BALCO’s endeavour is to make a positive change in the lives of those in our communities. As a responsible corporate citizen, we make sincere efforts to encourage community development. In addition, through BALCO CSR, we try to achieve our greater objective of creating sustainable value for all our clients and stakeholders.
Our success over the years is an outcome of the long-term relationships that we have built with our stakeholders. These enduring relationships with our people, clients, value chain partners and stakeholders form our social and relationship capital.
“To empower and support communities, especially neighbourhood communities, in achieving greater economic and social well-being.”
We are committed to the principles of sustainable development, protecting human life, health and environment; ensuring social wellbeing and bringing prosperity to the communities. We have a well – established history and commitment to reinvest in the social good of our neighbourhood and nation. We believe that as a socially responsible entity our programs are aligned to community needs, national priorities and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
As a strong governance & monitoring practice, we conduct Baseline/ Needs and Impact Assessment study once every three years. During the year Impact Assessment study was conducted for our project Mor Jal Mor Maati, Vedanta Skill School, Unnati, Nayi Kiran, Arogya, Mobile Health Van, BALCO Medical Centre and Connect.
29% perceived that there was reduction in outward migration due to ample opportunities for farmers through diversification of farming methods.
Change in menstrual practice 67% women in Korba have been using sanitary napkins.
Around 64% have access to digital literacy skills and were using tools for the same.
We consider it our responsibility to fulfil the healthcare requirements of the people and the communities, in the regions where we operate. To this end, we have initiated various programmes that involve raising awareness, organising regular check-ups, conducting training sessions and providing emergency services.
Project Arogya is a comprehensive health initiative that aims to deliver quality primary healthcare services through Rural Health Posts, raise HIV awareness and place a special emphasis on enhancing Maternal & Child Health, particularly targeting Malnutrition.
Lives touched
Benefitted through 3 Rural Health Posts
Mothers received training on caregiving practices
Primary health care is being offered through Rural Health Posts (RHPs), which are operational in three locations in Chhattisgarh:
These centres offer effective treatment and general testing services to the neighbouring communities. More than 3600 people availed themselves of services through these Rural Health Posts. Additionally, in collaboration with the District Health Department under the Mukhya Mantri Haat Bazar Swasthya Yojana, we organised 25 health camps in remote villages, providing accessible healthcare services to over 800 beneficiaries.
We consistently endeavour to create value for society. As part of this effort, we strive hard to enrich the lives of children and mothers in our communities. Through our initiatives, we spread awareness about nutrition and encourage community participation to address the challenges of malnutrition.
To reduce childhood malnourishment, we first assessed the health status of 1564 children aged zero to five years through health screenings in 39 Anganwadi across 32 areas. Following identification, we conducted 25 Positive Deviance (PD) Hearth sessions covering 430 malnourished children. PD Health is a behaviour modification program that is used to rehabilitate underweight and wasted children without medical complications, sustain their rehabilitation and prevent future malnutrition. Children with critical malnourishment status, were then referred to NRCs (Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres) for a specialised intervention.
Additionally, we trained 600+ mothers on Take Home Ration (THR) recipes and created 150 nutrition gardens in Anganwadi centres and households of pregnant and lactating mothers to boost nutrition levels and promote a healthy diet.
The PD Hearth sessions and NRC treatments have successfully improved the health of these children; 63% of the identified children have moved out of the Severe Acute Malnourishment (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnourishment (MAM) categories.
BALCO is committed to raising HIV awareness , reached out to 20,000+ people generating awareness on HIV amongst high-risk behaviour groups like Truckers and migrant workers through canopy camps, counselling sessions. Also, conducted weeklong mass awareness HIV campaign on World AIDS Day.
BALCO provides doorstep healthcare by making primary healthcare accessible through the Mobile Health Van (MHV). It aims to reach remote areas and cater to those who find it difficult to afford medical services. The Mobile Health Van bridges the gap and ensures the timely availability of essential healthcare services at these locations.
