The Business Bytes
Belpahar, April 29, 2024 (TBB Bureau):
Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, has embarked on the latest phase of its innovative Project Panchhi initiative at Lakhanpur, Belpahar, in Jharsuguda district.
Spearheaded under the visionary guidance of Vedanta Group Chairman, Anil Agarwal, Project Panchhi represents a pioneering corporate endeavor aimed at empowering 1,000 girls from economically marginalized communities across India by offering them opportunities within Vedanta’s diverse business domains.
Designed to address the financial and social hurdles hindering girls’ educational and career pursuits, Project Panchhi pledges financial assistance for higher education and assures employment opportunities within Vedanta upon successful completion of their degrees. Selected candidates will receive sponsorship for higher education in esteemed national institutions and will subsequently join Vedanta as graduate trainees in core operations.
In the latest phase, fourteen promising girls from Lakhanpur Block have been chosen and were presented with offer letters by Chintamani Pradhan, Sub Divisional Police Officer, Brajrajnagar, and felicitated by V Srikanth, CEO (Mines) of Vedanta Aluminium.
Notably, Vedanta Aluminium’s mines team has already facilitated the enrollment of its inaugural batch of Project Panchhi candidates from Sundargarh district into the esteemed OP Jindal University, Raigarh in Chhattisgarh for their first academic year.
To ensure the selection of the most deserving candidates, Vedanta Aluminium has implemented a meticulous selection process, incorporating economic need assessment, academic qualifications evaluation, aptitude tests, and interviews. Notably, over 230 girls have been chosen through Project Panchhi across Vedanta’s operations, spanning locations such as Korba in Chhattisgarh, and Lanjigarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, and Belpahar in Odisha.
Vedanta Aluminium CEO (Mines) V Srikanth underscored the paramount importance of Project Panchhi, affirming its role in promoting gender equality and providing equal opportunities for all. “Project Panchhi exemplifies our commitment to enabling the empowerment of women and ensuring that every girl, regardless of her background, has a fulfilling career and equal opportunities. By conceptualizing our Chairman’s vision to create a more equitable world, this initiative is paving the way for these girls to not only complete their education but also embark on a journey towards a promising career. Through this project, we believe that when we empower women we truly empower society,” he said.
Praising the initiative, Chintamani Pradhan, Sub Divisional Police Officer, Brajrajnagar, lauded Project Panchhi for empowering young girls and instilling in them a sense of purpose in pursuing their aspirations.
Expressing heartfelt appreciation for Vedanta Aluminium’s initiative, Prafula Hatipata, father of one of the selected students, commended the company for enabling young girls to realize their dreams.
Arzina Khatoon, one of the beneficiaries of the recruitment drive, conveyed her gratitude to Vedanta Aluminium, expressing her eagerness to pursue her ambitions and contribute to her family’s financial well-being. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Vedanta Aluminium for envisioning and supporting initiatives like Project Panchhi. Due to financial constraints, I could not continue my higher education. I was very keen on being selected for this project. The program has instilled a sense of purpose within me. I am looking forward to following my dreams and providing financial support to my family,” said Arzina
Beyond Project Panchhi, Vedanta Aluminium’s mines operations actively contribute to community development through strategic interventions in education, healthcare, sustainable livelihood, rural infrastructure, and grassroots sports and culture. Noteworthy among these efforts is the establishment of Vedanta Nand Ghars, modernized anganwadis serving as dynamic community hubs, aimed at the comprehensive development of children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, stands as India’s largest producer of aluminium, contributing significantly to the nation’s aluminium output, amounting to 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. Renowned for its leadership in value-added aluminium products, Vedanta Aluminium ranks first in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a testament to its commitment to sustainable development practices. With its state-of-the-art aluminium smelters, alumina refinery, and power plants in India, the company continues to drive the adoption of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow, aligning with its mission of sustainable industrial progress.
