VAL provides medical support to Brain Tumour Patient

Doimati Batra from Mundbahali village under Kurli Gram Panchayat in Niyamgiri hill slope is very happy now. After all, she got new life. Thanks to the timely medical support by Vedanta Aluminium.
Doimati was suffering from Brain Tumour (Glioma) and little knowledge about the same. She was facing several problems such as headache and vomiting. However, she never dared to visit a Hospital and seek treatment. She belongs to a very poor family and her husband Judhisti Batra earns livelihood for the family of four by daily labour and agriculture.
The mobile health team of Vedanta Aluminium, during a tour identified Doimati as a Brain Tumor Case. Immediately the Doctor of the Hospital referred her to hospital. But she hardly had enough money to go to a specialist hospital.
considering her poor economic status, Vedanta Aluminium took care of her and admitted her in St Joseph's Hospital (which is also known as American Hospital) in Vishakhapatnam from 13.09.09 to 09.10.2009. The Company provided Rs. 25,000 towards medical expenses and also a vehicle for her transportation. Now she is completely cured.
She thanks Vedanta Aluminium for its medical and financial assistance. “Vedanta doctors saved my life. I never had imagined that I would get treatment in such a superior hospital and get cured,” says beaming Doimati.
“Well being of people in our operational area is our foremost priority. we always look forward to provide medical care to the community members, especially tribals,” says Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer of Vedanta Aluminium Limited.

Pineapple and Bamboo Cultivation for Dongria Kondh

In order to improve the livelihood of Dongria Kondh people in Lanjigarh Block of Kalahandi district, Vedanta Aluminium Limited introduced Pine apple and Bamboo Cultivation in the area. On pilot basis, the program started with 75 farmers from the tribal community in seven villages. The program was launched by Mr. Umesh Mehta, Vice President, Vedanta Aluminum Limited.
Inaugurating a One-Day Training Program for the Farmers on Pineapple and Bamboo Cultivation, Mr. Umesh Mehta said, “Vedanta thrives for providing opportunity to Dongria Kondh people to improve their life and livelihood. The project will help them in earning better return through systematic cultivation of pineapple and bamboo”. Each of the farmers was given 1000 suckers of pineapple and 500 sucker of bamboo. Tribal farmers will get required fertilizer and regular agricultural advisory from experts for the cultivation. Mr. RK Mahanty and Mr. SN Pesnia trained the farmers on scientific methodology for cultivation of pineapple and bamboo.
The climate in Niyamgiri slope is suitable for the cultivation and the project is expected to benefit the tribal more than Rs. 50000 in next three years. By integrating bamboo with pineapple cultivation, threat of wild animal for pineapple can avoided, according to Mr. Chitta Ranjan Behura, Manager (CSR), Vedanta Aluminium Limited. The Company will provide marketing support for the final produce, so that the farmers get reasonable price.
The program is being implemented by Shakti Organisation, a local NGO having expertise in livelihood programs for Tribals. Vedanta Aluminium has also successfully, introduced leaf-plate making for Dongria Kondh women under project Jeevika. The program has been highly successful and participating women are earning an average of Rs. 1500 per month by making leaf-plates.

SPV formed for Lanjigarh area development

As suggested by the Supreme Court of India, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) named as Lanjigarh Project Area Development Foundation (LPADF), has been formed with the Orissa government, Sterlite Industries India Ltd (SIIL) and Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) as stakeholders. It will initiate programmes for uplift of Kutia Kondh and Dongria Kondh community on priority basis.

In the SPV, the Orissa government and its agency OMC have 26 percent and 25 per cent stake respectively while the rest 49 per cent is vested with SIIL. The first meeting of the board of directors of the SPV was held in the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Berhampur yesterday.

It was decided to take up developmental projects in the field of health, education, livelihood and infrastructure in both Kalahandi and Rayagada districts. Projects worth Rs 12.5 crore were discussed and approved by the Board of the Directors.

The major projects approved are upgradation of Lanjigarh hospital, water supply in Lanjigarh and Biswanathpur, upgradation of tribal school at Lanjigarh, bridge and road construction, malaria eradication program in Lanjigarh, development of girls’ school and college at Lanjigarh.

The Hyderabad based National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) has been shortlisted for taking up the need assessment study in the tribal areas which is expected to help in formulating effective development interventions.

