Lanjigarh, Kalahandi (Odisha): Vedanta Limited, Lanjigarh, India’s premier producer of metallurgical grade alumina, observed National Cancer Awareness Day on Saturday.
The company organized knowledge-sharing and sensitization sessions covering 50 Nand Ghars (aanganwadis modernized by Vedanta) of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts. In 10 of them, awareness sessions on precautionary measures along with vital information were conducted in strict adherence to COVID guidelines. The members and beneficiaries of the remaining 40 Nand Ghars participated virtually.
During these sessions, the cluster coordinators of Nand Ghars interacted with women beneficiaries and front-line workers about various types of cancer, especially breast cancer and oral cancer, and intimated them about the various government schemes related to the disease and its treatment. The participants were made aware that the disease is potentially curable if diagnosis and treatment are done on time and with proper medical consultation. The precautionary measures to be taken to prevent the disease were also elaborated during the program.
On this occasion, Vedanta Limited, Lanjigarh unit COO Rakesh Mohan said, “Vedanta Lanjigarh has always given priority towards ensuring good health and well-being of the communities around our areas of operations. Since inception, we have championed public health and sanitation, from making the region malaria-free to bringing quality healthcare to the doorsteps of people through Vedanta Hospital. With burgeoning incidence of cancer worldwide, we have come forward to sensitize the rural communities about the disease. I am confident that the knowledge-sharing sessions organized on this National Cancer Awareness Day will go a long way towards imparting important information to our communities about the disease. We will continue to conduct such awareness programs in the future as well to make our communities aware and informed for leading a healthy life.”
Acknowledging Vedanta’s efforts, Kunti Karkaria, a resident of Badamanjurkupa village said, “These awareness sessions organized by Vedanta were very informative and useful for us. Knowledge on diseases like cancer, which can be avoided by precaution and controlled through timely treatment, is much needed in this region.”
Vedanta’s social interventions in the domains of sustainable livelihood, women empowerment, quality education, health, water and sanitation, bio-investment and community infrastructure reach out to a total of 59 villages in Lanjigarh and nearby areas, benefiting about a lakh people in a year. It empowers more than 3000 women from 305 self-help groups (SHGs), provides healthcare services to about 60,000 people annually, gives educational support to more than 2800 students, has planted more than 5.4 lakh trees in the community, and built 500 plus infrastructural projects at community level.
Vedanta is the largest producer of aluminium in India and remains the premier manufacturer of metallurgical grade alumina. The company operates a 2 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) capacity alumina refinery in Lanjigarh (Kalahandi district, Odisha), India since 2007 and an associated 90 MW captive power plant.
