Vedanta Aluminium conducts week-long HIV/AIDS awareness initiative in Jharsuguda

Jharsuguda, Odisha; December 10, 2022: On the occasion of World AIDS Day, Vedanta
Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, observed a week-long awareness program
based on the theme ‘Equalize’. Conducted in association with the District Health
Department, Jharsuguda and the Odisha State AIDS Control Society, the program aimed to
sensitize community members, employees, and business partners on the effective
prevention and management of HIV/AIDS.
As part of the awareness campaign, information on the key measures to prevent HIV/AIDS
were shared through rallies, info sessions, and distribution of informative pamphlets within
Jharsuguda district. Throughout the week, several awareness sessions were organised in
association with key administrative and medical personnel from the district, including Prabir
Kumar Mohanty, Additional District Magistrate, Jharsuguda, Dr. Dolamani Patel, Chief
District Medical & Public Health Officer, Jharsuguda, Mr. Bulunath Sahu, District Program
Manager, Dr. A. K. Pandit, Medical Officer, Integrated Counselling Treatment Center, District
Sexual & RTI Clinic, and members of the Association of Volunteer Action. Vedanta’s Mobile
Health Unit also travelled to several locations in Jharsuguda to spread awareness as part of
this initiative.
Through the campaign, the company reached out to numerous schools & college students,
government officers, police personnel and prison inmates at Jharsuguda District Jail,
together benefitting more than 2900 members of the community.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sunil Gupta, CEO – Vedanta Ltd., Jharsuguda said,
“Ensuring the collective health and well-being of our community has always been a key area
of focus within Vedanta’s social interventions. We have endeavoured to maximise
community awareness on improved health and hygiene practices by partnering with
government bodies and organizations also working towards this cause. HIV/AIDS is a global
health challenge that can be prevented by effective and essential measures, and we are
making efforts to address this challenge through focused outreach to our communities.
Through such initiatives, Vedanta is committed in its efforts to improve the overall quality of
life of our local communities”
Appreciating the company’s efforts, Ms. Urmila Mishra – Project Director, OSACS,
said, “Vedanta’s initiatives to sensitize the community towards the prevention of HIV/AIDS
supports the public health department’s fight against this life-threating disease. The
company’s effort in reaching out to various sections of the society and working towards
building an AIDS-free community is truly appreciable.”
Vedanta Aluminium’s social interventions in the domains of quality education, healthcare,
skill development, women empowerment, water and sanitation, and community infrastructure
reach out to over 79 villages in Jharsuguda and nearby areas, benefiting nearly 1.7 lakh
people in a year. It empowers more than 4000 women from over 338 SHGs, provides
doorstep healthcare services to about 32,000 people annually, provides educational support
to more than 6400 students, and has planted more than 1.48 lakh trees in partnership with
locals at the community level.

Sensitivity:
Internal (C3)

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium,
manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.26 million tonnes in FY22. It is a
leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries.
Vedanta Aluminium ranks 4th in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2021 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.