and Jagatsinghpur. The locals are being provided with new houses, schools, health centres, nutritious foods and midday meals. But the opponents of this development process are instigating the people by spreading negative information. While the process of change is changing the standard of living of the people, they are, on the other hand, are being misled. The innocent people are being organized against industrialization in the name of environment, traditional way of living and religion. While voluntary organizations like Amnesty International are misleading the locals against the proposed Dhamra Port Project, POSCO’s steel project, proposed thermal power project and aluminium project, the leftists and terrorist groups are taking the advantage of the situation and creating violence. There is a need of peaceful environment for the economic and social development. On the other hand, while the rehabilitation and resettlement programmes are being implemented with the consultation of the displaced, they are instigated to follow the path of violence. Considering the adverse effects of the Naxal and Maoist movements in the development process of the Eastern India , the Government of India has taken serious measures to handle the issue. While some terrorists have been arrested, some others have surrendered meanwhile. It is being expected that all the problems would be sorted out if they come forward for peaceful discussion leaving the path of violence. Time has come to choose the path of peace and progress. The groups who are instigating and misleading people against development should remember that one has to forego something to achieve something. Countries like USA , UK , Russia and China have attained development by realizing this truth. So, discussion to end all the controversies and disputes and peaceful resolution of all the issues would bring prosperity to Orissa and would enhance the strength of India .

Role of VEC in Empowering the People at Lanjigarh

D.S.Mishra — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:26:00 GMT

The Village Empowerment Committee (VEC) is playing a significant role in the implementation of the 'Bal Chetna Anganwadi Project', initiated by the Vedanta Foundation. After the intervention of Vedanta Foundation Village Empowerment Committee were formed almost in every village of Lanjigarh Block in Kalahandi district. These committees are playing important role in the development of ICDS Anganwadi system. The committee is also doing its job infallible manner to create awareness and public opinion against corruption.

People are now being aware about different Government programmes and the projects taken up by the Vedanta Foundation. The anganwadi workers are also showing dedication and sincerity towards child development. 'Balchetna Anganwadi Project' stresses on the importance and impact of pre-school education and food quality. As per Mr. Ashok Kumar Bisoi, President and Ward Member of Bhairagada-A, the Bal Chetna Anganwadi Project is leading to social development in a backward district like Kalahandi besides creating a new chapter in child development and care. In this context, the Bal Chetna Project in Phuldumer has set an example.

Vedanta Foundation set up a child care centre in this village on 20th November 2008. It came up as a ray of hope for this village, which was far from the reach of education and development. Later, CCWs and assistants were appointed in this centre to manage this child care centre. With these workers and assistants, who were dedicated towards the development of children, a special learning method was carried out at this centre with a view to bring about positive changes in the behaviour of the learners and their overall development. aaaaa

But some of the instigated anti Vedanta tribals had torched fire to the centre. The centre has been revived by the efforts of the representatives of Vedanta Foundation. Vedanta lauds the efforts of Mr.Balakrushna Rath, Mr.S.K.Maharana, Mr.Kumar Gauraba Parida, Mr.Kulamani Sahoo and the CCWs towards reopening the child care centre with great courage and conviction. It was the mission of Vedanta Foundation representatives for the revival and refunctioning of the centre against all the odds. Frequent meetings and confidence building measures were undertaken by the representatives of VEDANTA FOUNDATION. The villagers were assured and apprised of the benefits of sending their children to the centre.

Also Vedanta Foundation Representatives formed one Village Education Empowerment Committee consisting of Village Head and other eminent persons of Phuldumer village and the fully motivated Committee ensured Vedanta Foundation that the Committee will take all the responsibilities of the CHILD CARE CENTRE. They took ownership of the centre and vowed to face all odds, come what may. The villagers are now sending their children to the child care centre and getting manifold benefits of the project.

Vedanta’s Jeevika Project help Dongria Kondh women weave success with sal leave

D.S.Mishra — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:20:00 GMT

Earning for them meant toiling on farmland or working as daily labourers under the sun. So when Katili Majhi of village Phuldumer received Rs 2370 by selling leaf plates, she could not believe her eyes.

