The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
JHARSUGUDA, JAN 10, 2024
Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, has launched the third phase of “Project Panchhi” in Jharsuguda. Conceptualized under the visionary leadership of Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal, Project Panchhi is Vedanta’s innovative corporate recruitment drive which aims to employ 1000 girls from economically backward communities, across its diverse businesses in metals, mining, oil & gas situated pan-India. The target demography of this drive is girls from lower income families who are likely to opt out of pursuing further studies and a fulfilling career, owing to financial and social constraints.
As part of the third phase of the project in Jharsuguda, 45 young girls have been identified for recruitment. The young women were handed their offer letters and felicitated by Sunita Kisan, District Labour Officer and Sangeeta Meher, District Employment Exchange Officer while Jharsuguda MLA Dipali Das and Collector Aboli Sunil Naravane joined virtually.
Till date, the initiative has identified and selected more than 200 girls, many of whom are first-generation learners overcoming significant odds to reach the final stages of their schooling. Once selected, these promising individuals will receive sponsorship for their higher education in renowned national institutions. Post completion of their graduation, the job offers will get formalised and these girls will then join Vedanta’s operations as graduate trainees in core operations. Previously, the program has been successfully conducted at Vedanta Aluminium’s operations in Korba in Chhattisgarh and in Lanjigarh and Sundargarh in Odisha.
Project Panchhi epitomizes Vedanta’s unwavering dedication to create opportunities for deserving young women from underserved, remote communities in the immediate vicinity of the company’s metals, mining and oil & gas businesses in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Goa, etc. Beyond this, Project Panchhi is poised to address the prevailing gender imbalance within the metals and mining sector, and also serve as an inspiration for thousands of girls and women across rural India to aspire for a career in the manufacturing, heavy engineering and mineral resources industries.
Speaking on the occasion, Vedanta Aluminium COO Sunil Gupta said, “Project Panchhi exemplifies Vedanta Aluminium’s commitment to empowering women. Our Chairman’s vision not only promises a brighter and more inclusive future for these young girls but also heralds a ripple effect of positive change radiating throughout the communities that surround us. We believe in empowering the youth, particularly young girls, to overcome obstacles and achieve their aspirations. This initiative is a testament to our belief in the transformative power of education and the potential of these young minds to shape a better future.
Vedanta Aluminium CHRO Dilip Sinha said, “At Vedanta, we recognize the importance of creating equal opportunities for all, and Project Panchhi aligns perfectly with our commitment to cultivating talent, diversity, and equality. By investing in the education and empowerment of these young girls, we aim to break the cycle of limitations they face, therefore opening doors to a brighter future for them and their communities.”
Joining virtually, MLA Das said, “I commend Vedanta for bringing programs like Project Panchhi and urge them to introduce more such initiatives in the future. Jharsuguda is fortunate to have key industries operating in its vicinity and Vedanta has always been active in their CSR initiatives.”
“I extend my appreciation to Vedanta Aluminium for this wonderful initiative, which is helping young girls realize their dreams. Jharsuguda District Administration will always lend their support for such transformative initiatives,” said Jharsuguda Collector Naravane.
Aliva Patel, one of the girls selected as part of the recruitment drive expressed her feelings saying, “My mother encouraged me to pursue higher studies as she was unable to do it herself. I thank Vedanta for bringing forward this initiative and helping girls like us to pursue quality education as well as taking care of our placements afterwards. We have big dreams and Vedanta is helping us to realize them.”