People benefitted from the healthcare services of MHV
Multi-speciality Mega Health Camps were organised
Doorstep Service:Our healthcare services, including free consultations, medicines, rapid tests, and home visits for elderly people, were availed by 14000+ people. On a fortnightly basis, the Mobile Health Van reached the untapped corners and localities in different villages and helped patients, especially the elderly, who were unable to travel to fulfil their medical needs.
Multispeciality Mega Health Camp:At BALCO, We organised six Multispeciality Mega health camps that offered healthcare services pertaining to Orthopaedics, Dental, ENT, Paediatrics, Gynaecology, Physiotherapy and Blood Sugar, among others, benefitting more than 1700 people. Additionally, we organised 22 awareness camps, sensitising people to vaccination and other matters concerning health and hygiene.
Special consultation services by Gynaecologists through the ‘Health Chaupal’ on a bi-monthly basis launched this year are a leap towards ensuring good reproductive health in our communities; 176 women and adolescent girls benefited from our efforts.
The project focuses on demystifying menstrual myths and taboos, developing sustainable hygiene practices during menstruation and raising awareness about product choices through Menstrual Health Management (MHM) capacity building to ensure safe reproductive health.
By educating people about menstrual health through awareness generation capacity building initiatives, we have sensitised over 48,000 Women, Men, Adolescent Girls and Boys. In addition to this, we have also expanded our roots across 5 blocks of Korba district, viz Korba, Podi Uproda, Kartala, Pali and Katghora.
To bring about sustained behavioural change, we capacitated 400+ adolescent girls, boys, SHG women and frontline health workers (Anganwadi and ASHA workers) on Menstrual Health Management (MHM) as ‘Master trainers’- Torchbearers cum Leaders of change in the community. We have also brought the men into the fold of the subject matter through awareness and capacity building activities., we are currently spreading the word across the district, with trained Local Health Workers taking the message to the grassroots and sensitising over 2500+ teenagers in Adolescents on MHM.
Awareness sessions on MHM are also conducted in 50% of the government secondary and higher secondary schools in the Korba block to improve experiences of menarche, address frequent absenteeism and dropout, promote gender equality and delegate information regarding safe menstrual practices. Over 9000 adolescents were sensitised in 20 government schools in the Korba block.
To promote inclusivity in our communities, we have also conducted the first-ever awareness and sensitisation session on Menstrual Health Management (MHM) with Specially abled students in Korba.
We have spread awareness about sustainable, hygienic menstrual health practices and the available menstrual health product choices. As a step to ensure the availability of sustainable and affordable menstrual hygiene solutions, we initiated a pilot on reusable cloth pads as ‘Stitch My Own Pad Campaign’ by training 30 women and adolescents.
The community leads the discussion on menstruation by organising MHM talks in Gram Sabhas. The five MHM Gram Sabhas held so far are a testimony to the change created in the communities. We established four Swastha Suvidha Kendras (SSK centres) as one-stop solution centres for MHM.
BALCO Medical Centre envisions a society where people are free from the menace of cancer. The BALCO Medical Centre (BMC), a 170-bed tertiary oncology facility, is a flagship initiative of the Vedanta Medical Research Foundation (VMRF). We aim to bring ultra-modern, multimodal diagnostic and therapeutic facilities within easy reach of India’s population at a reasonable and affordable cost. It is located in Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh and caters to patients from various regions. During the year, over 10,000 people availed healthcare services.
Moreover, another modern piece of equipment, the LINAC-HALCYON Radiotherapy machine for curative treatments, was also installed in the hospital. FSRT (Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy) for solitary brain metastasis is done in the radiotherapy department. It also achieved successful breast reconstruction by maintaning the shape and symmetry through flaps instead of implants. This is enabling the hospital to serve a larger number of people and enables the company to make quality cancer care more accessible to the public.
First ever in Chhattisgarh: Procedures performed in NMTrodat Brain Scan, Muga Scan, GA-68-FAPI, mIBG-131-Therapy, 177 Lu DOTA, 177 Lu EDTMP and Physical Stress Myocardial Perfusion Scan.
