Vedanta Foundation touches 50000 children in Orissa's Kalahandi, Rayagada districts

Economic prosperity is a valuable target whereas the most viable instrument to achieve it is good education. While the major task to achieve this feat is education for the poor. Furthermore, in a nation where every 3rd malnourished child in the world lives, it is an arduous task to render education for all, where every child is special for the nation-building.
However, in the region which was known for child-sale, malnutrition and poverty, giving good education and nutritious food to the children can make a lot of change. Such are Kalahandi and Rayagada district of Orissa.
Looking at the importance of education in these regions and in an attempt to improve the nutritional status of severely malnourished Anganwadi children in the age group 0-6, till now, Vedanta group has reached out to 47,000 children in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts. Under ‘Vedanta Bal Chetna Anganwadi Project of Vedanta group, 11 blocks have been covered, where thousands of children of 1010 Anganwadi centers get quality education and nutritious food.
Vedanta group has tied hands with Anganwadi Centers in fortifying the supplementary foods under ICDS scheme. Thus, with this scheme, children get added nutrition and extra food which deviates them from the monotonous menu of the government schemes. The prime objective behind this project is to make all pre-school Anganwadi children socially and psychologically productive and ensure 100% enrollment in formal school.
It is Joyful and playful method of teaching what makes the difference in Bal Chetna Project. Puspa Majhi of Balabhadrapur says, “My son feels glad to attain the Anganwadi School. Teachers there take special care to the children and teach in a playful method which holds the attention of the kids.”
“We also feel happy to send our children to the Bal Chetna Anganwadi centers where nutritious food is provided” adds Puspa.
Education is the only medium which can take a long way to Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, the poorest regions of India. In these regions - more than making the people understand the value of education, encouraging the poor children to come to school is more significant. So, in this regard, Bal Chetna Project has kicked off a revolutionary step.

Courtesy: Orissadiary.com

LPADF donates additional classrooms to Niyamgiri High School

As per Honourable Supreme Court’s Order, Sterlite Industries will deposit 5% of the profit or Rs. 10 Crore - whichever is higher - for local area development around Lanjigarh. For this a special purpose vehicle Lanjigarh Project Area Development Foundation (LPADF) was formed.

Under this project, recently, a foundation stone was laid to construct two additional class rooms of Niyamgiri High School at Chatikana near Bisamcuttack of Rayagada district Mr. Mrityunjay Lenka, GM – Geology, Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh laid the foundation stone for the construction of the buildings.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mukesh Kumar–President and COO, Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh–said, “Niyamgiri High School at Chatikana is situated in one of the poorest regions of Orissa, so developing the infrastructure of the school of this place is our prime responsibility. Through LPADF many such activities have been carried out and a lot in the store in future for the people of this area.”

Mr. P Trinath Rao, Head Master, Niyamgiri High School expressed happiness and said he is thankful to Vedanta for laying the foundation stone to construct the additional class rooms through LPADF. He also said that the additional class rooms were very much necessary for they were facing difficulties in managing with few class rooms.

Till now, 24 projects have been approved for Rayagada district under LPADF which construction of two additional classrooms at Niyamgiri High School, Chatikona is one of the projects to be executed by VAL.

LPADF is a special purpose vehicle formed, as per Supreme Court’s Order by Government of Orissa, Sterlite Industries India Limited (SIIL) and Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC). The LPADF would dedicatedly take up development project in 50 km radius around Vedanta Alumina Refinery Project at Lanjigarh. Sterlite Industries will deposit 5% of the profit or Rs. 10 Crore - whichever is higher - for the project for local area development with this special purpose vehicle.

Uncertainty over Vedanta hits livelihood

BHAWANIPATNA: Uncertainty over Vedanta's Lanjigarh project has thrown a spanner into the earnings of small-time traders. Upset they have threatened to commit suicide.

These include representatives of the contractors' association, labourer's association, truck owners association and association of Small Enterprenuers of Lanjigarh, Biswanathpur, Ambodala and Muniguda area.

These businessman had taken loans to buy vehicles, build market complexes and houses, which would have found takers once the project came up. But with the ministry of environment and forests scrapping bauxite mining and stopping the expansion of Vedanta, there is no such hope now. The plant is also reluctant to engage them.

"We have been facing uncertainties since December 31, 2010 after the senior management of VAL informed that Vedanta was going through a tough time with refinery incurring heavy losses of Rs 500 to 600 crores," member of the Contractor's Association Binod Gaud said.

VAL authorities claimed that following environment ministry's order, the corporate-backed development work in Lanjigarh has been hit. "The fate of many development projects aimed at the welfare of the local people have been stalled following the decisions," a spokesman of VAL said.

Already around 10,000 labourers have lost their jobs followed by violent protest inside the administrative building of VAL.

The traders have also met the Kalahandi collector in this regard. "We met the Kalahandi collector and handed over a memorandum mentioning our plight, particularly the threat to our livelihood," said Mahesh Agrawal, one of the traders.