Vedanta Aluminium expands assistive support for people with disabilities in Odisha
By Deepa Majhi
Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Aluminium has expanded its assistive support initiative for people with disabilities across Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts, providing wheelchairs and hearing aids to 49 beneficiaries as part of its commitment to inclusive community development.
The latest phase of the programme covered Jamkhani, Girisima, Jharpalam, R&R Colony Mendra, Garjanjore, Bileimunda, Chhatabar and Ghogharpalli villages, where 19 wheelchairs were distributed to identified beneficiaries. Similar support had earlier been extended to residents of Kuraloi.
The initiative seeks to address the mobility and accessibility needs of people with disabilities and elderly residents, enabling them to participate more actively in daily and community life. The assistive devices were distributed in the presence of Sunanda Kalo, Sarpanch of Garjanjore Panchayat, along with Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers, local committee members and community representatives.
Amaresh Kumar, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium Coal Mines, said the company remains committed to addressing community needs through practical and inclusive interventions.
“By providing assistive support, we aim to improve accessibility for people with disabilities and elderly community members, enabling them to lead more independent and fulfilling lives. We will continue working closely with local communities and stakeholders to create meaningful and lasting social impact,” he said.
Damyanti Naik, an ASHA worker from Nuadihi village under Garjanjore Panchayat, welcomed the initiative, saying the assistive devices had made daily activities easier for beneficiaries while improving their mobility and access to essential services.
Keshav Purale, a resident of Girisima village who received a wheelchair, said the support had transformed his daily life by giving him greater independence and reducing his dependence on others.
The initiative complements Vedanta Aluminium Coal Mines’ broader healthcare programme. Through its Mobile Health Unit (MHU), the company has reached more than 50,000 residents, including over 4,000 children, across 18 villages in Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts. Over the past three years, it has organised more than 3,000 free health camps and over 1,000 health awareness sessions.
Vedanta Aluminium said its community development initiatives in healthcare, education, sustainable livelihoods, infrastructure and social development have positively impacted more than two lakh people across 26 villages surrounding its coal mining operations in Odisha.