Though the Foundation will operate from Lanjigarh, it will have offices at district collectors’ office in Kalahandi and Rayagada on a temporary basis

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/spv-formed-for-lanjigarh-area-development/373481/

Standing Committee of Orissa Assembly appreciate DAV Vedanta International School

A team of seven MLAs of Departmentally Related Standing Committee – IV visited DAV Vedanta International School at Lanjigarh on October 13, 2009. The committee was led by Surendra Singh Bhoi, MLA, Titlagarh and other members of the committee were Rajendra Dholekia, MLA, Nuapada; Pratap Chandra Sarangi, MLA, Nilagiri, Rajendra Kumar Das, MLA, Dhamnagar, Braja Kishore Pradhan, MLA, Talcher and Bijay Kumar Mohanty, MLA, Bhubaneswar-Central. MLA of Bhawanipatna, Dushmanta Nayak also accompanied the Standing Committee.
The legislators interacted with the Students and teachers of the School and appreciated Vedanta’s effort to include students from periphery area in the school. They praised the quality of education imparted by the school. The effort of DAV School by Vedanta is commendable. Similar, system of education should be replicated in other areas of the district to provide opportunity for more children, according to Surendra Singh Bhoi, Chairman of the Standing Committee.
Ms. Sukla Chakravarty, Principal of the School informed about several initiatives taken up by the Company to improve the quality education in the area. At the end of the visit, Dr. Mukesh Kumar made a presentation on several development initiatives taken up by the Company in Lanjigarh for integrated development of people in the periphery.
Mr. Chudamani Seth, ADM, Kalahandi and Dr. Mrugaraj Sahoo, DPC, Kalahandi accompanied the team to Lanjigarh. Mr. Balabhadra Majhi, Ex-Minister and Ex-MLA, Lanjigarh; Ms. Srimati Majhi, Chairman, Lanjigarh Block, Mr. Sanjay Pattnaik, AVP, Mr. Bikash Das, AGM and Mr. Samiron Sarkar, AGM of Vedanta Aluminium were also present.

First CSR Led PPP in Orissa Health at Kalahandi

Vedanta Aluminium, signs MoU with Zilla Swasthya Samiti, Kalahandi to upgrade health service of Lanjigarh Area Hospital
The ownership of the hospital will continue to remain with the Government and will be managed by VAL under Public Private Partnership arrangement.
Renewing its commitment to provide improved health care service to people of Lanjigarh, Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Zilla Swasthya Samiti, Kalahandi to upgrade the infrastructure, management and delivery of health service of Lanjigarh Area Hospital, catering to the health needs of the populace of Biswanathpur block under PPP mode. This is the first ever Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) led Public Private Partnership in Orissa Health sector. The MOU has been signed based on the concurrence of Govt of Orissa and under the guidance of Mr. RS Gopalan, District Collector Kalahandi. Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Aluminium Limited and Dr. Sushil Rath, Chief District Medical Officer, Kalahandi signed the MoU on September 23, 2009 at Bhawanipatna.
The MoU will facilitate Vedanta Aluminium Limited to upgrade the available infrastructure, quality of management, outreach program and indoor and outdoor facility for the benefit of local people. As per the arrangement, the ownership of the hospital will continue to remain with the Government and the management, operation, medical and outreach service will be taken up by VAL. The Company will provide comprehensive secondary health care, both referral and specialist, to the community through the hospital.
Signing the MoU Dr. Mukesh Kumar, COO, VAL said, “this has been a long-standing commitment to people of Lanjigarh and Vedanta will ensure that quality oriented healthcare service is delivered at the Hospital”. The Hospital will deliver specialized services in General medicine, general surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, anesthesia, Radiology, dermatology, dental and AYUSH. In addition, Ambulance service will be provided by the Hospital.
The hospital will operate as a part of the Government health service network and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). Chief District Medical Officer, Kalahandi and Zilla Swasthya Samiti (ZSS) will monitor the functioning of the Hospital.
Mr. PK Hota, GM (CSR), Dr. Sabita Swain, Chief Medical Officer, Ms. Alka Minj, Associate Manager (CSR) of VAL; Mr. Prasanta Acharya, Chief Program Coordinator, NRHM, Bhubaneswar; Mr. Santosh Nayak, District Program Manager, NRHM, Kalahandi were present in the MoU signing ceremony.

