BIPF flags off ‘Kanya Express’ and ‘e-Shikshya Express’ to drive health and digital literacy in Kalinganagar

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

JAJPUR, JULY 14, 2025

Marking a transformative stride toward inclusive and people-centric development, the Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF) — the CSR arm of Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Limited (IMFA) — ceremoniously launched its two flagship community outreach initiatives, Kanya Express and e-Shikshya Express, in Kalinganagar, Jajpur on Monday. The launch event was graced by P. Anvesha Reddy, Collector and District Magistrate of Jajpur, lending significance to the milestone moment.

Kanya Express, introduced in 2021 under BIPF’s healthcare vertical, is a mobile health unit dedicated to combating anaemia among adolescent girls. The initiative extends beyond treatment to include robust awareness campaigns around nutrition, menstrual hygiene, and preventive healthcare practices. With over 56% of India’s adolescent girls affected by anaemia, Kanya Express has emerged as a vital intervention, especially in rural and underserved geographies where access to healthcare remains limited.

Building upon this community-focused approach, the e-Shikshya Express, launched in 2024, serves as a mobile digital learning hub. Designed to promote digital inclusion, the initiative imparts foundational computer skills and digital literacy to marginalized groups — particularly women and youth — enabling them to navigate and benefit from an increasingly digital world.

These pioneering initiatives align with BIPF’s comprehensive developmental roadmap for Kalinganagar, a region set to witness rapid industrial progress following the foundation-laying of IMFA’s upcoming plant by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on May 22, 2025. Notably, BIPF’s proactive engagement in the area well before construction activities underscores its commitment to putting communities at the heart of development.

Speaking on the occasion, Shaifalika Panda, Trustee and CEO of BIPF, said, “True development is not about waiting for operations to commence — it’s about showing up for communities from day one. With Kanya Express and e-Shikshya Express, we are taking essential services directly to where they’re needed most. These initiatives reflect our belief that early investment in health, education, and dignity lays the foundation for a more resilient and inclusive future.”

Since its inception in 2011, BIPF has remained steadfast in its mission to foster sustainable, long-lasting impact in the realms of healthcare, education, women’s empowerment, and skill development. Through collaborative efforts with government institutions and grassroots stakeholders, the Foundation continues to uphold IMFA’s legacy of socially responsible growth — ensuring that infrastructure follows people, not the other way around.