Vedanta Lanjigarh inaugurates Mini Science Centre to promoteSTEM education in rural Odisha

Lanjigarh, Kalahandi District, Odisha, 16^thMarch 2024: Vedanta Lanjigarh, India’s premier producer of metallurgical grade alumina and a unit of Vedanta Aluminium, recently inaugurated the Vedanta Mini Science Centre at Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir, Ambadola. The center has been envisioned as an innovative centre of learning designed to aidtraditional teaching methodologies and encourage a more holistic understanding of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering &Mathematics) subjects for students in rural Odisha. This is especially significant as access to scientific education, laboratories, etc. are limited in rural hinterlands.

TheMini Science Centre features a wide array of hands-on models, graphic explainers, plug & play systems, and other interactive modules, accessible in both English and regional languages. Catering to school children from classes 5 to 10,it is set to augment the learning experience of more than 600 students. It has been designed to inculcate a deeper understanding of difficult concepts,in line with both Central-level and State-level school curricula and offer both self-directed as well as peer-to-peer learning.

The initiative aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of Quality Education (4). Through such educational endeavors, the company seeks to inspire students in rural hinterlands to opt for higher education in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) and aspire for careers in the field.

Highlighting Vedanta Lanjigarh’s initiatives to promote quality education, Mr. Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO – Alumina Business Vedanta Ltd said, “Through initiatives like Vedanta Mini Science Centre, Vedanta Lanjigarh strives to build wider access to quality education. By creating such platforms for the youth, we believe in the transformative power of education and the potential of these young minds to shape a better future. We believe this initiative will help foster an environment where the scientific curiosity of children in our communities can flourish, thereby actively contributing to the progress of the community as well as the nation.”

Mr. Sahadev Chichuan, Assistant Block Education Officer, Rayagada district, expressed his gratitude for Vedanta’s support, stating, “Vedanta Mini Science Centrewill act as agreat platformfor young minds to learn science, therebyencouraging them to pursue higher education in related fields. Vedanta Lanjigarh is a true community partner and has played a crucial role in empowering the local communities through their diverse range of initiatives.”

Vedanta Lanjigarh’s social interventions in the domains of sustainable livelihood, quality education, women empowerment, health, water and sanitation and community infrastructure reach out to over 67 villages and nearby areas. It empowers more than 4000 women from over 378 SHGs, provides qualitative and doorstep healthcare services to about 60,000 people annually. The company also established Lanjigarh’s first English-medium school- the DAV Vedanta International School and has nurtured over 4000 children and 800 women in over 200 Nand Ghars equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. Moreover, it has empowered around 200 youths through sports and skills training initiatives.  

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 1^st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading 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.