VEDANTA LANJIGARH’S PROJECT UTTHAN BOOSTS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN KALAHANDI, RAYAGADA

73 graduate youths have been hired for various roles at the alumina refinery operations

By Dr. R.C. Behera/Dr. Gourang Rout

Lanjigarh, Kalahandi; April 25, 2023: Run by Vedanta Limited, Lanjigarh, India’s premier producer of metallurgical grade alumina, Project Utthan has been working towards creating employment opportunities for the youth of Kalahandi and Rayagada, with a focus on those who have completed their graduate-level studies. The company has recently hired 73 youths from Kalahandi and Rayagada districts in various roles at the alumina refinery. Of the students hired, 43 students belong to Kalahandi district whereas 30 students hail from Rayagada district. The appointment letters were presented to the new hires from Kalahandi by Ms. P Anwesha Reddy (IAS),  Collector and District Magistrate, in a function at the Bhawanipatna Town Hall today.

The word Utthan, which means to ‘lift up’, perfectly encapsulates the vision of the program, which is to provide a leg up to young individuals hailing from remote communities with limited possibilities for employment, in taking their first steps towards fulfilling careers. This allows them to participate in, and thereby lead their communities into, the socio-economic mainstream without being forced to relocate to distant areas to earn their livelihood.

As part of the program, the youths will also undergo further training to grow into leadership roles. Since commencing operations, Vedanta Lanjigarh has hired over 270 graduate students from Kalahandi and Rayagada districts as permanent staff in both technical and non-technical functions, several of whom have attained managerial positions. Through this effort, it has deepened its talent pool with qualified and competent employees from local communities. In addition to this, the company has also employed nearly 4000 people from Kalahandi and Rayagada in technical roles. This has gone on to augment local employment, enhancing the quality of life enjoyed by rural communities.

Highlighting the impact of Project Utthan, Mr GG Pal, Dy. CEO – Alumina Business, Vedanta Limited, said, “Vedanta Lanjigarh has always championed socio-economic development of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts. Sustainable livelihood opportunities are an important lever in accelerating the pace of community development, making people equal participants in their own progress. Our ‘Project Utthan’ focuses on enabling local youths with meaningful opportunities to succeed professionally while also staying close to their roots. I wish each of our young and talented recruits the best in their careers and look forward to seeing them take our company and their communities to greater heights.”

Congratulating the youths, Ms P Anwesha Reddy, IAS, Collector & District Magistrate, Kalahandi district, said, “Vedanta Lanjigarh has established itself as an important driver of community progress in Odisha through several developmental initiatives. By building several avenues of progress through focused interventions in education, health, skill development, grassroots sports, and now formal employment via Project Utthan, the company represents a plethora of possibilities for young individuals. I extend my best wishes for Project Utthan and urge that this platform be utilised for honing our youth’s abilities and creating new horizons for the people of Kalahandi and Rayagada.”

In addition to formal employment opportunities, Vedanta Lanjigarh offers many other opportunities for youth to gain essential vocational skills. Most recently, it was chosen as the pilot location for Vedanta’s Project Panchhi, which seeks to empower 1000 girls from underserved communities, from across India, with job and continued education opportunities. The target demography of this drive is girls from lower income families who are likely to opt out of pursuing further studies and a fulfilling career, owing to financial and social constraints. Further, the company runs a youth skills training program wherein local youth get trained in various trades like housekeeping, food & beverages, electrical and more. Similarly, the company’s Sakhi project supports hundreds of rural women in capacity building, training, enterprise development and institutional credit. The company has also fostered many farm and non-farm enterprises in poultry, pisciculture, vegetable cultivation, etc. Furthermore, it is nurturing and preserving tribal arts and sports such as Dhokra art, Saura art, and archery, and creating avenues for artisans and sportspeople to build thriving livelihoods.

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.