People benefitted from healthcare services
A fund of H 2,31,522 has been allocated for 17 patients to the community-initiated BALCO Medical Charitable Fund for diagnosis and treatment of uninsured patients.
We have also served in remote regions through camps, health talks, a mammography van, and diagnostic services, going above and beyond. Around 60 NRDA housekeeping personnel were screened for cervical and breast cancer prevalence using the following methods: doctor consultation, pap smear, USG breast and mammography. Nine health camps were held in Nandghars for the prevention, awareness, and diagnosis of 652 women, while six health talks were addressed to 533 people. Over 1295 individuals received assistance through 27 camps hosted in Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.
In collaboration with ICDS, we additionally trained more than 50 frontline workers from the Ambuja Foundation, SAKHI and state government Anganwadi workers and health workers (Mitanins) to raise awareness in villages and offer doorto- door services.
The project focuses on improving surface water management by employing existing resources, augmenting irrigation facilities, equipping farmers with the innovative farming techniques, and promoting multi-cropping to reduce the dependence on rainfall. It is also bringing farmers into the fold of Fishery, Goatry and Poultry, ensuring income generation throughout the year. The programme also institutionalises farming practises through the development of a business model through the Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO), Korba Krushak Unnayan Producer Company Limited (KKUPCL).
We identified farmers based on farm livelihood activities and then extended targeted support through capacity building, training, and initial input support in the form of seeds, manure, fencing, soil testing and periodic technical monitoring in the field.
Contemporary farming practices:800 farmers were trained in modern cropping methods. As a result, 70% of the total benefitted farmers adopted the latest agriculture techniques such as Systematic Rice Intensification (SRI), Trellis and Organic farming and so on. SRI helped farmers get 1.2-1.4 times increase in production, which led to an average increase in income of 30–60% and a 60% reduction in the cost of cultivation.
Climate resilient cropping:We assisted 540 farmers with climate resilient cropping including Kodo and Ragi (Minor Millets), groundnuts, scented rice leading to 16% production increase. It is an innovation introduced in the regional landscape to reduce the dependency of farmers on rainfall and promote climate resilient farming.
Multi-cropping:By boosting the water availability for irrigation, extending technical assistance and initial inputs, 449 farmers have begun harvesting the second crop in the rabi season, such as wheat, groundnuts, mustard, vegetables and so on.
Horticulture:The wadi concept has been promoted in the waste lands of the project area to provide the farmers with a long-term agriculture investment. A total of seven wadis have been developed.
Lac cultivation:Lac cultivation training and seed assistance have been offered to 330 farmers. This intervention has provided a platform for willing farmers to generate extra income.
We assisted 105 farmers in Goatry, Poultry and Fishery, resulting in greater income for marginal and landless farmers. Technical training and initial inputs such as chicks for Poultry, Goatry units (1 male and 4 female goats) for raising goats and fish seeds for fish farming are provided. Continued surveillance and assistance to construct their own Goatry and Poultry setup aided the farmers in diversifying their agricultural practices and raising their average income by H 7,000.
Water harvesting structures– We have built 21 water harvesting structures (farm and community ponds) and dug 20 wells with a capacity of 25000+ cubic metres. It has substantially improved water security and recharge while also facilitating multiple cropping in the region.
Soil bunding– We have built 21 water harvesting structures (farm and community ponds) and dug 20 wells with a capacity of 25000+ cubic metres. It has substantially improved water security and recharge while also facilitating multiple cropping in the region.
Drinking water system - Drinking water facilities have been established at four locations through the installation of solar-powered pumps, which have benefitted over 240 families. The facilities have enhanced the availability of drinking water in these areas, which had been facing a scarcity of drinking water.
With over 800 members, the Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) has begun input and output businesses, paving the way for sustenance and sustainable farming. The organisation was founded with the goal of assisting its farmer members through collective bargaining and economies of scale. The FPO-run Vedanta Agriculture Resource Centre (VARC) is a one-stop solution for all technical farming needs. During FY 2023, at VARC we introduced zeroenergy cooling chambers for storing vegetables without refrigerators, as well as Azola, a unit for fish and goat feed.