And she was not the only woman. Around 318 women of 10 villages in Niyamgiri region are happy with their newfound income avenue. Thanks to the project ‘Jeevika’ run by Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) under its Corporate Social Responsibility programme. All these Dongria Kondh women are collecting ‘sal’ and ‘siali’ leaves from the forest, stitching them into leaf plates and selling them.

On July 29, 2009, they sold 2,89,000 pieces of leaf plates for Rs 86,700 at 30 paise per plate. Now they are waiting to sell the rest 1,09,000 neatly stacked leaf plates. And the joy in their face is visible as Damayanti Majhi of village Trilochanpur said she earns about Rs 500 per week by selling leaf plates. The Project was launched by forming 53 Joint Livelihood Groups (JLG) comprising about 318 women from eight villages. VAL arranged for one-month training to all the women on leaf-plate making and took them to Balangir and Bhawanipatna for an exposure trip to help them acquire market knowledge. “The sole objective was to improve the quality of life and provide sustainable livelihood,” said Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer of VAL, Lanjigarh. NGO SHAKTI is implementing the project.
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Later the women were handed over sewing machines to stitch the plates and today they are contributing about Rs 1000 each to their household income. “As the company has arranged for doorstep marketing of the leaf-plates through the NGO, we are not bothered about marketing,” said Kumtadi Majhi of village Khemdipadar.

Representatives of the NGO regularly supervise the work and provide necessary technical support. The initiative is gradually drawing more and more women groups into the business.

“Very soon the project will cover more women in other villages and the focus would be on development of Dongria Kondh women,” informed Kumar. The intervention is reflecting on the quality of life and livelihood of the Dongria Kondhs and each woman is earning Rs 40 per day by making leaf-plates, revealed Gata Majhi of Niyamaraja JLG in Palberi village. Now many of them have stopped working as daily labourers and are focussing on the business as they are not only able to contribute to the family income but also are managing to do domestic chores.

Vedanta shows the way

Kailash Tudu — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:52:00 GMT

The same month she found Vedanta Foundation!

The placement team in Vedanta Foundation saw her potential and swung into action. After two rounds of interviews she has landed a much better job with a pay packet that is over 40 per cent larger. She is overjoyed for being rescued from the spectre of joblessness and penury and at a loss of words to describe her gratitude to the foundation.

However, for the placement team at Vedanta Foundation it is just a job well done, like so many others that they regularly log every day. Ask Sangram Goilkar, Swapnali Wadhe, Mujahid Shaikh or Pratik Shirke and their story is as joyous Kamini Koshi. And the thread of happiness is the Vedanta Foundation that has bound the lives of 9 lakh persons in the same thread in its 17 years of existence.aaaaa

Established in September 1992 the foundation has blazed a trail of social and economic empowerment of weaker sections that must be a source of envy to many older and well reputed organizations.

The Chairman of Vedanta Group, Anil Agarwal, takes active interest in the functioning of the foundation where his wife Kiran Agarwal is an Executive Trustee. “Vedanta Foundation believes in empowering the society to fulfill its obligation, towards all the strength, the intellect and the resources that it has built and obtained in its long journey. We at Vedanta believe that the word empowering defines a broader spectrum of responsibility which holds the key to uplift, educate, strengthen and bring about an optimistic path which leads towards achievement and faith,” says T Ravi Krishnan, CEO, Vedanta Foundation

The footprint of the foundation is spread across 24 of the 29 states in India and is not confined to only the areas where the group companies are operational. The computer literacy projects are still at the core of its activities. With a large emphasis being placed on computer literacy skills in the labour market, it has become important for the less privileged to be assisted in acquiring these skills. Since the start of Vedanta Literacy campaign, a large number of youth have availed of the basic computer courses offered by the foundation at its computer centers spread out across India. At the conclusion of the courses, exams are conducted and certificates are awarded to the students. The Foundation currently operates more than 315 such Literacy Centers. Recently it has signed a MoU with Government of Maharashtra to provide for computer aided learning in 3,590 schools where the foundation provides E-learning content, computer books, and teachers training and ensure close monitoring of the project. The annual budget for the computer literacy project is around 2.5- 3 cores.

