Utkal Alumina empowers Kalahandi youth with self-defence training, promotes health and confidence among students

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

KALAHANDI, NOVEMBER 4, 2025

In a powerful stride toward youth empowerment and community welfare, Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL), a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Group’s Hindalco Industries, has launched a self-defence training camp for students in the Thuamul Rampur block of Kalahandi district. The initiative, aimed at equipping 240 students with vital self-protection skills, was inaugurated on Monday at Adarsh Vidyalaya and Government High School.

The inaugural event saw active participation from Tehsildar Neeraj Kumar Batra, Thuamul Rampur SI Susanta Panda, Supply Inspector Bibhu Ranjan Sahu, School Chairman Sitakant Rana, and Headmaster Krutibas Nayak, who lauded the effort as a step toward building confidence and resilience among young learners.

“A healthy body leads to a healthy mind, and self-defence is not just about protection but also about fostering discipline and courage,” Batra said, urging students to practice and promote these life-saving skills within their communities.

The training program will unfold in two phases, beginning with intensive six-day sessions at the two schools under the guidance of experienced trainers Ritika Mahato and Naina Mukhi. Upon successful completion, Utkal Alumina plans to expand the initiative to other schools in the vicinity, ensuring broader reach and lasting community impact.

Complementing this empowerment drive, Utkal Alumina’s CSR team also undertook a women’s health initiative at Odri Government High School, where sanitary napkins were distributed to promote menstrual hygiene. The event, graced by Odri Primary Health Center Officer Madhuri Singh, local Sarpanch Nandei Majhi, and healthcare workers including Yagyaseni Shagadia and Chandrakanti Shabar, highlighted the company’s continued commitment to supporting adolescent health and education.

Through these dual initiatives—self-defence training and menstrual hygiene promotion — Utkal Alumina reaffirms its mission to nurture stronger, healthier, and more self-reliant communities. By empowering young students, especially in rural regions like Thuamul Rampur, the company is not only fostering personal safety and awareness but also shaping a generation that values confidence, equality, and wellbeing.