THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, MAY 17, 2026

Vedanta Aluminium has launched Project Gyan Jyoti in the Sijimali region across Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, in collaboration with Aveti Learning. Covering six government schools and benefiting over 600 students, the initiative is supporting learning through digital classrooms, solar-powered infrastructure, and community engagement, helping improve access to quality education environments in remote rural areas of Odisha.

Under Project Vidya, launched in 2025, the company’s focus has been on improving teacher-student ratios and strengthening core subject learning in Mathematics, Science, and English. Through the deployment of 20 additional teachers across 17 government schools, the initiative has supported over 1,800 students across Sundargarh and Jharsuguda.

The impact has been immediate and measurable. Attendance in intervention areas has increased from 64 per cent to 76 per cent in Lakhanpur block and from 66 per cent to 82 per cent in Hemgir block, while overall student achievement levels have improved from 42 per cent to 64 per cent. Targeted academic support through reference books is also helping students access opportunities beyond their immediate geography.

In regions where many children are the first in their families to attend school, this progress is also driving change at the household level. Regular attendance, improved learning outcomes, and structured guidance are reshaping how families view education — as a pathway to opportunity and long-term growth.

Binita Soren, a parent from Hemgir, reflected on this shift, saying, “Earlier, we only wanted our children to go to school. Now we want them to study well, acquire a good education, and move ahead in life. Vedanta’s projects have made a difference in how confidently they learn and speak.”

Building on this strong foundation, Project Vidyagraha in Jharsuguda has introduced digital learning as a key enabler.

Designed as a hybrid model, the initiative combines pre-recorded lessons, app-based access, and in-person doubt-clearing sessions, extending learning beyond classroom hours. Covering 106 government high schools and reaching over 12,000 students, it allows learners to revisit concepts, study at their own pace, and prepare more effectively for board examinations.

The engagement reflects this shift, with over 26,000 content views on the learning platform, indicating growing adoption of digital tools among students who previously had limited exposure to structured e-learning.

Importantly, the intervention goes beyond academics. Through career counselling, life skills sessions, and employee volunteering, the programme is helping students build awareness around subject choices, career pathways, and future opportunities — areas often inaccessible in rural schooling environments.

For students, the change is visible not only in academic performance but also in confidence levels.

Kunti Kumari, the mother of a Class 10 student from Jharsuguda, shared, “Earlier, my son would struggle to understand concepts in Science. With the videos and sessions, he is able to go back home and revise again. It makes him feel more prepared for exams.”

Teachers report similar transformations. “Students feel more engaged now. They participate more and ask questions. It has made classrooms more interactive,” said Purna Chandra Sahu, a teacher associated with the programme.

Across rural Odisha, digital tools alone cannot drive outcomes without strong teaching support. By addressing foundational gaps through teacher deployment and academic strengthening, and then layering digital learning for reinforcement and scale, the model is creating more sustainable impact. It enables consistency in content quality, reinforces classroom learning, expands exposure to concepts and careers, and improves knowledge retention.

The impact of these interventions extends well beyond academics. For many students, this marks their first exposure to structured learning support, digital tools, and defined career pathways. In turn, it is gradually reshaping aspirations — not only for students, but also for their families and communities.

By combining strong teaching support with digital enablement, Vedanta Aluminium is helping build a layered education ecosystem where students are better equipped to learn, grow, and aspire for a brighter future.