At BALCO, we have been successful in raising a total of H 1.42 crore through various government schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and the Chhattisgarh State Saur Sujla Scheme. We have also raised a sum of INR 1.41 crore through community contributions in activities such as the construction of farm ponds, digging wells, building Poultry and Goatry sheds, soil bunding, SRI and irrigation equipment, and so on.
To sustain its growth momentum, India’s burgeoning economy requires a massive workforce, especially in rural India. In response we, at BALCO, in collaboration with the Social Empowerment and Economic Development Society, established three Vedanta Skill Schools in the Korba, Surguja and Kawardha regions of Chhattisgarh. We seek to impart free vocational training to rural youth, dropouts and the unemployed population, with a special focus on our operational areas and to match them with employment opportunities.
Youth trained at 3 skilling centres, 59% females
Youth placed and self-employed
Reputed organisations across 8 states With over 800 members, the Farmer
The Vedanta Skill School in Korba is the only skilling centre in Chhattisgarh to receive a five-star rating from the Skill Management and Accreditation of Training Centres (SMART) programme by the National Skill Development Co-operation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Employment of the Government of India and SSC (Sector Skill Council).
1007 youths have been trained in trades viz. sewing machine operator, welder, fitter, hospitality and electrical, across three centres. 76% of the young people were placed in eight states in 18 reputed organisations, earning an average CTC of H 12,000 to 18,000 every month.
15 out of 28 batches were trained in convergence with government schemes, partnerships and private sponsorships through various schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), the Mukhya Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (MMKVY), the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the Skill India Impact Bond (SIIB), Generation India, the CSSDA (Chhattisgarh State Skill Development Authority), and so on.
Value-added lessons and modules on diverse topics, such as communication, computer skills, yoga, personality development, menstrual hygiene, legal rights, workplace ethics, time management and more, were offered. Mandatory fire and road safety training sessions were conducted to promote zero harm in the community (a total of 24 batches have been trained). We also celebrated World Youth Skill Day with a three-day celebration, including trade-specific competitions and Olympiads to encourage the healthy competitive spirit of students.
To promote sustainability and foster the overall development of the community, BALCO is largely focusing on the upliftment of women, which will drive economic growth as well as enhance the quality of life. Women are encouraged to run grass-roots institutions for their socio-economic development.
Self-help groups (SHGs) play an important role in women’s empowerment. We established 44 new SHGs (self-help groups), bringing the total to 504 SHGs with 5389 female members. Through regular meetings, bank linkages and linking them to government schemes, we are strengthening these 504 SHGs while offering numerous entrepreneurial prospects.
SHGs are being strengthened to empower women at financial, legal and socioeconomic levels through multiple rounds of capacity-building trainings on SHG functioning, financial and entrepreneurial development and legal rights training. So far, 425 SHGs have been trained on financial literacy and Financial Inclusion of 150 SHGs has been done. SHGs are being strengthened to empower women at various financial, legal, and socioeconomic capacities.
We established seven microenterprise units with a total of 12 products, including mural art, gonkra folk art, clay idols, Chattisa (a local cuisine), mushrooms and paper bags. Over 800 Women have been trained under these Micro Enterprises.
SHG women participated in a variety of forums, including national and international exhibitions such as ‘The Art Fair,’ the International Aluminium Conference in Jharsuguda and the Pali Mahotsav in Korba, where they displayed and sold products made by them.
SHGs are engaged in creating eco-friendly products, such as the SHG group that developed ecofriendly Ganesh idols for Ganesh Chaturthi. These idols were precisely constructed from the soil from the Narmada River and the water from the Ganga, bringing sanctity to art. Other products made as part of our microenterprises included paper bags, cloth masks, oxy-degradable sanitary napkins, herbal gulals and so on.
