Vedanta Aluminium Kick Starts Week-long HIV-AIDS Awareness Campaign in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, SWA NEWS :On World AIDS Day, Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium,kickstarted a weeklong awareness campaign. Through this initiative, Vedanta aims to sensitize the local community on HIV–AIDS prevention, in line with the theme, “Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!”.

As a part of this campaign, Vedanta conducted activities across Jharsuguda, Lanjigarh and its mines locations engaging more than 11,400 individuals. Through awareness sessions, rallies, “nukkad natak” (street plays) and health education programs, the campaign reached diverse groups, including students, truck drivers, police personnel and local communities.

These proactive health awareness sessions are essential to dispel myths, reduce stigma and provide accurate information about HIV-AIDS, empowering individuals to adopt preventive measures and seek timely treatment.

• In Jharsuguda district, a World AIDSDay awareness rally was flagged off by Mr. Kishor Kumar Swaine, Additional District Magistrate, drawing more than 350 participants including NCC and NSS cadets, Vedanta employees and local students. Awareness initiatives will continue throughout the week, covering schools, colleges and police stations. Vedanta’s efforts, in partnership with Odisha State AIDS Control Society (OSACS) and the District Health Administration, aim to sensitise approximately 5,000 individuals about prevention, treatment and eradicating societal stigma.
• In Lanjigarh, Kalahandi district, the campaign started with targeted awareness sessions for migrant workers, truck drivers, and the local community, focussing on prevention and safe practices. The initiative saw the participation of more than 500 indivudulas, fostering an understanding of HIV-AIDS while empowering participants to act as change agents. Nukkad Natak (street plays) were also organised across the district to drive the message of HIV-AIDS prevention
• As part of its community engagement initiatives around coal and bauxite mining projects, Vedanta organized impactful activities across regions. At the Kuraloi Coal Mine, rallies and awareness sessions in collaboration with the Red Ribbon Club, National AIDS Control Organisation, and National Service Scheme benefited more than 500 community members. In Sundargarh, “nukkad natak” and educational sessions engaged students, truck drivers, and local communities, reaching out to more than 600 individuals. In the Sijimali region, a mass rally, flagged off by Dr. Nihendra Panda, Chief District Medical Officer, Kalahandi, was conducted in partnership with OSACS and district medical authorities, providing crucial health education to over 5,000 individuals.

Commenting on the company’s health interventions, Mr. Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “At Vedanta Aluminium, we firmly believe that the health and well-being of communities are the cornerstones of sustainable development. This World AIDS Day, our awareness campaign stands as a testament to our enduring commitment to addressing pressing health challenges and empowering communities through knowledge, care, and support. By fostering understanding and combating stigma, we aim to inspire collective action and pave the way for a healthier, more inclusive future.”

Vedanta Aluminium remains dedicated to driving positive social change through meaningful health and awareness initiatives. By engaging diverse stakeholders and fostering education, the company continues to celebrate and amplify the spirit of World AIDS Day, ensuring that communities are informed, resilient, and united in their fight against HIV-AIDS.  

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry. 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.