In the process of providing training it was noticed that the trainees still need support to negotiate their way through the minefield of selection process by employers whose requirements varied from each other. The foundation realized that without proper placement their job remained half done. Vedanta Foundation strongly believes that providing quality training to the under privileged can not be an end by itself and the beneficiaries must be provided with the basic job opportunity. Keeping in mind the imperative of placing as many students as possible, the foundation set in motion a new project called Vedanta Job Assistance programme.

The Vedanta Job Assistance Program (VJAP) focuses on providing appropriate job opportunities to the less privileged unemployed youth.

The VJAP team is constantly in touch with the prospective Industrial or Corporate employers to explore job opportunities for the unemployed youth.

Why Orissa is Poor? Let’s Analyze

Jagannath Panigrahi — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:39:00 GMT

The growth of Orissa has been too tardy, a common phrase coined by one and all. This is a harsh reality to which all the people of the soil have to cope with. Every one of us has already accepted the facts of our slow rate of growth in comparison to other states of India. “But why Odisha is considered as a poor state”- This question at time haunts the people of the land including the intellectuals, when state has rich natural resources including minerals coupled with a talent pool.

Recently, in this line, the words of former President and eminent scientist Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam assume special significance. During his recent visit to the state Dr. Kalam, reiterated his thought process one more time while visiting Kalahandi, one of the most backward districts of the state.aaaaa

It goes without saying that eighty years old Dr APJ Kalam is indeed one of the most contemporary and relevant social architects of the modern India. After completing his tenure at the highest post of the country, he still makes himself more proactively available as a most relevant teacher for the generation next. If any one of us follows up his recent doctrines for the communities, he has kept on alerting them about the proper utilization of education system. In a recent column he mentioned “When the students come out of the educational institutions certain capacities are required to be built in them to deal with the real world, particularly to grow in their professional career and participate in the national development”.

Those are the thoughts for the future. But let us, for the time being gauze what exactly he said to the people of Kalahandi during his visit to Bhawanipatna on 16th Jan 2010 .“Odisha has three things---under the earth-rich minerals, above the earth-beautiful land for cultivation, tourism and industry tourism and most importantly, the human resources full of knowledge,” said Dr. Kalam in his brief address to the enthusiastic public gathered at Bhawanipatna on that day on the occasion of Ghumra Utsav.

His message was loud and clear that proper utilization of these natural resources can take Odisha to unprecedented heights of development. This observation of such a great intellectual needs to be felt at all level & time has come to work on it in right earnest. While the State Government at the apex level seems to have realized it long ago and has started making efforts towards attaining the vision of a developed Odisha, there still prevails ignorance and negligence coupled with vested interest that mar the pace of rapid growth as conceptualized. What Dr Kalam has indicated during the session is nothing unknown to any of us .In a recent report of Directorate of Geology, Bhubaneswar, Orissa alone is having 50% of the total bauxite deposit in the country. It is not only bauxite, it has also 34% of Iron ore and 28% of coal are stored in under the earth cast whereas the utilization of the minerals are so far less than five percent resulting the lower rank of the Orissa in the per capita income generation.

Many of us have understood that it cannot achieve success without the proper utilization of its resources and has taken the help of industrialization to move ahead with its long-term goal of socio-economic development. State government has off late welcomed the many corporate houses to set us the refinery and mineral based industries at the various areas of the state. POSCO, BHP Billiton, Arcelor Mittal , Vedanta Aluminium, Tata Steel , JSPL etc. are few names in the list already doing rounds.