On International Women’s Day, the ‘Unnati Utsav’ was zestfully celebrated with 500+ community women, adolescent girls, and employees on the theme ‘#Embrace Equity’. Women participated in several community engagement and team-building activities, which united them all in a common aim of empowerment. Women also demonstrated their entrepreneurial skills by establishing food stalls with the message of empowerment being spread through art and cultural performances.13 zealous community members were recognised and felicitated who had contributed immensely to the development of the community in the areas of entrepreneurship, social change and community leadership for the benefit of all.
The right to quality education is at the heart of our education programme. We are committed to providing quality education to children and improving their learning outcomes. By making quality education accessible we focus on the learning outcomes of children.
The project focuses on improving the learning environment in nearby government schools by creating an enabling learning environment with a focus on improving students’ grades, building teachers’ capacity and providing career counselling on subjects such as Science, English, Mathematics and Accountancy (SEMA) in government schools for 9th to 12th grade.
Students benefitting in 6 government schools
We extended our support through regular classes to more than 2000 students in six government schools and organised remedial classes at three resource centres on SEMA (Science, English, Mathematics and Accountancy) subjects for grades 9th to 12th. Our instructors conducted 4300+ regular classes extensively, working on the holistic development of students regularly. Additionally, over 2000 remedial classes to offer direct support to 150+ students from different communities on SEMA subjects were conducted along with doubtsolving sessions on a daily basis.
A total of eight career counselling sessions were conducted with a special focus on 10th and 12th grade students at the intervention school to guide them towards making informed academic and career-oriented decisions.
To build a more conducive environment, a two-day capacitybuilding training was organised for 17 teachers in six government schools. The teachers received training on innovative ways and methods of teaching such as ‘experiential learning’, working on multilingualism, leveraging the power of language and creating a platform for sharing ideas to enhance teaching pedagogy and practical-based models.
With the objective of instilling learning through problem-solving skills, critical and innovative thinking and practical model-based learning in the students, a Science exhibition was organised. More than 150 students from grades 9th to 12th from six government schools participated and presented 17 science models.
We organised a summer camp in two centres, covering 250+ students from the 10th standard of five government schools. Activities included art and craft, dance, music, calligraphy, spoken English, Vedic Mathematics, pottery, yoga, aerobics and modelbased STEM learning.
A winter camp was also organised for students in grades 10th and 12th to gear their preparations for board examinations and career counselling sessions. A total of 268 students from six schools participated and strengthened their preparation by focusing on practice-based learning through daily worksheets and government model papers on SEMA (Science, English, Mathematics, Accountancy) subjects.
Infrastructure development in communities provides an opportunity to improve people’s quality of life. Our intervention intends to bridge infrastructural gaps in the communities’ socio-economic development by upgrading existing facilities. This year’s efforts included the renovation of community stages and schools, the construction of borewells, the installation of solar pumps for drinking water availability and road construction, which cumulatively benefited over 7700 community members.
Infrastructure development in communities provides an opportunity to improve people’s quality of life. Our intervention intends to bridge infrastructural gaps in the communities’ socio-economic development by upgrading existing facilities. This year’s efforts included the renovation of community stages and schools, the construction of borewells, the installation of solar pumps for drinking water availability and road construction, which cumulatively benefited over 7700 community members.
We trained 16 master trainers from our partner team on safety with the objective of fostering a zero-harm culture in the communities where we operate. As a result of our initiatives, these master trainers are now conducting additional sessions on safety in the communities.
29 traffic signs have been placed from Bajrang Chowk to Ambedkar Stadium as part of the team’s ongoing efforts to enhance road safety for both drivers and pedestrians. The road safety-related signs have been put up in various, strategic places to raise awareness among drivers and walkers alike.
At BALCO, the socio-economic development of our communities is of paramount importance. We are dedicated to empowering our local communities and establishing a connect between community members and employees to build a relationship based on ‘trust’. Our employee engagement initiatives help us build enduring relationships with our communities. During the year, 500+ employees volunteered and contributed over 160+ manhours:
Mentoring – Around 30 employees volunteered under the project Connect for conducting remedial classes on Science, English, Mathematics and Accountancy in evening resource centres and becoming ‘Science Mitras’ to mentor 150+ students from government schools to make science models for science exhibition.
