BHUBANESWAR : Aditya Aluminium, a unit of Aditya Birla Group’s Hindalco
Industries Limited, is fostering sustainable livelihoods and environmental
stewardship through Project Basketry — a distinctive initiative launched under
its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, implemented in
collaboration with the NGO Uphold Earth. The project seeks to create steady
income opportunities for rural women by reviving traditional bamboo
craftsmanship in Laumal and adjoining villages of Sambalpur district.
The core objective of Project Basketry is to empower local artisans with
essential resources and skills. Under this initiative, bamboo saplings are
distributed among community members to encourage bamboo cultivation as a
renewable and eco-friendly resource. By enabling artisans to grow their own
bamboo, the project ensures a consistent supply of raw material — fostering
long-term livelihood sustainability and self-reliance.
Speaking on this initiative, the Head of Mining Business and Sambalpur
Cluster Head Mr Kailash Pandey, said: “Project Basketry embodies Aditya
Aluminium’s vision of “inclusive growth with environmental responsibility.” By
empowering rural women and revitalizing traditional craftsmanship, the
company is building resilient communities anchored in skill, creativity, and self-
reliance.”
To strengthen craft-based skills, Aditya Aluminium Lapanga organized a 40-
day hands-on training program on bamboo handicraft making in Laumal
village. The program, which began on September 12, 2024, focused on
designing and producing utility-based products such as laundry bins, paper
bins, and baskets. Experienced trainers guided participants through each stage
of the process — from raw material preparation and design conceptualization
to product finishing and market linkage.
A total of 15 women artisans participated in the inaugural training program.
The impact was immediate and measurable: these women collectively
produced and sold 1,350 bamboo products, generating a total revenue of Rs
1,71,870. The achievement not only reflects their enhanced craftsmanship and
confidence but also highlights the commercial potential of bamboo-based
microenterprises at the grassroots level, adds Mr Pandey.
Encouraged by the success, Aditya Aluminium’s CSR team has set an
ambitious target for the current financial year — to scale Project Basketry
from 15 to 100 rural women across multiple villages in the Rengali Block. The
broader vision is to develop Rengali as a “Cluster of Bamboo Craft,” creating a
self-sustaining ecosystem that nurtures local artisans, strengthens market
linkages, and establishes the region as a hub for eco-friendly bamboo products.
Beyond its economic impact, the initiative carries wider environmental
significance. Bamboo, a fast-growing renewable resource, contributes to
ecological sustainability by increasing green cover, preventing soil erosion, and
reducing dependence on timber. Through Project Basketry, Aditya Aluminium
is promoting a circular and sustainable model that harmonizes livelihood
generation with environmental conservation.
As a responsible corporate citizen and driven by the constant motivation to
give back to society, in Odisha, the Aditya Birla Group reaches out to more
than 5 lakhs people touching over 2 lakh lives in 128 villages. The Group’s CSR
is conducted under the aegis of the Aditya Birla Centre for Community
Initiatives and Rural Development chaired by Mrs. Rajashree Birla. The
Group’s vision is to actively contribute to the social and economic
development of the communities in which we operate. In doing so, build a
better, sustainable way of life for the weaker sections of society. And raise the
country’s human development index. The Group’s CSR vision is aligned with
UNSDG goals to eliminate poverty and ensure freedom from hunger.
