Aluminium - Enriching A Billion Lives

‘Voices on ground’ brings together the changing outlook and demand of the villagers and tribals in Lanjigarh. For far too long, they had taken up a stance against industries propagated by the vested interest brigade. But now in Lanjigarh, where Vedanta’s Alumina Refinery is located, demonizing industrialization is no longer the dominant narrative. The demand for the right to live healthy and prosperous lives is starting to gain traction amongst the native people. For the first time, the demand for development has transcended the local villagers and percolated in tribal areas. They want their right to development and a better quality of life. They have come around the fact that industrialization is necessary for job creation and poverty alleviation. It is not by fighting against industrialization that this can be achieved but by partnering with the local industries and pushing for development. Health, education, roads and electricity are a priority in these times. It is the re...

In 2006, Asian Institute of Sustainable Development (AISD) conducted a Baseline Study in which it made startling discoveries about the health condition in the Kalahandi district. As per the study findings: Only 13% people had privilege to basic medical treatment. IMR rate was 200 per thousand birth. Child malnutrition and immunization were 58% and 35% respectively. Malarial death was 80%. If you ever Google the phrase ‘Kalahandi Syndrome’, you’ll come across a morbid picture of humanity. Kalahandi is often referred to as emblem of backwardness in prevalent media. The region is infamous for its recurring droughts and starvation deaths. The misery that stalks the people is known to everyone yet nothing much on the ground took off since independence. However with industrialization, the scope for development has opened up in the district. These findings facilitated Vedanta, which has its alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, to design innovative health care projects. Vedanta star...