Wish Tree initiative - To celebrate the Christmas and New Year spirit, 253 employees volunteered to fulfil 400+ wishes collected from children in distant villages and schools for the specially abled.
Value-added modules – So far, 22 employees offered soft skills trainings to Vedanta Skill School students on topics such as communication, 5S and workplace management, team building, Microsoft PowerPoint and so on. Other projects, such as Har Kadam Hum Sath, also provided mentoring and assistance to MHM adolescent groups.
Blood donation drive – Around 224 employees volunteered for a noble cause by participating in the blood donation drive. The effort was recognised by the Chhattisgarh Government for the highest single-day blood donations in the district.
Let’s Do Ropai – A total of 35 employees joined hands alongside farmers for sowing paddy seeds during the farming season in neighbouring villages under the Mor Jal Mor Maati project. The effort deepened their commitment to ‘No Food Wastage’.
Rejuvenation drive– Employees on Biodiversity week led the way for community pond restoration and on World Water Day participated in check dam de-siltation drive with community volunteers for enhancing the water holding capacity leading to better irrigation of crops for nearby farmers.
We believe in nurturing enduring relationships with our supply partners. To accomplish this, we finalise three to five years of endto- end KPI-linked contracts with the right management in place to enhance the output reliability of our plants. In terms of MRO procurement, the purpose is to secure a vendor with an annual rate contract driven by need-based delivery orders. This safeguards us against a sudden spike in raw material prices. This has also led to fewer transactions, which is in line with our collective objective of optimising our transactions with business partners and commercial transactions.
We are proactively engaging with our local supply partners to support local procurement processes.
Of the service contracts are sourced locally
By supporting local businesses, we have reduced transportation expenses and the environmental footprint for both ourselves and our supply chain partners. Lowering transport costs has a direct impact as it not only minimises the environmental impact but is also economically advantageous.
We have an integrated team at BALCO that is dedicated to ensuring the highest level of customer satisfaction by addressing all client complaints as soon as they occur. For this, we have also developed a digital platform where customers can lodge their complaints without any hazards or complications. From that portal, the trigger email is circulated to the appropriate team, which investigates the root cause of the concern and takes the necessary actions to resolve the concerns as soon as possible.
Moreover, we focus on delivering premium-quality products to our customers. With our expansive distribution network, we offer the fastest delivery possible by installing a system of GPS tracking in all our vehicles to prevent transit damage and delivery delays. We frequently interact with our customers, both physically and virtually, to ensure that their demands are met. We have a high client retention rate, which is achieved through regular client feedback and immediate action to improve the feedback.
At BALCO, we are cognizant of the fact that it is our fundamental responsibility to implement well-thought-out and targeted initiatives regularly to address community grievances, especially those pertaining to our operations. We have a robust grievance redressal cell that is centred on the values of transparency, fairness, openness, accessibility, and cultural appropriateness. This mechanism helps us understand how people are reacting to our operations. To further enhance this mechanism, we have Community Liasion Officer at each unit along with Social Performance Steering Committees to address these concerns.
Members of the communities can voice their concerns over the phone, in person with relevant individuals, or in writing. This is backed by a robust and continuous feedback and feed-forward system for programme improvement through participation in village-level meetings. Members of the communities can register their opinions, ideas, concerns, and requests at the grievance cell.
Sarita Kanwar, a 24-year-old young farmer, is transforming the face of agriculture in Bhulsidhi, a small village inhabited by native tribes, by using modern agricultural practices. Sarita's family has been farming in traditional and pragmatic ways for many years. The situation deteriorated as the climate took its toll, with recurrent low rainfalls in the region causing farmers to lose their livelihoods throughout the course of the year. The social construct that kept communities unaware of women's contributions to farming, commonly referred to as 'disguised labour,' was not acceptable to Sarita. In her quest to transform her future and be recognised and respected as a 'Farmer,' she became a modern farming role model in her village, Bhulsidhi.
