Vedanta Lanjigarh inaugurates Mini Science Centre to promote STEM education in rural Odisha
16th March 2024
- The new Mini Science Centre will bolster access to STEM education for students from the local communities
Lanjigarh, Kalahandi District, Odisha, 16th March 2024: Vedanta Lanjigarh, India’s premier producer of metallurgical grade alumina and a unit of Vedanta Aluminium, recently inaugurated the Vedanta Mini Science Centre at Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir, Ambadola. The center has been envisioned as an innovative centre of learning designed to aid traditional teaching methodologies and encourage a more holistic understanding of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) subjects for students in rural Odisha. This is especially significant as access to scientific education, laboratories, etc. are limited in rural hinterlands.
The Mini Science Centre features a wide array of hands-on models, graphic explainers, plug & play systems, and other interactive modules, accessible in both English and regional languages. Catering to school children from classes 5 to 10, it is set to augment the learning experience of more than 600 students. It has been designed to inculcate a deeper understanding of difficult concepts, in line with both Central-level and State-level school curricula and offer both self-directed as well as peer-to-peer learning.
The initiative aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of Quality Education (4). Through such educational endeavors, the company seeks to inspire students in rural hinterlands to opt for higher education in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) and aspire for careers in the field.
Highlighting Vedanta Lanjigarh’s initiatives to promote quality education, Mr. Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO – Alumina Business Vedanta Ltd said, “Through initiatives like Vedanta Mini Science Centre, Vedanta Lanjigarh strives to build wider access to quality education. By creating such platforms for the youth, we believe in the transformative power of education and the potential of these young minds to shape a better future. We believe this initiative will help foster an environment where the scientific curiosity of children in our communities can flourish, thereby actively contributing to the progress of the community as well as the nation.”
Mr. Sahadev Chichuan, Assistant Block Education Officer, Rayagada district, expressed his gratitude for Vedanta’s support, stating, “Vedanta Mini Science Centre will act as a great platform for young minds to learn science, thereby encouraging them to pursue higher education in related fields. Vedanta Lanjigarh is a true community partner and has played a crucial role in empowering the local communities through their diverse range of initiatives.”
Vedanta Lanjigarh’s social interventions in the domains of sustainable livelihood, quality education, women empowerment, health, water and sanitation and community infrastructure reach out to over 67 villages and nearby areas. It empowers more than 4000 women from over 378 SHGs, provides qualitative and doorstep healthcare services to about 60,000 people annually. The company also established Lanjigarh’s first English-medium school – the DAV Vedanta International School and has nurtured over 4000 children and 800 women in over 200 Nand Ghars equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. Moreover, it has empowered around 200 youths through sports and skills training initiatives.
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 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.
About Vedanta Limited:
Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading Oil & Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa and Namibia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation building. Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety, and environment. Vedanta has put in place a comprehensive framework to be the ESG leader in the natural resources sector. Vedanta is committed to reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050 or sooner and has pledged $5 billion over the next 10 years to accelerate the transition to net zero operations. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. The company’s flagship social impact program, Nand Ghars, have been set up as model anganwadis focused on eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare, and empowering women with skill development. Under the aegis of the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the umbrella entity for Vedanta’s social initiatives, the Vedanta group has pledged Rs 5000 crore over the next five years on social impact programmes with a thrust on nutrition, women & child development, healthcare, animal welfare, and grass-root level sports. Vedanta and the group companies have been featured in Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and was conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020, Golden Peacock Award for excellence in Corporate Governance 2022 and certified as a Great Place to Work 2022. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.
For more information, please visit www.vedantalimited.com
About Vedanta Aluminium Business:
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 FY24. 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.
For more information, please log on to www.vedantaaluminium.com
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