Provide us livelihood, or run Vedanta refinery: Workers demand at Lanjigarh

Hundreds of local people working at the alumina refinery of Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) came to the streets of Lanjigarh on January 8, 2013 after a threat to their livelihood as a result of closure of the refinery. They appealed to the State and the Central Government to provide them alternate source of livelihood which is dangling in danger after the closure of Vedanta’s refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district of Odisha.

“VAL has stopped production and if this situation continues, thousands of people working inside the plant will be jobless. Who will come to our rescue then? We request the state and central govt. to provide us alternate source of livelihood or alternate raw material source to the company to run the refinery,” said Sribaschha Tandi a local contractor engaged in the plant.

Local leaders including Sridhara Pesnia, Chandra Pesnia, Subas Agarwal, Rajendra Singhdeo of Lanjigarh came forward in support of the workers and demanded the govt. to take an immediate action. “The govt. should consider providing alternate source of bauxite to the plant. Or, we will go to the Odisha Assembly and Parliament in Delhi to save the only industry in our region which is providing livelihood to more than 10,000 people of Kalahandi,” said Sridhara Pesnia, President - Lanjigarh Anchalika Vikash Parishad.

The locals also voiced their concern over the anti-industry attitude of NGOs & civil society organisations which have been opposing Vedanta in Kalahandi, without any concern for the human misery that will result due to the closure.

Vedanta has closed its one million tonne alumina refinery based at Lanjigarh since December 5, 2012 due to shortage of bauxite which is the raw material to produce alumina.

Vedanta Aluminium to lay off employees, no hope of revival of refinery

BHUBANESWAR: Vedanta Aluminium on Thursday will inform Odisha government its decision to lay off employees at its alumina refinery at Lanjigarh with no hope of an immediate revival of the plant, the company's chief operating officer Mukesh Kumar told ET.
VAL, a unit of London-listed Vedanta Resources, was forced to close down its refinery with a million tonne a year capacity two weeks ago due to non-availability of bauxite, the key raw material used to produce alumina.
The Act requires any plant employing more than 100 workmen to take prior permission from the state government for lay-off, retrenchment and closure. VAL has about 550 employees on its payroll.
In the past three months, about 70-75 employees, including engineers and executives, have already left the refinery, according to Kumar. The Lanjigarh plant had been facing bauxite shortages since its commissioning in August 2007 as the state government could not fulfill its commitment of supplying bauxite from the nearby Niyamgiri hills through state-run Odisha Mining Corporation, which held the lease due to regulatory and legal issues.
The refinery requires 10,000 tonnes of bauxite a day to operate at full capacity and the VAL had been lifting bauxite from the open market, which also has dried down. Odisha has a rich deposit of bauxite, pegged at 1,849 million tones, of all categories.
Ironically, during 2003-09, only 28.8 million tonnes of bauxite ore has been produced mostly from Panchpatmali mines of the maharatna National Aluminium Company. Some 7,000 people, mostly locals, would be seriously affected due to the retrenchment, a company top official said. VAL had announced to shut down the refinery on December 5. The Lanjigarh refinery has already incurred financial.

Courtsey: Economic Times

Can Vedanta restart Lanjigarh refinery?

