Angul, Nov 24: Jindal Foundation, the social arm of Naveen Jindal-led Jindal Steel & Power, expanded one of its flagship programs, Project SNEH, to Dhauragoth village, located in the Tikarpada region of Angul district.
Mr. Saroj Panda, DFO Wildlife, Satkosia, inaugurated the launch of the program in the presence of Dr. Sibananda Mohanty, CDMO Angul, Dr. Keshav Ch. Pradhan SDVO from the office of CDVO, Angul, Mr. Bijaya Mishra, Senior Journalist, Smt. Saudamini Pradhan, Sarpanch, Shri Ananta Basudev Mohanty, President Satkosia Biodiversity Conservation, and prominent local leaders including Shri Dileswar Pradhan, Shri Prakash Ch Pradhan, Shri Dola Behera, and Shri Nilakantha Behera.
Under Project SNEH, the Jindal Foundation has been providing dry rations and cooked food rich in both macro and micronutrients to the needy and underprivileged across needy regions of India, with a particular focus on districts with a tribal majority.
In collaboration with the Forest Department, the Foundation extended this initiative to the periphery villages of Satkosia Tiger Sanctuary with an objective to address the nutrition challenges of families resettled outside the core sanctuary area. This initiative is also expected to support the broader strategy aimed at alleviating human-wildlife conflict while supporting vulnerable communities.
In the initial phase, more than 700 identified families in the village will receive dry rations rich in macro- and micronutrients. A reassessment of the community’s needs may lead to an expansion of the program’s scope.
Thanking the Forest Dept. and Team Jindal Foundation for this noble initiative, Smt. Shallu Jindal, the Chairperson of the Jindal Foundation, said, “Forest geographies are the lungs of our Mother Earth, and the forest dwellers, who have a symbiotic existence with the forest eco-system, are the ultimate protectors of these precious natural resources. I am sure that this initiative of the Jindal Foundation will holistically nourish the lives of forest dwellers in the region.”
On the occasion, Jindal Foundation also flagged off an awareness tableau on dengue and malaria, designed to educate the community on effective prevention and management strategies for these prevalent diseases in the vulnerable region. The event also saw the distribution of sports equipment to local youth volunteers who are actively contributing to the program’s grassroots implementation.
“In coming days, Jindal Foundation will also explore rolling out the Kishori Express to eliminate anaemia among girls and the Swosti Express to extend geriatric care in these villages as envisioned by our Chairperson of Jindal Foundation,” said Mr. Prashant Hota, President and Group Head of CSR of Jindal Steel & Power.
Mr. Hota solicited the support of the local community to drive such life-nourishing programs in their respective localities and actualise the inclusive vision of Jindal Steel & Power and its Chairman Sri Naveen Jindal to a Big Reality.
During the event, CDMO Dr. Sivananda Mohanty highlighted upcoming healthcare initiatives by the Health Department for Satkosia sanctuary periphery villages, while officials from the Animal Husbandry Department highlighted the implementation of a composite program of allied agricultural activities to enrich the livelihood of the forest dwellers.
The initiative received widespread appreciation from community leaders, officials from line departments, and the DFO for providing such sustainable support to the neediest people.
Mr. Ashutosh Mishra, DGM (CSR) of JSP, extended a warm welcome to the guests and community members attending the program. Under the guidance of JSP Angul’s CSR Head Mr. Jayant Mohanty, Manager Ms. Jhilli Khatua, and Assistant General Secretary of Jindal Foundation Ms. Maitreyee Mishra, community volunteers Mrs. Subashini and Ms. Mamata, along with the management trainees, distributed dry rations to all identified families