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Vedanta’s ‘Project Panchhi’ to empower girls from socio-economically disadvantaged communities in Odisha

• Vedanta’s ‘Project Panchhi’ to empower girls from socio-economically disadvantaged communities in Odisha
• ‘Project Panchhi’ is a transformative initiative by Vedanta, aimed at empowering 1000 young girls across India

Jharsuguda, Odisha; 10^th January 2024, Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, launched the third phase of Project Panchhi in Jharsuguda, Odisha. Conceptualized under the visionary leadership of Vedanta’s Chairman, Mr. Anil Agarwal, Project Panchhi is Vedanta’s innovative corporate recruitment drive which aims to employ 1000 girls from economically backward communities, across its diverse businesses in metals, mining, oil & gas situated pan-India. The target demography of this drive is girls from lower income families who are likely to opt out of pursuing further studies and a fulfilling career, owing to financial and social constraints.

As part of the third phase of the project in Jharsuguda, 45 young girls have been identified for recruitment. The young women were handed their offer letters and felicitated by Ms. Sunita Kisan, District Labour Officer and Ms. Sangeeta Meher, District Employment Exchange Officer while Ms Dipali Das, MLA, Jharsuguda and Ms. Aboli Sunil Naravane, Collector and District Magistrate joined virtually.

Till date, the initiative has identified and selected more than 200 girls, many of whom are first-generation learners overcoming significant odds to reach the final stages of their schooling. Once selected, these promising individuals will receive sponsorship for their higher education in renowned national institutions. Post completion of their graduation, the job offers will get formalised and these girls will then join Vedanta’s operations as graduate trainees in core operations. Previously, the program has been successfully conducted at Vedanta Aluminium’s operations in Korba in Chhattisgarh and in Lanjigarh and Sundargarh in Odisha.

Project Panchhi epitomizes Vedanta’s unwavering dedication to create opportunities for deserving young women from underserved, remote communities in the immediate vicinity of the company’s metals, mining and oil & gas businesses in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Goa, etc. Beyond this, Project Panchhi is poised to address the prevailing gender imbalance within the metals and mining sector, and also serve as an inspiration for thousands of girls and women across rural India to aspire for a career in the manufacturing, heavy engineering and mineral resources industries.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sunil Gupta, COO, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “Project Panchhi exemplifies Vedanta Aluminium’s commitment to empowering women. . Our Chairman’s vision not only promises a brighter and more inclusive future for these young girls but also heralds a ripple effect of positive change radiating throughout the communities that surround us. We believe in empowering the youth, particularly young girls, to overcome obstacles and achieve their aspirations. This initiative is a testament to our belief in the transformative power of education and the potential of these young minds to shape a better future. Mr. Dilip Sinha, CHRO, Vedanta Aluminium, added, “At Vedanta, we recognize the importance of creating equal opportunities for all, and Project Panchhi aligns perfectly with our commitment to cultivating talent, diversity, and equality. By investing in the education and empowerment of these young girls, we aim to break the cycle of limitations they face, therefore opening doors to a brighter future for them and their communities.”

Joining virtually, Ms. Dipali Das, MLA, Jharsuguda, said, “Women are capable of reaching great heights but most of them are not fortunate enough to pursue higher education. I commend Vedanta for bringing programs like Project Panchhi and urge them to introduce more such initiatives in the future. Jharsuguda is fortunate to have key industries operating in its vicinity and Vedanta has always been active in their CSR initiatives. Ms. Aboli Sunil Naravane, Collector and District Magistrate added, “I extend my appreciation to Vedanta Aluminium for this wonderful initiative, which is helping young girls realize their dreams. Jharsuguda District Administration will always lend their support for such transformative initiatives.”

Ms. Aliva Patel, one of the girls selected as part of the recruitment drive expressed her feelings, “My mother encouraged me to pursue higher studies as she was unable to do it herself. I thank Vedanta for bringing forward this initiative and helping girls like us to pursue quality education as well as taking care of our placements afterwards. We have big dreams and Vedanta is helping us to realize them.”

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 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for 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.