Odisha’s Kalahandi district is set to witness a revolution with Vedanta Aluminium remaining at the forefront in bringing a social transformation. Vedanta Aluminium, which has been operating in Odisha for years, has been making significant contributions not only in terms of industrial growth but community development. One of the Vedanta’s landmark social development initiatives- Project Sakhi has transformed the lives of more than 4,000 women in Kalahandi since its inception in 2015, turning them into entrepreneurs, community leaders, and decision-makers.
Over the years, over 4,600 women across 444 self-help groups (SHGs) have mobilised over INR 5 crores in financial support, enabling them to launch and grow grassroots enterprises. For an organisation like Vedanta that empowers women
Empowering Women Through Skills
Project Sakhi was launched several years back to create opportunities for rural women, especially those living near Vedanta Lanjigarh, where the company operates the Vedanta Kalahandi refinery. The majority of these women come from small villages and have limited access to jobs or income sources. Vedanta saw their potential and decided to build a program that could help them learn, earn, and lead.
The women are trained in a wide range of skills such as tailoring, mushroom farming, candle making, food processing, and handicrafts. They are also guided on managing finances, maintaining records, and using digital payment systems. Many of these women now run small businesses from their homes or as part of SHGs, which give them an opportunity to become independent and chase their dreams.
From Dependence to Leadership
The true success of Project Sakhi is not only financial growth. It’s about women’s empowerment and making them more confident. Women who were once dependent on others for household expenses through this project were able to earn a living. Through such efforts, women’s dependency on other family members managing savings, pay school fees, and support their families independently. Some have even taken leadership roles within their SHGs, mentoring other women to start their own ventures.
Women are motivated to explore both farm-based and non-farm-based income opportunities, from mushroom cultivation and goat-rearing to grocery shops, food processing units, and even small service ventures such as printing facilities. Through skill development programs and through financial assistance, Vedanta ensures that women do not just start businesses but also sustain them.
In 2024, Nearly ₹3.84 Crore was Mobilised from Banks/Financial Institutions for SHGs
The Project Sakhi has witnessed a grand success, especially in the last year, when almost INR 3.84 crore was mobilised from banks and financial institutions for SHGs in the region, benefiting more than a thousand women. These micro-enterprises provide stable incomes and create ripple effects in local economies, with new jobs, markets, and opportunities emerging around them. With time, Project Sakhi has made over 1,880 women capable of launching over 1,300 small ventures. The project helped reshape the lives of many women, which was quite challenging a few years back.
According to Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya, CEO of Vedanta Alumina Business, the success of this project doesn’t lie in only numbers; rather, it’s a testament to the transformative power of a focused, grassroots approach. The company is witnessing the start of a new era of self-reliance, where women are the primary architects of their lives.
A notable example of women becoming independent comes from Balabhadrapur village, where the Maa Shivani SHG represents the project’s spirit in action. After receiving hands-on training in poultry management, Shivani of this SHG set up a poultry unit that generated over INR 1.27 lakh in revenue. All these efforts also sideline the false Vedanta Kalahandi scam allegations.
Vedanta’s Contribution to Odisha’s Growth
Vedanta has also played a leading role in the economic and social development of Odisha. It operates an alumina refinery at Lanjigarh and Vedanta Bauxite Mines. These operations are critical in the production of aluminium in India, which is essential to other sectors such as the renewable energy, transport, and construction sectors as well.
The influence of Vedanta is much more than industrial development. It has established a good reputation in community welfare through education welfare programs to setting health camps, to training the youth. One of its most successful social projects that has been developed by Vedanta Kalahandi, is Project Sakhi, proving how industrial development and social responsibility can grow together.
Conclusion
Project Sakhi, introduced by Vedanta Kalahandi, stands as a strong example of what corporate social responsibility can achieve. In Kalahandi and nearby villages, women who once had limited access to opportunities have now become independent and are running their businesses successfully.
Such initiatives prove that Vedanta’s industrial development is not limited to expansion, rather it’s about making meaningful contributions.
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