Eight years ago, Kada Majhi, a tribal woman of Kinari, a village in the Kalahandi district of Odisha, eked out a living with paltry wages as a daily labourer. When Vedanta Aluminium started constructing a one-million-tonne-per-annum aluminium refinery at Lanjigarh, she, along with her husband and five children, shifted to Niyamagiri Vedanta Nagar, a model township, set up by the company to rehabilitate persons displaced by the project. Since then, the economic profile of the family has improved significantly. While Kada, 32, started working as a tailor in the Maa Manikeswari Self Help Group, promoted by Vedanta Aluminium, after required skill training, her husband got a job in the factory that fetched him Rs 15,000 per month. The children study at the DAV Vedanta International School — the first in the Majhi family to ever enter a classroom. The same story of improved fortunes runs across the 121 displaced tribal families settled in Vedanta Nagar, most of whom for the first time have accessed modern amenities like a pucca house, electricity, piped drinking water, healthcare and education — all free of cost.
In fact, the sudden change in lifestyle of these families had in the past led to agitations in the nearby villages — people there demanded similar benefits even at the cost of taking away their land. While most of the displaced persons have been provided permanent jobs by the company, drawing a salary of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month, about 500 of the 1,800 project-affected persons (those who lost their land and not home) have been engaged by contractors and earn up to Rs 5,000 per month. No wonder, ever since Vedanta announced that the refinery would be closed due to non-availability of bauxite, they are a worried lot, with a question mark over their future and livelihood. “What will our children do? Where can we find another job if this plant closes down”, asks Kada.
“The dream of several educated youth in Kalahandi district to get the job in their own district will be shattered if the plant is not revived”, says Parimita Behera, an assistant manager in the plant. Incidentally, Vedanta Aluminium is the only large industry in Kalahandi, a tribal district which ranks among the poorest in the country. The anxiety is all pervasive in Lanjigarh, which saw a spurt in economic activity over the last decade, catapulting it from a small village to a small town with the arrival of Vedanta. The factory currently engages about 3,500 people — 550 on the company’s payroll and another 3,000 through the contractors. There are also about 5,000 others who earn their livelihood by working in small shops, garages, filling stations, hotels, transport businesses, etc, in and around the town. But amidst the dismay, a tinge of optimism is displayed by the locals who hope the shutdown of the refinery may be “temporary”. “We expect the plant will reopen soon. The government should take urgent steps to supply bauxite”, says Sridhara Tensia, president of the Lanjigarh Anchalika Bikash Parishad.
The company, in its advance closure notice to the government, had expressed its intention to shut the refinery temporarily from December 5, citing non-availability of bauxite. It had urged the government to arrange alternative sources of bauxite (other than the controversial Niyamgiri deposit) for the revival of the unit. More than two years ago, Vedanta Aluminium had sought bauxite supplies from seven alternative mines, five in Rayagada and two in Kalahandi, after the Union ministry of environment & forests had scrapped the stage-II forest clearance for Niyamgiri lease in August, 2010.

Courtsey: Business Standard

Vedanta Hospital at Lanjigarh Organises Camp for Cleft Palate Surgery Free of Cost

People with Cleft lip and Palate are benefitted from a free camp for surgery at Vedanta Hospital in Kalahandi’s Lanjigarh area of Odisha which started on November 29, 2012. This is a rarest of the rare occasions in the district where six indigent people including children have been identified for surgery after a survey in the region. Cleft lip and Palate is found one amongst 1000 birth, according to a Bhubaneswar-based doctor.

The free camp for surgery was inaugurated by Dr. Mukesh Kumar – President & COO, Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanijgarh. Along with him also present were Dilip Pattnaik, Chairman-NKBT; Rabi Misrha, Head-HSE (VAL); Avilash Dwivedi, Head-CSR (VAL). Vedanta Hospital provided surgeons and doctors for the successful treatment of the identified patients. The camp seems to be a symbol which portrays the escalating journey of the region’s improving health care service.

Dr. Ram Anupam Tripathy (Maxcilo Facial Surgeon), Dr. Ritesh Ray (Anastisis) of NKBT, Bhubaneswar were present for surgery whereas Dr. Manoj Sahu (Medicine Specialist), Dr. Chinky Gupta (Dentist) and Supriti Patra were instrumental in conducting the overall survey, screening and surgery.

After inaugurating the camp, Dr. Mukesh Kumar said, “This is a noble initiative, Vedanta Hospital will continue to serve the people in this region.” VAL opened Vedanta Hospital at Lanjigarh for the community which is predominantly habituated by tribal population.

DAV Vedanta International School organises Shishu Swasthya Mela at Lanjigarh

Nearly 1500 children between 5-9 years of age from peripheral villages of Lanjigarh attended a mega health fair “Shishu Swashthya Mela” organised by DAV Vedanta International School on 16-17 October 2012. The objective of the two-day programme, held at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district of Odisha, was to create awareness about childrens’ health and identification of deficiencies. Health check-up of children was done and subsequently curative measures were advised in case any deficiency was detected.

The health fair had 20 doctors providing their services to participants from 25 peripheral villages of Lanjigarh viz. Trilochanpur, Basantpada, Jagannathpur, Rengopali, Sindhbahal, Chhatrapur, Balabhadrapur, Kenduguda, Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar, Nangalbeda etc. Speaking about the Shishu Swashthya Mela, Shukla Chakrobarty, Principal of DAV Vedanta International School said, “A lot of attention is required towards children and we all should come forward to build a healthy society. This health camp is one of our efforts to improve the health condition of children.”

