Parents Meet DAV Vedanta School Management for Sustainable Function

Two months after the closure of the Vedanta Alumina refinery at Lanjigarh the community living around the peripheral areas interacted with the management of the DAV Vedanta International School and requested to sustain the only English Medium School in the region which provides quality education to their ward and assured full support of the entire community for the resumption of the operations soon.

Parents more than 500 in numbers from Lanjigarh, Biswanathpur, Ambodala, Muniguda and other nearby villages came to the Parent-Teacher meet, convened by the Principal of the school Mrs. Shukla Chakrobarty, where Management Committee of the School was present. President & COO – Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanjigarh and Chairman of the Management Committee, Dr. Mukesh Kumar was present along with other members of the School Management Committee.

The parents informed the Committee their concern arises due to temporary closure of the plant as this may impact the function of the school. The management committee Chairman, Dr. Mukesh Kumar reiterated that this plant have been set up with the cooperation and support of the people and if people want Vedanta to continue, there is no threat and further development of the area shall be ensured by taking up the cause jointly so that such threat is not arises in future. Mrs. Shukla Chakrobarty informed the parents that nearly Rs. 4000-Rs. 5000 per children per calendar month is born by Vedanta and without such support, functioning of the school is not possible.

Radha Ratha, a resident of Lanjigarh, said, “Our children are fortunate that Vedanta is bearing all the cost for the education in this school. The quality of the education is incomparable. We want the plant to stay in our region so that community can be benefitted by more developmental activities of the company.” Many parents voiced their opinion and were thankful to VAL for its continuous support to school in such a tribal dominated place even after the crisis being faced by the company. Along with Mr. Rath many other parents such as Mohan Sahu, Gagan Sahu, Kamini Rai expressed their satisfaction with the progress & assured full support to the company and hoped that the plant shall stay forever.

Dr. Mukesh reiterated that the International school will continue to provide quality education the children in the locality. “This year onwards class XI and XII will be added consequently a biology lab has also been facilitated. A degree science college is also on the pipe line. Vedanta will take all possible steps to provide quality education to the inhabitants of Lanjigarh and its nearby areas as per Vedanta’s vision of making Kalahandi and especially Lanjigarh a developed area known for education, Health & Industrial Development.”

Author: Sweta Upadhyaya

Vedanta Initiates Income Generation Programme for Women at Lanjigarh

Women Empowerment Initiatives seems to have taken a big leap at Lanjigarh and its periphery in Kalahandi district of Odisha as 117 women of 11 Self Help Groups (SHGs) in the region will be engaged in income generation activities like Applique work, Leaf and cup plate, Hill broom binding, Phenyl making and Agarbatti making etc. Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) initiated the programme in collaboration with the District Industries Centre (DIC), Kalahandi.

These women, mostly tribal, are expected to earn Rs 1000-1500 per month after the start of the income generation activity. The training programme was started in October, 2012 at the Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar and Basantpada where member of three SHGs participated. Women in villages of Basantpada, Kenduguda, Kansari, Parvatipur, Baterlima and Bandhguda will be part of the programme initially.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Mukesh Kumar – President & COO, VAL, said, “Strengthening women of Lanjigarh region is one of our prime focus. In the time to come, we will bring more women in this income generation programme.”

Two well experienced Master Trainers Mr. Narayan Yadav and Mr. Saroj Manhira, identified by DIC, were present to impart training on the different trades. Mr. Avilash Dwivedi – Head-CSR, VAL was instrumental in organizing the programme along with other CSR members like Sweety Mukherjee and Niharika Sahu.

Earlier, an inaugural session for the skill development training Programme was organised on 12th Sept, 2012 which was attended by General Manager District Industries Centre (DIC), Kalahandi Miss Meena Kumari Behera and Mr. K R Kundu, Head-HR (VAL).

VAL, Lanjigarh has taken up the project to enhance the quality of life of the SHG members and ensuring their empowerment in family and social decision making process. So far 22 SHG’s have been strengthened covering 238 women in 12 villages.

Vedanta to shut down its Odisha refinery plant from December 5

Unable to run the refinery project to its full capacity since inception due to scarcity of bauxite, Vedanta Aluminium Limited on August 6, 2012 formally informed the Odisha government about its plan to shut down the plant from December five.

"We have given a letter to the secretary-cum- commissioner of labour department of the Odisha government about the closure plan. The three month notice is mandatory under the industrial dispute act before shutting down operations," Mukesh Kumar, President & Chief Operating Officer of VAL said.

Stating that the VAL had designed the smelter plant at Lanjigarh in Kahalandi district based on buffer bauxite, Kumar said the company could not get a gram of raw material from the state.
"Though you (state government) had guaranteed supply of bauxite raw material in the MoU, the company has not received any during its five years operation," Kumar wrote in the letter seeking the state government's help to run the plant.