If we learn a lesson from Dr Kalam`s doctrine, we can easily think a new industrially developed Orissa in the offing. Today, those who are opposing the overall industrialization of the state, (some of them have never bothered to visit the state even once but commented against state policy of Industrializations as well as Investors). People sitting many miles away from the State, perhaps don’t have any specific answer for the alternative source of economic development of Orissa. The lack of financial resource is forcing the youngsters to migrate from rural areas of the state by abandoning the knowledge capital. Tribal dominated districts such as Kalahandi, Raygada, Koraput etc are typical examples of the brain drains whereas many quality students are being deprived regularly because of lack of higher educational infrastructure. “This is very frustrating indeed” said Ramakanta Patro, a headmaster of the local school at Kolnara of Raygada district. “Every year, we come across many good students at the higher sc
hool level, some of them are really brilliant, and I am sure with having adequate education facilities in the next level, they can be the torch bearers of our district”, he added further. There is no doubt that this kind of scene is common from school to school as the talents are need be nurtured adequately for ultimate fulfillment. Government can play an important role and they are trying their best to do so with their all limitations but in the changing the socio economic conditions much more needs to be done for the local students for enhancing the knowledge capital as this is a continuous process and only possible when the entire area will come up on a certain developing state. A better economy should be at the driver’s seat to take them on. An appropriate utilization of the mineral resources in these areas can make the paradigm shift of their day to day life. Here we need the consciousness of the local people, on how to bring change in the local life for the betterment of the future.

At the same time after sixty of years of Indian independence the poverty level of the backward state like Orissa cannot be justified any more. Today, those who are opposing the mining activities at the state should have the answers of the alternative source of income for better livelihood. Industrialization is the only suitable option of the state at this hour and we should go ahead in that direction if it changes the basic economic conditions of the states. Here Dr Kalam`s comments become meaningful once again for the people of Orissa as in his address, he has mentioned that proper utilization of all the available resources and industrialization can lead the state towards the real path of prosperity.

Foreign NGOs creating unrest in Lanjigarh

D.S.Mishra — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:20:00 GMT

Recently the statement of Hon'ble Steel and Mines Minister of Orissa, Mr. Raghunath Mohanty, stating that 'Not a single tribal family would be displaced due to this mining project' and also that 'No Dongria Kondha tribe live at the proposed mining area of Lanjigarh located between Rayagada and Kalahandi districts’ has been a lot unrest in the foreign NGOs who have been circulating a lot of false information about the entire mining activity in Orissa.

There has been a sudden movement of foreigners / foreign NGOs in Lanjigarh, Kalahandi district in the past few days. Strangely foreigners coming on tourist visa from countries like Italy, Germany, Australia, Denmark, UK etc. have become frequent and they are freely moving in the region. These people have been forcedly interacting with local tribals and disturbing their peace. A local NGO is supporting the visits. The local people have taken this very seriously and are opposing their entry into their region. The unrest has also got reported to local police authorities who are now looking into the matter of this sudden movement of foreign NGOs including Survival International. These foreign NGOs are provoking innocent tribals to defame the government and the company, Vedanta Group. This is being done to create misunderstanding and an environment of unrest before the visit of Central Team of MoEF that is scheduled to visit the Niyamgiri shortly.aaaaa

The world is taking note of India starting bauxite mining after a gap of over 25 years. Once the bauxite mine at Niyamgiri starts, India will be placed as one of the largest aluminium producer in the world.

Niyamgiri range of hills has 250 sq. cm large foot print. The actual mineralization area in the proposed mining project is only 3.5% KM, that also having a depth of about 30 metres on the top. This truth has put a complete dent on the false information being circulated by these foreign NGOs that proposed mining will completely destroy the Niyamgiri mountain. Actually speaking, Bauxite extraction will actually benefit the environment, because it removes a hard rocky layer called laterite which would allow rain water to percolate deep inside the soil, increasing afforestation post-mining. Vedanta highlighted that with the use of best technology the plant is meeting all the required compliances in respect of air and water pollution, rather Lanjigarh Refinery is amongst the few in the world to have attained zero discharge status.

The Orissa government has constituted a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in the name of Lanjigarh Project Area Development Foundation (LDADF), with contribution of State Government as 25%, Orissa Mining Corporation as 26% and Sterlite Industries Ltd as 49%, as directed by the Supreme Court. The Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) - Southern Division is the Chairman of the Special Purpose Vehicle which on its first meeting itself decided to take up development projects worth Rs. 17.70 crore in the areas of health, education, road, infrastructure development that are required for the upliftment of Dongria and Kutia Kondha tribes, the Minister added.