Medical Support for Diarrhea Affected Lanjigarh block

In a response to control the spreading Diarrhea in Lanjigarh block Kalahandi, Vedanta Aluminium has joined hand with the district administration in taking number of measures to stop the spreading of the epidemic. The Company has set up temporary medical camps with one doctor and pharmacist in seven villages in the hilly tribal areas. It should be noted that at least 24 tribals have died due to diarrhea in Kalahandi district during the last two weeks.The Medical Teams are providing primary treatment and medicines to the affected persons. Critical patients are being sent to nearest hospital for comprehensive treatment. In last three days, the health team of the company has provided treatment to more than 110 people and referred more than 20 patients to local health centers. The villagers where temporary camps are set up are Kankutaru, Bandhapari, Musanal, Bengaon, Trilochanpur, Bijepur and Malijubang in Lanjigarh Block. Two teams of Doctors from BALCO have also joined with the medical team of VAL for the same. “We assure all support for prevention of the disease and we will continue the same for more time till situation comes under control,” Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer of VAL.
As a prevention measure, The Company has also taken up several awareness building initiatives in the area. Banners are put in villagers to sensitize the community on control of the disease. The CSR Team members are visiting the affected area and explaining the community about prevention and control method for Diarrhea.

Dongria Kondh women weave their Success through Sal leaves

They have never througt that they can earn Rs. 2000/- sitting at home and doing their daily chore. For them earning this much money requires hard work in the farmland or daily labour work under the heat and sun. However, when Katili Majhi of Phuldumer village earned Rs. 2370/- by selling leaf plates, she could not believe herself. Like her more than 318 women in 10 villages in Niyamgiri region are happy with their newfound income avenue. They are all determined to carve their own space in the social and economic sphere. Thanks to the project ‘Jeevika’ run by Vedanta Aluminium Limited, under its Corporate Social Responsibility program.
All these women are collecting ‘sal and siali leaves’ from the forest and stitching the same into leaf plates. The plate has huge demand in local markets as well as outside. On July 29, 2009, they sold 289000 pieces of leaf plates in a truck for Rs. 86700 at Rs. 0.30 per plate. They have also 109000 plates in their stocks and ready to send their second truck load very soon. They also sell their product in local market, every week. “We sell the plates in local food outlets and restaurants and earn about Rs. 500 every week,” said Damayanti Majhi of Trilochanpur village.

The Project has enhanced household income by more than Rs. 1000/- on average for 318 women, covered in the project. Started in eight villages the project has now expanded to two more villages. Vedanta Aluminium provided One Month training to all women on leaf plate making and its business, under the project Jeevika, launched in April 2009. The women visited Bolangir and Bhawanipatna in order to interact with various traders and have knowledge about the market. “With an objective to provide improved and sustainable livelihood to women, especially tribal women, we started the project with locally available Sal and Siali leaves,” said Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer of Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh. The Company has taken the help of a local NGO, SHAKTI Organization for effective implementation of the project.

Prior to training, about 53 Joint Livelihood Groups (JLG), comprising 318 enterprising women have been formed. The Company has also provided two sewing machines to each JLG for stitching of the plates. Now they produce market standard leaf-plates in mass scale. “As the company has facilitated door step marketing of the leaf-plates through the NGO, we have no worry regarding selling,” said Kumtadi Majhi of Khemdipadar Village. The NGO representative also regularly supervises their work and provides necessary technical support, as and when required.
Encouraged by the success of these women groups, people from other villages have also shown their interest for such business. The Company, is also very much encouraged by the hard work and overwhelming response of the villagers. “Very soon the project will cover more women, and the focus would be on development of Dongria Kondh women,” said Dr. Mukesh Kumar.

The tribal women are very happy with this improved livelihood option. “We can now earn about Rs. 40 per day by making leaf-plates,” says Gata Majhi of Niyamaraja JLG in Palberi village.

Some of them have stopped to go to daily labour work and are focusing more on the business. This helps them in earning money and looking after their domestic work, simultaneously.
The project is being implemented under the guidance of Mr. Umesh Mehta, VP of Vedanta Aluminium Limited. Mr. Chitta Ranjan Behura, Manager (CSR) is leading the project.