Also Read: Vedanta calls for India to restrict bauxite exports  (Economic Times)

The company, which made operational its 1mtpa refinery at Lanjigarh in 2007, also stated that it could not use the plant to its full capacity during the last five years.

"Though we arranged raw material from other states, it was not possible anymore due to environmental clearance in many places. VAL also could not arrange bauxite from Gujarat as the state government preferred to export the raw material," Kumar said.

Under such a situation, the company incurred a loss of about Rs 2,500 crore for running the refinery at Lanjigarh, he said in the letter.

The VAL COO also requested the state government to help it by providing the raw material for running the refinery plant after December 5.

"If situation improves within 90 days, the company may not shut down the plant," he said.

The company has so far invested Rs 9,000 crore in the project which provided employment to 7,000 people including direct jobs to 3,000 persons, the COO said.

Though the company applied for 26 bauxite reserves in the state, nothing was finalised due to different reasons.

The company required 10,000 ton of bauxite every day to feed its 1mtpa refinery plant.

Steel and mines minister R K Singh said "We have not received the letter. The government will examine VAL's issue after getting the letter."

Courtesy: Business Standard

Putting Kalahandi on Global Map – Jogabyas

“All is in the mind” says Jogabyas Bhoi. This is a story of tenacity and grit displayed by an ordinary Kalahandian who desired to scale new heights since childhood. At first, having scaled Niyamgiri, he realized that it is important for him to go beyond.

“We found a spark in him” remarks Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President & COO-Vedanta Aluminium, Lanjigarh. Perhaps afterwards Jogabyas never looked back. Backed by support from Vedanta Aluminium and District Administration, Jogabyas scaled Mt Everest on April 16, 2012.

Jogabyasa with his students at VAL refinery

Now the bar has been raised. “I wish to groom young talent of Kalahandi in the field of mountaineering. We have formed “Odisha Mountaineering Trust” which aims to provide platform for such talent”, says Jogabyas. Perhaps the never-say-die attitude led to the first expedition with a batch of five students led by Jogabyas to move up to the base camp of Mt Annapurna in Nepal. All the students hail from Kalahandi district.

Back home, Jogabyas along with his students also visited Vedanta Aluminium, Lanjigarh Refinery. He agrees that corporate like TATA, Vedanta and others share the determination to bring change in lives of people and make India proud. He believes to add a new vibrant identity to Kalahandi both nationally and globally as a powerhouse which churns several maintainers of repute. Recently several maintainers from other parts of the country expressed their desire to visit Kalahandi, adds Jogabyas.

Also Read: Vedanta Aluminium helps Jogabyasa Bhoi to conquer Mt. Everest

Also Read: Everest glory for Oriya

 Manas Ranjan, student of Jogabyas from Rupra , Kalahandi aims to climb Mt. Pandim in Sikkim Himalaya range. “Nobody has scaled to the summit and I want to make history” says Manas. This 14-yr old youngster is yet to complete his 10th standard.

It is a fact that there are many youngsters who are indeed good maintainers. But lack of proper systems and platform is a hurdle. However it does not deter Jogabyas. “I have been blessed by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who said I will definitely go places in life,” remarks Jogabyas.

Life is a journey and these five mountaineers led by Jogabyas have big plans to put Kalahandi on the global map of Mountaineering.

Paper on Social Dimensions of Vedanta – Lanjigarh Alumina Refinery in International Journal

 


Dr. Mukesh Kumar

  Millennium Development Goals are a set of 8 Goals propounded by the Millennium Declaration and ratified to be achieved in a phased manner by 2015 by all United Nations Member States during the Millennium Summit in the year 2000.

The Paper titled, “Industry and Millennium Development Goals: The Case of Vedanta Aluminium Limited – Lanjigarh” published in the International Journal of Social Science Tomorrow (IJSS) authored by Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Alumina Refinery, Lanjigarh and Anil Ota, Sustainability Officer, Vedanta Alumina Refinery, Lanjigarh provides a perspective view based on information and data collected from credible statistical sources and verified through a comprehensive empirical exercise conducted on randomly selected sample respondents at Lanjigarh endeavor at illustrating the community empowerment interventions of Vedanta Aluminium Limited – Lanjigarh commensurating the Millennium Development Goals and the benefits that it has percolated to the study area in general and the local population in particular in augmenting their Quality of Living (QoL). The paper can be accessed at the website: http://www.ijsst.com/vol1_issue5.php


Also Read: Aluminium Industry Can Make Odisha Prosperous, Says Dr. Mukesh Kumar

Ashram Building Inaugurated for 30 Orphan Children at Bhawanipatna

The fate of 30 orphan children in Kalahandi district of Odisha took a different turn – thanks to Hemant Mund and his wife Sunanda Mishra who are parenting the kids like their own family at Bhawanipatna. The 30 children – who were adopted by Mr. Mund from tribal dominated places of the district – have a home to live, dreams to fulfill with a nice parent.