Earlier, the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, while granting permission vide the judgment dated August 8, 2008, had looked all aspects including tribal development, wild life impact, environment impact, and sustainable development in the area connected with this project, taking into account all arguments, and came to the conclusion that starting mining operation at Niyamgiri Hills, subject to fulfilment of all statutory requirement, will definitely give a boost to the development of the entire area. Since mining is an important source of revenue generation, such projects should be encouraged along with principle of sustainable development so that these areas can be brought to the main line, the Hon'ble Court had observed.

The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India also observed that there is abject poverty in the area and the area is lacking with regards to health, education, infrastructure, communication, to name a few. On the recommendation of the apex court, the Company agreed for investing 5% of the profit or Rs. 10 crore, which ever is more, from this project, for the developmental works within 50 km of the project area.

Vedanta has been saying this all along that bauxite is a hard rock that exists above 900 metres from the surface and therefore the Niyamgiri hills are neither crop nor inhabitants-friendly.

The bauxite-alumina project at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district in Orissa would initiate investment of over Rs. 10,000 crore by Vedanta. Over 5000 local people have worked to build the Lanjigarh Plant. Kalahandi district of Orissa is one of the most backward district in India and the project is expected to change the profile of the entire district bringing considerable direct and indirect employment, infrastructure development, community development, social-economic development and empowerment.

Mines are generally located in the remote areas and development of such projects not only bring prosperity of that area but also add considerable value to the State's exchequer.

India is a mineral rich country and at par with countries like Canada, Australia, South Africa and Brazil. The minerals have contributed significantly to the GDP's of these countries and have become alternative source of revenue to the government. The same model should work for India as well.

VAL, Jharsuguda adds capacity to its captive rail transport mode – Develops efficient standards of transportation

D.S.Mishra — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:06:00 GMT

It’s a matter of great pride for VAL that it’s Jharsuguda unit has added the second locomotive to its rail transport capacity. The plant requires about 1500 MT of coal per month which is still mostly transported by road at the moment. With the positioning of second locomotive now, 40% of the ores and raw material are in a position to be transported by rail.

The move will help the company to save substantially in carrying and handling cost of Coal. Besides the Rs 250 per MT that is expected to be saved in the cost of transportation of coal, there is also the savings due to less pilferage, less possibility of disruption in service, less wastage and less time for handling the material.aaaaa

The public of Jharsuguda will heave a sigh of relief now, since with this move the benefits for them are expected to assume significant proportions. It is well known that rail transport is more energy efficient, than surface transport. Less dependence on Road transport will reduce air pollution significantly. The reduction in movement of heavily laden vehicles on the roads will help the public in the form of lesser congestion, lesser wear and tear of the roads, and reduced pollution in the human habitats by the side of the road and less number of accidents too.

This move of VAL is in line with the vision of its Chairman to shift 100% of its logistics from road to rail transportation. The number of own rakes are planned to go up from four at present to ten with in two years and the number of rake movement will go up from 80 to 700 when the operations are in full swing.

Livelihood Skill Training for 300 tribal women in Niyamgiri

Vedanta Aluminium — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:46:00 GMT

Vedanta Aluminium Limited, with an objective to provide improved livelihood support, has trained 300 women, mostly tribal on leaf-plate making and collective trading. All these women are all set to produce market standard leaf-plates on a mass scale. Out of the 300 women, 120 women are from Dongria Kondh, 90 from Kutia Kondh community. The rest 90 women are from Schedule Caste and other backward caste community.aaaaa

As part of the 30 day training program, all these women also visited Bolangir and Bhawanipatna - nearby towns – in order to interact with various traders and leaf plate – makers as well as to gain knowledge of the business.