BALCO, through its project Mor Jal Mor Maati, trained her on modern agricultural practices of rice cultivation such as SRI (Systematic Rice Intensification Technique). The farmers had already tasted crop failure due to poor rainfall twice in the same season and were no longer willing to take the risk of changing their long-trusted farming practices. Sarita stepped forward to be the change; she decided to follow the modern practice of SRI in place of the traditional broadcasting method of sowing seeds. Change was neither easy nor acceptable to her in-laws; they often fought with her and showed no support. Her family had already warned her, ‘If this technique fails, you might have to work as a labourer to bear the losses.’ Sarita’s fears were soon converted to trust as BALCO stood by the best of agricultural practices.
When it was time to reap her production, Sarita was not sure of her family would uphold her decision and accept that she could lead the farm. Her production rose from 11 quintals to 14 quintals and the family was astounded. The risk had finally paid off for Sarita. Her family accepted and applauded her decision. As word of her success spread in Bhulsidhi and back home at Raigarh, Sarita became a role model for all female farmers. With support from BALCO, she now replicates modern agricultural practices, starting with her family and spreading to the entire village. Her journey from being disguised as a labourer on the farms to being a shining female farmer has transformed the lives of many farmers in Bhulsidhi today.
21-year-old Preeti Mahant belongs to a small family of four, with her father being a farmer and her mother a daily wage labourer. Preeti's life was still going well until her family was confronted with unforeseen challenges. Her brother developed epilepsy and her father soon became paralysed. Preeti's life had taken a tragic turn and her family's survival now depended on her. Preeti has a never say die spirit. As BALCO held her hand, she finished her training in the ‘Food and beverages’ trade at Vedanta Skill School and was placed at Aaranyam Restaurant in Raipur. She is now earning INR 12,000 monthly in CTC. She supports her family and takes care of all their needs. Despite the challenges, she never gave up; she continued to work diligently for her family. Vedanta Skill School is assisting many young people like Preeti in building their futures while sustaining innumerable families. Preeti today stands to be a prime example of empowerment.
Children: Bikesh, 6.5 years old (male) and Kunal, 3.5 years old (male).
Mother’s name: Mamta Farrey, 28 years old
Place: Nehru Nagar
Father’s name:Deepak Farrey, 30 years old
Occupation: Auto(garage)
Kunal was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) at birth. Mamta, his mother, was concerned about his health. She sought extensive medical treatment; however, his condition did not improve. She switched doctors, but nothing seemed to work for the child's health. Arogya detected Kunal as having SAM (severe acute malnutrition) during health checks in her community initiative and his weight was reported as 8.7 kg in May 2022.
BALCO, through its initiative Arogya, counselled her and her family on how to enhance their caring and cooking practices. Initially, she was offered assistance with the kitchen garden to ensure that nutritional food was available and offered to the child. Mamta was encouraged to participate in THR training after being identified and taught three to four nutritious meals that could help improve her child's health. She had never used the THR in the manner which she had learned during the THR training session. Kunal, her kid, loves eating laddu, protein powder and other THR-based meals. Kunal's health improved as a result of this shift in eating habits. He transitioned from SAM to MAM (8.7 kg to 9.3 kg) in July. Regular home visits and team support also ensured that appropriate health habits were adopted and implemented consistently.
Mamta enrolled her child for the PDH session in September. Kunal gained another 600 grams during the 12- day session. (Day 1: 10.2 kg to 10.8 kg). Mamta's ability to adopt positive childcare and feeding practises was ensured during post-PDH follow-up visits. After 45 days of PDH, the child has reached the standard stage and continues to gain good health. The child is able to sustain the weight gain. Mamta uses THR and PDH recipes to provide constant care for her child; they are now common in her kitchen. Mamta is grateful to the project team for helping her bring about a positive change in Kunal’s health. Mamta is now actively sharing her knowledge with other parents in the neighbourhood, and she has become a changemaker and an inspiration for fellow mothers in her community.
