Aditya Aluminium’s Project AAROGYA brings hope to rural Odisha

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, SEPTEMBER 19, 2025

Aditya Aluminium, an Aditya Birla Group company, is enhancing rural healthcare through its CSR initiative, Project AAROGYA, in Lapanga, Sambalpur district. This community-driven project brings comprehensive healthcare to surrounding villages, with services including its Community Dispensary, the First Aid Centre, the Vision Centre at Rengali, and the Mobile Medical Unit, “Swasthya Vahini.” These services provide free consultations, medicines, diagnostic tests, and emergency care to underserved populations.

Speaking about the project, Kailash Pandey, the Mining Business Head and Sambalpur Cluster Head of Hindalco, said: “We believe that access to healthcare is fundamental to improving lives. Project AAROGYA ensures that timely, affordable medical care reaches even the remotest households. We are deeply proud to support the well-being of the communities where we operate.”

The Aditya Community Dispensary, strategically located near SH-10 in Lapanga, has already impacted over 980 individuals in the current financial year alone. On average, 45 to 50 villagers from nearby panchayats like Bomaloi and Ghichamura visit the dispensary daily for treatment. The dispensary provides care for common ailments such as respiratory infections, dysentery, hyperacidity, and skin conditions, with services delivered by experienced MBBS doctors, a pharmacist, and additional support staff.

In addition to its regular services, the initiative hosts two special eye check-up camps every month for the truckers’ community. These camps focus on the early detection of vision issues that could affect road safety. Truckers benefit from comprehensive eye screenings, counselling, and referrals for corrective measures, thereby improving eye health and enhancing road safety.

The Vision Centre at Rengali, set up in 2023 in collaboration with Trilochan Netralay – Vision India Foundation, has treated 2,157 patients in the past year and has conducted 2,280 cataract surgeries since its inception. The Centre continues to serve as a critical resource for eye care in the region.

Through its Swasthya Vahini Mobile Medical Unit, Aditya Aluminium also brings healthcare directly to the doorsteps of remote villages. Serving six Gram Panchayats, this unit provides free primary healthcare, basic diagnostic tests, preventive care, and early intervention to help prevent more serious health issues. “We aim to make healthcare accessible to those who might otherwise never receive it,” said Pandey. “Our medical team offers not only treatment but also preventive education to help improve long-term health outcomes,” he added.

The initiative has garnered widespread praise, including recognition from the Sambalpur Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), who has described it as a “cost-effective and efficient doorstep healthcare model.”

Beneficiaries, too, have expressed their gratitude. Rukmini Devi, a 68-year-old local resident, shared her experience: “Before, I had to wait for days to find help. Now, I get treatment and medicines close to home — for free. This initiative has truly changed my life.”

Each patient healed and every life improved under Project AAROGYA reflects Aditya Aluminium’s core belief that genuine progress begins with care and compassion.

As a responsible corporate citizen, the Aditya Birla Group continues its commitment to giving back to society. In Odisha alone, the Group reaches more than 5 lakh people across 128 villages, directly impacting over 2 lakh lives. The Group’s CSR efforts are carried out under the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development**, chaired by Rajashree Birla. This reflects the Group’s vision to actively contribute to the social and economic development of the communities in which it operates, thereby helping create a better and more sustainable quality of life for marginalized sections of society. Ultimately, the Group aims to raise the human development index of the country. The Group’s CSR vision aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), especially in areas aimed at eradicating poverty and ensuring freedom from hunger.