In order to promote livelihood of tribal women, the Company has launched ‘Project Jeebika’ in eight villages in the slope of the Niyamgiri Hill. About 50 Joint Livelihood Groups (JLG), comprising 300 enterprising women have been formed under this project. “Dongria Kondh Community is the focus of the project,” according to Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh. The project will also provide ‘door step’ marketing of the mass production of leaf-plates by the women. Each of the JLGs will also be given two sewing machines in order to stitch the leaf-plate for better price.

“Locally available Sal or Siali leaf, trained human resources and marketing support by Vedanta will ensure sustainability of the project as well as give a sustainable livelihood support to the tribal community”, adds Dr. Mukesh Kumar. The tribal women are also highly optimistic about their new found livelihood option after the training. “We may need not to go to wage work once this leaf-plate business starts”, says Anda Majhi, a Dongria Kondh woman from Khemdipadar. “Unlike before, we can earn more than Rs. 100/- per day sitting at home by making machine stitched leaf-plates”, says Radha Majhi of Balabhadrapur Village.

People from other neighboring area have also shown their interest for such training and intervention in their respective village. According to Dr. Mukesh Kumar, “Other villages will also be included in the project very soon. We are planning to making a hub for leaf-plates in Lanjigarh by making a federation of these enterprising women groups around Niyamgiri and replicating the success”.

Vedanta Aluminium has engaged SHAKTI Organisation, a local NGO to execute the “Project Jeebika” as an implementing partner. The villages covered in the project are Tadijhola, Hadaguda, Phuldumer, Khemdipadar, Trilochanpur, Kadamguda, Balabhadrapur and Semilibhatta under Lanjigarh Block of Kalahandi, Orissa (India).

The Alumina Refinery Unit of Vedanta has also successfully implemented several livelihood promotion programs, in order to provide better income and living for the tribal people in Lanjigarh. One of the most successful programs is Shashya Shilpa Abhiyan, in which the company provides support for vegetable cultivation by the tribals.

Tribal Village gets education facility after 62 years of independence due to Vedanta’s intervention

Vedanta Aluminium — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 04:50:00 GMT

Everyday Kile Majhi, a four year dongria kondh child from Phuldumer village gets up early in the morning. He wears nice blue dress and goes to the newly opened Child Care Centre set up and run by the Sterlite Foundation, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources in his village.aaaaa For last two months this has been his daily schedule. And he is very happy now because, unlike children in neighboring villages he does not have to go to the forest. In six months time, he has learned few of the English poems and when he recites them his parents feel proud of him. He has learns alphabets and numbers, besides music and dance.

Six months back, he was not so lucky enough to think about education and school. His parents could never think that their child will one day speak English. However, after opening of the child care centre, the residents of this tribal village could see the first ray of education, after sixty two years of independence.
“We are completely illiterate and same were also our forefathers. We always think how our child can read and write. We are very thankful to Vedanta Company for responding to our requirement. Now our children can get education in this school.” Says Chanchala Naik, Naib-Sarapanch, Trilochanpur GP and a villager from Phuldumer. For them this child care centre is not less than a school, as they get basic education.

About 35 children, mostly from dongria kondh community are studying in this child care centre, which is running under a thatched house built by the villagers. In order to encourage the children for education and also to minimize the burden on their parents, the child care centre provides dress material, books and teaching and learning materials free of cost. Besides, the children were also taught about sports, games, singing and dancing. They were provided with nutritional food such as egg, rice, dal and vegetables. The students of the peripheral villages of Lanjigarh are immensely being benefited out of these child care centres of Vedanta Aluminium in the area.

“Health of our children has also improved, after joining the school. Being a tribal village, Phuldumer was completely ignored by the government. However, Vedanta Company started the school for our children. In future, we are hopeful that the company will take up other development works,” says Ratu Majhi another tribal leader. “The response by children and villagers is excellent. The children come to the centre neat and clean,” adds Ms. Gita Pattnaik, teacher of the centre.

Earlier there was not an education facility available in the village. The nearest school is at Trilochanpur, five kilometer away from the village. “As forest comes in the way, it is risky to send our child to the school,” said Shringa Majhi. So, all of the children preferred to go to forest, rather than to schools. All the parents vow that they will send their children to primary schools, after completion of their education in child care centre.