THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHAWANIPATANA/THUAMUL RAMPUR, JUNE 28, 2026

Reaffirming its commitment to inclusive rural development and sustainable livelihoods, Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL), a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Limited under the Aditya Birla Group, has strengthened grassroots entrepreneurship by inaugurating a Fly Ash Brick Manufacturing Unit and three community-based enterprises under Project Udyamee 2.0 in Kalahandi district.

Implemented in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Project Udyamee 2.0 is aimed at nurturing entrepreneurship, promoting self-employment, and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural communities.

The newly established Fly Ash Brick Manufacturing Unit at Adri village in Thuamul Rampur block was inaugurated by Avijit, Head – CSR, Hindalco Industries, in the presence of Shiba Shankar Mohapatra, CSR Cluster Head – Odisha & Downstream, and Lopamudra Mishra, Head – CSR, UAIL.

As part of the initiative, UAIL also inaugurated three group-based enterprises — a Namkeen Production Unit at Nuagaon, a Food Processing Unit at Bariaguda, and a Carpentry Unit at Naktiguda. These enterprises are expected to create sustainable livelihood opportunities, enhance household incomes, and accelerate inclusive economic development across the project area.

The newly launched units are poised to generate both direct and indirect employment, inspire local youth to embrace entrepreneurship and self-employment, stimulate grassroots business activities, and improve access to quality products and services within rural communities, thereby reducing dependence on distant markets. Collectively, these initiatives are expected to contribute significantly to strengthening the local rural economy.

Speaking on the occasion, Avijit, Head – CSR, Hindalco Industries, said such initiatives are designed to build resilient communities by fostering skill-based entrepreneurship, economic self-reliance, and sustainable income generation. He reiterated that Project Udyamee 2.0 reflects UAIL's unwavering commitment to empowering rural communities through enterprise development, skill enhancement, and market linkage support, in line with the company's vision of inclusive growth and responsible development.

Through these initiatives, UAIL continues to demonstrate how industry-led CSR interventions can transform rural aspirations into sustainable enterprises, creating long-term socio-economic impact in some of Odisha's most remote regions.