Lanjigarh :Vedanta Limited, Lanjigarh, India’s premierproducer of metallurgical grade alumina, has launched a new Goat Farming Project at Bhatangpadar gram panchayat in Lanjigarh block. Inaugurated by Mr. Sujeet Kumar, Member of Parliament to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha, the project is set to provide a new avenue for building sustainable livelihoods to over 100 families in Kalahandi district, Odisha.
Over 200 goats were distributed to people from across 26 villages within Bhatangpadar as part of the launch event. The project envisions encouraging goat rearing as an additional income source for farmers, supplementing their earnings from crop farming. The project includes detailed awareness sessions on goat rearing and breeding practices. The company has also tied up with local animal husbandry experts who will visit each house at least twice a week, to monitor the health of the goats and suggest ways to enhance their care.
Commenting on the impact of the initiative,Mr GG Pal, Dy. CEO – Alumina Business, Vedanta Limited, said,“Vedanta Lanjigarh is committed to enhancing community development in the vicinity of our operations thorough our developmental interventions, including our comprehensive income generation and skill development programs. By ensuring that our community members have access to sustainable livelihoods, we enable them to pursue further goals for their progress and development, including improved education andhealth.
Mr.Sujeet Kumar, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabhapraised the initiative taken by Vedanta Limited Lanjigarh along with Kalinga Kusum Foundation and ManiktsuAgro for development of the region. He further noted that Bhatangpadar falls under a very interior & culturally rich region of Kalahandi. Under SAGY (Sansad Adarsh Gramin Yojana) various developmental initiatives in the GP have been undertaken and he envisages to make the GP as a truly ideal & developed GP of the country. Vedanta Limited reaching out to these areas shows its determination towards community development. He also gave his regards to the district authorities for the support they have shown towards development of the region.
Among others, Shri Pawar Sachin Prakash, IAS, CDO-cum-EO, Zilla Parishad Kalahandi, Block Chairperson of Lanjigarh, Ex-Minister Shri Pushpendra Singhdeo, Chairperson of Bhawanipatna Municipality, BDO Lanjigarh, Sarpanch & PS Member of Bhatangpadar were present.
Vedanta Lanjigarh works with 4000+ women beneficiaries promoting livelihood ventures such as poultry, goatery, farming, pisciculture etc. Goat farming is an especially productive livelihood opportunity for tribal farmers in the district. It can generate subsidiary income, can be maintained by family members, and provides year-round nutritious milk to them, allowing for Doubling of Farmers Income (DFI). Further, an integrated farming system inclusive of goat farming offers unique opportunities for maintaining and extending biodiversity.
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 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 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.