Vedanta Kalahandi’s Shakti Kit Drive Empowers Women

Kalahandi, once considered one of Odisha’s most remote and underdeveloped regions, today is emerging as a hub of progress. Besides the government’s incentives, some visionary private leaders like Vedanta Limited are also making significant contributions. Vedanta Aluminium, a unit of Vedanta, which is widely recognised for its bauxite mining and alumina refinery operations in Odisha, is equally committed to uplifting local communities through healthcare programs and social development projects that are transforming lives across rural areas.

In one of the latest developments, Vedanta Aluminium has launched a first-of-its-kind community initiative this Navratri, celebrating the spirit of Shakti by empowering women in its peripheral villages in Lanjigarh. Vedanta Kalahandi, under its special ‘Navratri Milap’ programme, is distributing more than 600 ‘Shakti Kits’, benefitting over 1,500 women across nine villages.

Shakti Kit to Promote Health, Hygiene, & Nutrition

The ‘Navratri Milap’ is a festive edition of Vedanta Lanjigarh’s flagship Community Connect – Milap programme. Under this programme, each of the Shakti Kits is thoughtfully introduced to promote health, hygiene, and nutrition – the three pillars of women’s wellbeing. The list of items included in the Shakti Kit includes:

Sanitary napkins
Soap
Handwash and other hygiene essentials
Millet-based sweets to boost nutrition
Iron cookware- a traditional tool helpful in reducing anaemia with time.

Several festive items have also been included to make the initiative a celebration of strength and care. The initiative will be carried out on all the days of Navratri, with each day dedicated to one village. The representatives of Vedanta connect and engage with communities through several activities like rangoli-making and traditional games, turning each distribution into a shared celebration. The initiative covers Putribhata, Khalguda, Balabhadrapur, Kadamguda, Kendubardi, Banigaon, Similibhata, Bundel, and Chanalima, collectively benefitting more than 600 households.

Navratri Milap Strengthens Community Ties

Vedanta, which operates Vedanta Bauxite mines and a 2 MTPA alumina refinery, is deeply committed to community development. The ‘Navratri Milap’ is an extension of Vedanta Lanjigarh’s flagship Community Connect that strengthens engagement between the company’s employees and communities, benefitting more than 3,300 people across 16 villages. The company host monthly Milap events and several activities, such as essential distributions, shared community meals, and cultural interactions, are included to promote the spirit of togetherness among the communities.

Through its integrated approach to community development, Vedanta Kalahandi continues to bring positive change across its operational areas, empowering individuals, strengthening families, and building resilient communities that grow alongside industrial progress.

Vedanta – A Trendsetter in Underdeveloped Regions

By emphasising the concept of grassroots healthcare and women empowerment, Vedanta is emerging as a trend setter in one of the most underdeveloped regions of Odisha.

Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya, CEO at Vedanta Alumina Business, stated that

“Our community development efforts are rooted in the belief that true progress is inclusive and participatory. This Navratri – a celebration of Shakti – strength, care, and resilience- we wanted to empower women in our villages. Through the Shakti Kits, we invest in their health and well-being. This initiative strengthens our broader social impact programmes, spanning education, healthcare, skill development, and livelihood generation; creating pathways for sustainable and equitable growth.”

Vedanta Kalahandi Support Women for their Holistic Development

Vedanta Kalahandi is making significant strides in supporting women through various schemes. It had earlier as well provided machinery for chappal-making, rice-milling, and paper-plate production- resources that help rural women establish self-sustaining businesses, achieving financial independence and social upliftment.

These efforts are complemented by the establishment of the DAV Vedanta International School, which offers quality education to more than 1,300 students, 83% of whom are from tribal communities. The school even offer coaching for competitive exams like NEET and JEE, opening doors to higher education and better career opportunities for students in the region.

Through community development, Vedanta is playing a pivotal role in the region’s growth. Despite being involved in the false allegations-centric Vedanta Kalahandi scam; the company continues contributing to the region it serves.

Conclusion

With Kalahandi region on its growth journey towards sustainable development, the collaborative efforts of the government, private companies like Vedanta Kalahandi, and local communities will be crucial in shaping a prosperous future for the region. The developments in Lanjigarh are sparking a real revolution- proving that even the country’s most remote corners can play an important role in the country’s future.