The Shishu Swashthya Mela was inaugurated by Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President & Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanjigarh in presence of senior VAL officials - Mr. Koustav Ratan Kundu and Mr. Manoj Agrawal.

The DAV Vedanta International School at Lanjigarh is the only English medium school in this region. Nearly 500 children study in the school, of which mostly come from tribal communities belonging to nearby villages.

Vedanta Foundation Partners with Government of Odisha to Help Impart Quality Education to 2,00,000 Children in Odisha

Vedanta through its foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Odisha (S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department), to help 2,00,000 underprivileged children  across 1000 government run upper primary & secondary schools under SSD Department in Odisha under the Vedanta E-Shiksha@Schools Programme.

The 1000 schools are spread across 30 Districts which include predominantly tribal districts like Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kolaput & Kandhamal.

The MoU was signed between Mr. Ravi Krishnan, CEO Vedanta Foundation and Mr. Sushil Kumar Popli, Director  S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha. The function was presided over by Mr. Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department. Mr. Lalbihari Himarika, Hon. Minister S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha was the Chief Guest.

Over 2,00,000 underprivileged students from 6^th to 10^th standard will benefit from this initiative that aims to make learning interesting & interactive through the use of Technology aided learning. The MoU allows Vedanta Foundation to help educate Odisha’s underprivileged as well as tribal children of communities like Kondh.

As per the MoU, Vedanta Foundation will provide hardware as well as software solutions like LED Pico Projectors with memory and battery backup and text book based educational software i.e. e-content based on course curriculum in local language (Odia). Training to teachers in the use of the material will also be conducted.

Speaking about the MOU, Mr. Ravi Krishnan, CEO Vedanta Foundation said, "Our Chairman has been a strong advocate of right to equal education opportunities for all students specially students who are studying in government schools across the country. Through Vedanta Foundation’s E-Shiksha programme we are working towards providing quality education tools to underprivileged students. We are very proud that this MOU will enable us to help enhance the quality of education for these 2,00,000 students across Odisha."

Vedanta through its foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Odisha (S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department), to help 2,00,000 underprivileged children  across 1000 government run upper primary & secondary schools under SSD Department in Odisha under the Vedanta E-Shiksha@Schools Programme.

The 1000 schools are spread across 30 Districts which include predominantly tribal districts like Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kolaput & Kandhamal.

The MoU was signed between Mr. Ravi Krishnan, CEO Vedanta Foundation and Mr. Sushil Kumar Popli, Director  S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha. The function was presided over by Mr. Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department. Mr. Lalbihari Himarika, Hon. Minister S.T. & S.C. Development and Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha was the Chief Guest.

Over 2,00,000 underprivileged students from 6^th to 10^th standard will benefit from this initiative that aims to make learning interesting & interactive through the use of Technology aided learning. The MoU allows Vedanta Foundation to help educate Odisha’s underprivileged as well as tribal children of communities like Kondh.

As per the MoU, Vedanta Foundation will provide hardware as well as software solutions like LED Pico Projectors with memory and battery backup and text book based educational software i.e. e-content based on course curriculum in local language (Odia). Training to teachers in the use of the material will also be conducted.

Speaking about the MOU, Mr. Ravi Krishnan, CEO Vedanta Foundation said, "Our Chairman has been a strong advocate of right to equal education opportunities for all students specially students who are studying in government schools across the country. Through Vedanta Foundation’s E-Shiksha programme we are working towards providing quality education tools to underprivileged students. We are very proud that this MOU will enable us to help enhance the quality of education for these 2,00,000 students across Odisha."

Vedanta Supports Quality Education For Tribal Children

Vedanta through its Foundation has funded education for tribal children in the Rayagada district of Odisha with an objective of providing an equal opportunity to underprivileged children from the tribal population, including Dongria Kondhs, to pursue formal education.

Vedanta Foundation has sent 100 tribal students between 5-8 years of age to Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS), Bhubaneswar. More students would be sent there in the second phase. In this regard a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Vedanta Foundation,

KISS and Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanjigarh. The children have been identified from Muniguda and Kalyansinghpur blocks of Rayagada district which is predominantly inhabited by Dongria Kondh community.