Vedanta Aluminium Kickstarts Week-long HIV-AIDS Awareness Campaign in Odisha
6th December 2024
- A week-long awareness campaign involving expert talks, marathons, rallies, expert talks, street plays is underway across Odisha
Bhubaneswar, Odisha; December 6, 2024: On World AIDS Day, Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, kickstarted a weeklong awareness campaign. Through this initiative, Vedanta aims to sensitize the local community on HIV–AIDS prevention, in line with the theme, “Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!”.
As a part of this campaign, Vedanta conducted activities across Jharsuguda, Lanjigarh and its mines locations engaging more than 11,400 individuals. Through awareness sessions, rallies, “nukkad natak” (street plays) and health education programs, the campaign reached diverse groups, including students, truck drivers, police personnel and local communities.
These proactive health awareness sessions are essential to dispel myths, reduce stigma and provide accurate information about HIV-AIDS, empowering individuals to adopt preventive measures and seek timely treatment.
- In Jharsuguda district, a World AIDS Day awareness rally was flagged off by Mr. Kishor Kumar Swaine, Additional District Magistrate, drawing more than 350 participants including NCC and NSS cadets, Vedanta employees and local students. Awareness initiatives will continue throughout the week, covering schools, colleges and police stations. Vedanta’s efforts, in partnership with Odisha State AIDS Control Society (OSACS) and the District Health Administration, aim to sensitise approximately 5,000 individuals about prevention, treatment and eradicating societal stigma.
- In Lanjigarh, Kalahandi district, the campaign started with targeted awareness sessions for migrant workers, truck drivers, and the local community, focussing on prevention and safe practices. The initiative saw the participation of more than 500 indivudulas, fostering an understanding of HIV-AIDS while empowering participants to act as change agents. Nukkad Natak (street plays) were also organised across the district to drive the message of HIV-AIDS prevention
- As part of its community engagement initiatives around coal and bauxite mining projects, Vedanta organized impactful activities across regions. At the Kuraloi Coal Mine, rallies and awareness sessions in collaboration with the Red Ribbon Club, National AIDS Control Organisation, and National Service Scheme benefited more than 500 community members. In Sundargarh, “nukkad natak” and educational sessions engaged students, truck drivers, and local communities, reaching out to more than 600 individuals. In the Sijimali region, a mass rally, flagged off by Dr. Nihendra Panda, Chief District Medical Officer, Kalahandi, was conducted in partnership with OSACS and district medical authorities, providing crucial health education to over 5,000 individuals.
Commenting on the company’s health interventions, Mr. Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “At Vedanta Aluminium, we firmly believe that the health and well-being of communities are the cornerstones of sustainable development. This World AIDS Day, our awareness campaign stands as a testament to our enduring commitment to addressing pressing health challenges and empowering communities through knowledge, care, and support. By fostering understanding and combating stigma, we aim to inspire collective action and pave the way for a healthier, more inclusive future.”
Vedanta Aluminium remains dedicated to driving positive social change through meaningful health and awareness initiatives. By engaging diverse stakeholders and fostering education, the company continues to celebrate and amplify the spirit of World AIDS Day, ensuring that communities are informed, resilient, and united in their fight against HIV-AIDS.
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. 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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