Over 540 participations across four business units link fitness initiatives with the drive to combat hunger and child malnutrition

 

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 17, 2026

More than 540 employee participations across four business units of Vedanta Aluminium in Odisha and Chhattisgarh have added momentum to the ‘Run for Zero Hunger’ campaign ahead of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (VDHM) 2026, highlighting how collective efforts can help address hunger and child malnutrition. Through a series of employee-led fitness initiatives at Jharsuguda, BALCO, Lanjigarh and its Mines operations, the company has brought together its workforce to promote physical wellbeing while supporting the cause of a hunger-free India.

The initiatives, which included walkathons, Zumba sessions and other fitness activities, form part of the campaign associated with the marathon’s flagship #RunForZeroHunger initiative. By encouraging employees to participate in activities that combine fitness with social responsibility, Vedanta Aluminium seeks to translate individual efforts into collective action towards improving nutritional outcomes for underprivileged children.

Guided by the principle ‘1 KM = 1 Poshan Pack = 1 Hunger Fed’, the campaign connects physical activity with nutritional support. Every kilometre covered under the initiative contributes towards providing nutritional support through the Anil Agarwal Foundation, linking employees’ fitness goals with efforts to address hunger and malnutrition. The initiative seeks to demonstrate how sustained participation and a shared sense of responsibility can contribute to the larger goal of building a healthier and better-nourished India.

Speaking on the initiative, Rajesh Kumar, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “At Vedanta Aluminium, we believe that our responsibility extends beyond manufacturing to creating a meaningful difference in society. The Run for Zero Hunger movement brings together the spirit of fitness, compassion and collective responsibility towards addressing one of India’s most pressing challenges, child malnutrition. It is encouraging to witness our employees across operations embrace this cause with such enthusiasm. Every step taken represents our shared commitment to nurturing healthier communities and contributing towards a stronger, more inclusive India.”

The campaign witnessed participation across the company’s operations, with employees coming together to support a common cause that extends beyond personal fitness. At Jharsuguda, 120 employees participated in a walkathon, accompanied by an energetic Zumba session. BALCO saw more than 100 participants join the initiative, reflecting the enthusiasm for the campaign across the company’s operations.

The momentum continued at the company’s Mines operations, where Zumba sessions and walkathons recorded 186 participations. At Lanjigarh, a micro-marathon fitness drive brought together more than 50 participants, while a separate walkathon involved 91 members. Together, these activities highlighted the collective enthusiasm of employees across locations and functions, demonstrating how workplace engagement can be channelled towards a broader social cause.

The latest activities build on Vedanta Aluminium’s longstanding association with the Run for Zero Hunger movement. In 2022, employees and business partners collectively covered more than 7.2 lakh kilometres, contributing an equivalent number of nutritious meals for underprivileged children through the campaign. The milestone demonstrated how employee participation could be translated into tangible support for children in need of better nutrition.

Further strengthening this record, BALCO emerged as the top-performing business unit in the Vedanta group’s Run for Zero Hunger Challenge in the latest edition, with participants collectively covering more than 1.5 million kilometres. The achievement underscores the sustained engagement of employees and business partners in the campaign and reflects the potential of collective participation to support nutrition-related initiatives. These milestones also highlight the company’s continued efforts to bring together fitness, employee engagement and social responsibility through a common platform.

Beyond the marathon, the initiative forms part of Vedanta Aluminium’s broader approach to social responsibility, which places employee wellbeing and community development alongside its business operations. By encouraging employees to participate in activities that serve a wider purpose, the company seeks to foster a culture of collective action and shared responsibility. Such initiatives also provide a platform for employees across different locations and functions to work towards a common objective while contributing to efforts to improve community wellbeing.

As the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026 brings together runners from across the country, Vedanta Aluminium’s participation highlights the role that collective efforts can play in addressing larger societal challenges. By linking physical fitness with nutritional wellbeing, the campaign seeks to raise awareness of child malnutrition and encourage broader participation in the cause of a hunger-free India.

The initiative also aligns with the wider vision of a Viksit Bharat, in which improved nutrition, healthier communities and inclusive development are integral to national progress. Through sustained employee engagement and campaigns that connect individual action with social impact, Vedanta Aluminium aims to contribute to efforts towards building a healthier, more inclusive and better-nourished society.