Lanjigarh, Kalahandi,10thJuly 2025: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, showcased the role of women-led enterprises from Kalahandi at Vikas Mela 2025, hosted to mark the first anniversary of the Odisha government under Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi. The company showcased products from its flagship women empowerment initiative Project Sakhi, celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of rural women, shaping Kalahandi’s development.
Through a vibrant display of handmade products crafted by women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs), the company’s stall drew widespread appreciation from dignitaries including Shri Pawar Sachin, District Magistrate of Kalahandi, and senior representatives from Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS), Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), and the District Planning and Monitoring Unit (DPMU). The visitors commended the high quality, creativity, and market-readiness of the showcased products, acknowledging them as a testament to Vedanta’s sustained efforts in nurturing rural enterprises and women-led microeconomies in the region.
Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO – Vedanta Alumina Business, said, “The development of Kalahandi is intrinsically linked to the empowerment of its people. At Vedanta Aluminium, we believe women are the cornerstone of inclusive growth. Through Project Sakhi, we are enabling them to become self-reliant entrepreneurs and active agents of socio-economic change.”
Project Sakhi’s presence at the Vikas Mela offered rural women a valuable platform to showcase their products, forge new market linkages, and amplify their entrepreneurial efforts before a wider audience. It aligns seamlessly with Vedanta’s broader vision of transforming Kalahandi through focused interventions in sustainable livelihoods, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and grassroots sports and culture, thereby reshaping the region’s future.
Launched in 2016, Project Sakhi has steadily evolved into a cornerstone of women’s development in Kalahandi district – home to Vedanta’s world-class alumina refinery. It supports over 4,900 women across 4,701 SHGs. By providing comprehensive training, leadership mentoring, and market access across farm and non-farm sectors, the initiative is helping build sustainable livelihoods and fostering financial independence. As Kalahandi charts a new path forward, Vedanta Aluminium remains committed to deepening its role as a catalyst of change, empowering communities and nurturing the aspirations of rural women who are scripting this transformation from within.
