THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

LANJIGARH, MAY 7, 2026

Odisha Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling on Thursday said Vedanta Aluminium’s newly launched 24x7 telemedicine facility in Lanjigarh is set to play a transformative role in improving healthcare access across remote tribal and rural regions of Kalahandi, while highlighting the company’s wider contribution to social development in Odisha.

The minister inaugurated Vedanta Aluminium’s first-of-its-kind 24x7 Telemedicine Facility in Lanjigarh, launched in partnership with Tata 1mg through a virtual event. The initiative aims to strengthen healthcare delivery in Kalahandi by enabling timely specialist medical consultation for communities in remote villages, along with employees, families and business partners.

A dedicated Telemedicine Room has been established at Vedanta Lanjigarh Hospital for assisted consultations. In addition, beneficiaries can access free audio and video consultations with nearly 30 specialist and super-specialist doctors through the Tata 1mg App, significantly reducing the need for long-distance travel for medical guidance. The service is expected to benefit more than 70,000 people across nearly 70 villages in Kalahandi and adjoining regions.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mukesh Mahaling said, “Vedanta’s 24x7 telemedicine facility is a meaningful step towards improving healthcare access for communities in Kalahandi, especially in remote tribal and rural areas where timely medical consultation can make a significant difference. Vedanta’s broader work in healthcare, education, women empowerment and livelihoods reflects how responsible industry can support the state’s development priorities. Continued collaboration between government, industry and communities will be important for ensuring inclusive and balanced development across Odisha.”

Speaking on the initiative, Vedanta Alumina Business CEO Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya said, “Odisha remains central to Vedanta’s growth journey, and the well-being of local communities is at the heart of our work in the state. With the launch of this telemedicine service, we are enhancing last-mile access to quality healthcare for those who need it the most. Across Odisha, especially in Kalahandi and Rayagada, many such meaningful interventions are rapidly bringing these areas to the socio-economic mainstream of the state. We remain committed to working closely with our local communities and the government to contribute meaningfully to Odisha’s inclusive and sustainable development.”

Vedanta’s community development initiatives in the region include Project Aarogya for preventive healthcare and medical outreach, Project Sakhi for women empowerment and entrepreneurship, and Project Sangam for strengthening farmer livelihoods through watershed development, irrigation support and climate-resilient agriculture.

The company’s education initiatives, including DAV Vedanta International School and Nand Ghars, are helping expand access to quality education, nutrition, healthcare support, early childhood care and women empowerment in the region. These efforts, along with youth skilling and community infrastructure projects, are contributing towards building healthier, educated and self-reliant communities across Kalahandi and neighbouring districts.

Vedanta Aluminium said its community programmes across Odisha have positively impacted more than 10 lakh people, supported by over ₹500 crore invested in social development initiatives over the years.

The occasion also highlighted Vedanta Aluminium’s alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, described as India’s largest alumina refinery and among the largest globally outside China, with a production capacity of 50 lakh tonnes per annum. The refinery has played a significant role in strengthening Odisha’s position as a major aluminium hub while supporting employment generation, local enterprise development and allied livelihoods in the region.

Vedanta Aluminium also stated that it has invested over ₹1 lakh crore in Odisha and supports more than 20,000 MSMEs and business partners, creating large-scale direct and indirect livelihood opportunities across its value chain.