With the name of ‘Bal Gopal Seva Niketan’, Hemant was running the orphanage school at his home earlier. However, thanks to Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh, Member of Parliament (MP) Mr. Bhakta Charan Das and the then MP for their financial support. Now the children have a newly constructed Ashram to live with good infrastructure.

On July 3, 2012, the new Ashram for the 30 orphan children was inaugurated by the MP Bhakta Charan Dash in presence of Chief Information Commissioner Mr. Satyananda Mishra and Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President and COO Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh.

On the occasion, an emotional Hemant says, “I am happy for my children for their new home. Vedanta arranged a land for the Ashram at Bhawanipatna and later helped us to build the building for the children. I am thankful to the corporate house for their kind support in the noble cause.” Hemant also extended gratitude to Mr. Satyananda Mishra for helping him and giving guidance all the time.

Hemant and his wife not only providing food and a home, they also ensure that the children get good education as all are doing well in different schools. The couple takes special care to impart spiritual education to them. All the children have become experts in reciting Gita and Vedic hymns. They have also displayed their skills in New Delhi, Mumbai, Ranchi and Bhubaneswar and won accolades.

Hemant and his wife dine and sleep together with the children and take special care like their own kids.

‘Aluminium Industry can generate employment to 7mn people’

The Aluminium Demand in the country may touch around five million ton by 2015 and 10 million ton by 2020 which can generate employment for nearly 7 million people in the country by 2020, said Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President & COO – Vedanta Aluminium Limited, at a recently held seminar on “Prospects of Alumina and Aluminium Industry in Odisha”. Many eminent Scientists, Academicians, Engineers interacted on the importance of Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium for the development of Odisha.

The seminar, organized by Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, was also attended by Padmashree PK Jena; Academician Prof. Omkar Nath Mohanty; Mr. H. P. Mishra–Former Chairman, IPICOL; representatives from NALCO and State Pollution Control Board.

Dr. Mukesh Kumar also pointed out that Odisha is blessed with High Quality Aluminium Reserves and based on the present analysis nearly 60% of India’s reserves are available in Odisha. However, this wealth of natural resources could not be translated into economic prosperity for the state. The availability of such vast natural resources could have been used for turning the Mineral and Metal potential of Odisha into a gold mine and eradicating poverty but unfortunately the State is still reeling under the crunch of chronic poverty without realizing the benefits of these natural resources.

“Besides employment generation, the Industry can contribute nearly Rs. 33000 crore annually to the exchequer. If immediate measures are not taken to boost Aluminium Production domestically, even the targets of electrifying all the villages also will be difficult to achieve in absence of electricity distribution network which is the main consumer of Aluminium in the country”, he further added.

He also said, “India and particularly Odisha where lies the main depository of the Aluminium Reserves in the country could not take the advantage of its mineral wealth and thereafter not even a single Alumina Refinery and Smelter could have been put up in the State even after 25 years of commissioning of NALCO project. The Vedanta Integrated Aluminum Complex set up in Odisha also is forced to run at lower capacity as no Bauxite from the State could be made available to the Project.”

Vedanta Commits to Environment; To Plant One Lakh Sapling At Lanjigarh

 Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanjigarh, celebrated World Environment Day on June 5, 2012 by organizing a massive plantation programme  involving all the Vedanta & its associate employers & families. On the occasion, Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President & COO informed that nearly one lakh saplings will be planted in and around the plant this year as part of our commitment towards making the area green and to improve the ecology of the area.

 The Environment Day Celebration at Lanjigarh commenced with plantation in the plant premises and at Resettlement and Rehabilitation colony viz. Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar in which all employees of VAL and its Associated Partners participated.

Inaugurating the programme, Dr. Mukesh Kumar further impressed upon the principle of sustainable development through sustainable waste management & adopting best environmental practices. He said, “Our mission is to make a forest inside the plant instead of building a plant inside the forest.” He also reiterated on the initiatives and the road-map VAL-Lanjigarh has prepared to make optimum utilization of natural resources through recycling and recovering of wealth from waste and making VAL-Lanjigarh the first alumina refinery across the globe to have zero waste in addition to being a zero discharge plant.

This year the theme of World Environment Day is “Green Economy, Does it include you?” At VAL, for awareness on environment, competitions on Slogan and painting were organized among the employees of VAL and other associated companies as well as among the school children. The day-long programme also includes an awareness march organized at the VAL Township by all the families of Vedanta’s employees & school children followed by plantation and prize giving ceremony to the winners of various competitions.