Vedanta Lanjigarh’s stellar showcase emerges a major draw at Kalahandi Utsav 2024
31st January 2024
- Vedanta Lanjigarh participated in the popular annual cultural event, showcasing several key initiatives being undertaken by the company to preserve Odisha’s art forms
Lanjigarh, Kalahandi District, Odisha, 31st January 2024 – Vedanta Limited, Lanjigarh, India’s premier producer of metallurgical grade alumina and a unit of Vedanta Aluminium, participated in the 26th edition of ‘Kalahandi Utsav – Ghumura’24’, organised in Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters of Kalahandi, Odisha. The annual event, which celebrates the diverse art, culture, music, literature, and handicrafts of the region, draws inspiration from ‘Ghumura’, the traditional folk dance that encapsulates the cultural identity of Kalahandi. Vedanta Lanjigarh’s stall at the event presented a captivating fusion of heritage art showcasing the rich cultural tapestry of Odisha along with product exhibits that demonstrated its extensive manufacturing prowess.
The stall featured an engaging demonstration of Vedanta Aluminium’s product journey, showcasing the transformation of bauxite into high-quality aluminium products, in addition to vibrant displays of its social impact initiatives in the realm of education, health, and skill trainings. The exhibits also included a display of several handmade and packaged products developed under Project ‘Sakhi’, an initiative by Vedanta Aluminium empowering over 4000 women in rural Odisha through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by providing several avenues for entrepreneurship.
The stall attracted over 10,000 visitors during the festival and was also graced by dignitaries such as Ms. P Anwesha Reddy, District Collector, Kalahandi and Mr. G. Abhilash, Superintendent of Police, Kalahandi. During the event, Vedanta Lanjigarh also felicitated students who had emerged as district toppers in their 10th standard board exams through the Vedanta Gyanshree Award, encouraging students from rural communities to pursue higher education.
Mr. Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO- Alumina Business, Vedanta Ltd, said, “The Kalahandi Utsav is a memorable celebration for all of us and a notable platform for Vedanta Lanjigarh to reiterate its commitment to preserving the rich cultural heritage of Odisha, through its myriad arts and crafts. Through our operations and focused social impact endeavors, we strive to work towards the socio-economic development of Kalahandi.”
Vedanta Lanjigarh’s commitment to preserving and promoting Kalahandi’s artistic traditions was evident in the heritage art displays at its stall. These were created by artisans trained under Vedanta Lanjigarh’s Dhokra and Saura art revival programs, which have proven instrumental in popularising these fading artforms among the present generation. These programs are not only helping revive two of the oldest art forms in India, but are also creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for over 200 families in the region by increasing the incomes of the rural artisans.
Shri Manoj Kumar Behera, District Information & Public Relations Officer, Kalahandi, said, “The Kalahandi Utsav is a significant event that people look forward to every year. Vedanta Lanjiagarh’s showcase at the Kalahandi Utsav proves their strong dedication to continuous community engagement and assimilation into the cultural fabric of Kalahandi. I appreciate the company’s unwavering commitment to the growth and development of Kalahandi.”
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 – DAV Vedanta International School and has nurtured 4000 children and 800 women in over 200 Nand Ghars, which are modernized anganwadis that act as hubs of community development. Moreover, it has provided support to more than 200 youths through several 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 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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