In keeping with our objective of improving the health conditions of local communities, we provide a wide spectrum of basic and specialized health services which include mobile health units (MHU), basic health services with childcare facilities, multi-speciality health camps, and many more.
BALCO Medical Centre
BALCO Medical Centre (BMC), the flagship initiative of Vedanta’s philanthropic outfit, the Vedanta Medical Research Foundation (VMRF), has emerged as one of the biggest cancer hospitals in central India and gained tremendous popularity as a sought-after treatment centre in India, exclusively devoted to early detection, precise diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and physical and emotional rehabilitation of patients suffering from cancer. A Centre of Excellence in medical, surgical and radiation oncology, BMC brings ultra-modern, multi-modality diagnostic and therapeutic facilities within easy reach at a reasonable and affordable cost.
Vedanta Hospital
Vedanta Hospital is a 20-bedded state-of-the-art medical facility at Lanjigarh, well equipped with doctors, physiotherapists and visiting specialists, along with a 24X7 ambulance service for referrals. In FY23, it served over 57,870 people with quality health services. It has been recognized for its sickle cell detection and antenatal check-up services under Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matrutwa Abhiyan. The Hospital offers an ambulance service (BLS and ALS) which has served over 1,500 people by quickly responding to their health emergencies.
We also support the Maa Santoshi Jankalyan Hospital, the only medical service centre in the remote region of Bankakundru. It is the only healthcare centre in the region, serving 9 Gram Panchayats and covers over 120 extremely remote villages, making quality healthcare accessible to the hinterlands of Odisha. Nearly 51,696 people have received treatment at this facility in the last 3 years.
Vedanta Pathology Lab & Diagnostic Centre
Vedanta Limited, Jharsuguda, has collaborated with SRL Diagnostics to build an advanced state-of-the-art multispecialty facility – the Vedanta Pathology Lab & Diagnostic Centre, at Jharsuguda. It will aid in greater penetration of medical services in the hinterland, bringing specialized medical services to the doorsteps of Jharsuguda citizenry. The centre shall offer over 500 tests and specialized services like Radiology, Mammography, ECG/PFT/TMT, Vision, Digital X-Ray, Audiometry, among others.
Mobile Health Unit
Taking healthcare needs of the region into account, we started the Mobile Health Unit (MHU) with the aim of facilitating basic doorstep medical services and minimize incidence of hospitalization in the rural margins of Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Kalahandi and Rayagada. The MHU is a specialized van featuring crucial medical equipment and medicines, along with medical staff comprising a qualified and experienced doctor, nurse, lab technician and pharmacist, for identification, screening, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of patients. The MHU initiative in Kalahandi and Rayagada delivers quality health care services and medicines free of cost to about 22,746 people at their doorstep, serving 64 villages, many of which are in extremely remote areas. Nearly 30 villages in Jharsuguda, and 26 villages across Sundargarh and Kuraloi, are also served once weekly through this initiative.
Clean Energy for Better Health
To ensure better collective health at community level, Vedanta Limited Lanjigarh has brought together Corporate, Community and Government to promote affordable and energy-efficient fuel-alternatives that puts the health and safety of individuals as priority. We are helping local communities replace kerosene/paraffin lanterns with solar lights and wood-fuelled chulhas with fuel-efficient ones, all of which are helping reduce emissions and toxic fumes which often adversely impact the health of women. Additionally, it is helping children study in the evening hours and enabling women to go about their household chores effortlessly at night, which was quite difficult for them earlier.
Project Jagruti
Vedanta is the first corporate to roll out an Employer Led Model (ELM) for HIV/AIDS awareness of truckers and migrant population in the form of ‘Project Jagruti’, which is driven in partnership with National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and Odisha State AIDS Control Society (OSACS). Given the number of migrant workers, floating population, and truckers in and around our operations, and their vulnerability to sexually transmitted diseases, especially fatal ones like HIV/AIDS, Project Jagruti was conceptualized to educate the masses, especially vulnerable target groups, and thereby prevent HIV/AIDS. To implement the project, Vedanta had signed an MoU with OSACS in 2015.
Arogya
Project Arogya is BALCO’s umbrella project in community health, which is being implemented in partnership with NGO SROUT. Under Arogya, we carry out various interventions in primary healthcare and conduct awareness camps on various diseases, with specific emphasis on malaria, TB, HIV, and maternal and child health.
Supporting the Nikshay Mitra Initiative
The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, more widely known as Nikshay Mitra, is an initative undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. It seeks to involve members and institutions from the wider community in the society in filling gaps in TB care, thereby contributing to the national goal of eradicating the disease from India by 2025. We are supporting the project across each of our plant locations in Korba, Chhattisgarh and at Jharsuguda and Lanjigarh in Odisha. For instance, we are providing additional nutritional support to all TB patients undergoing treatment at district health facilities in three blocks of Kalahandi, namely Lanjigarh, Narla, and Kesinga, while the district health administration addresses the delivery of medication and other treatment necessities to the patients.
Menstrual Health and Hygiene –
Project Pehli Udaan
Project Pehli Udaan was initiated in 2023 to ensure safe and dignified menstruation for the women in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, without facing stress, information barriers, or a lack of supplies. Pehli Udaan aims to raise awareness among rural women about menstrual hygiene and enhance their access to high-quality sanitary napkins and other menstrual hygiene products. As part of this initiative, reusable cloth pads, known for their eco-friendly, safe, and affordable nature, were introduced to rural girls. Sensitization efforts are also underway for girls and the wider community to foster healthy, affordable, dignified, and environmentally conscious menstrual practices.
