Wednesday, February 4, 2009

St John Ambulance Award to Vedanta

Merinews, Feb 4, 2009

For the second consecutive year, Vedanta Aluminium, Lanjigarh received the St John Ambulance Award '08 for its contribution towards training and promotion of 'first aid'. The company took the lead in training 1569 anganwadi workers in Kalahandi..

HIS EXCELLENCY governor of Orissa, Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare presented the prestigious ‘St John Ambulance Award 2008’ to Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh for its contribution towards training and promotion of ’first aid’ not only among its employees, contract employees and other stakeholders, but also in entire district of Kalahandi, at large. Dr Mukesh Kumar, chief operating officer received the award during the annual general meeting of St John Ambulance held at Raj Bhawan, Bhubaneswar on February 3, 2009. The company also announced to provide an ambulance to police commissionerate, Bhubaneswar.
Appreciating Vedanta’s initiatives, governor of Orissa Bhandare said, “It is a matter of pride that Vedanta Aluminium Lanjigarh took the lead in training 1569 anganwadi workers in Kalahandi district. Other industrial organisations must follow the path shown by Vedanta”. He also thanked the aluminium company for donating an ambulance to police commissionerate as he requested.

Receiving the award Dr Mukesh Kumar said, “Vedanta is committed towards improvement in overall healthcare of people and its stakeholders. And our initiatives aimed at building a group of first aid volunteers will help in saving life, during calamity or accidents”. This is the second consecutive year the company has received the St John Ambulance Award. The company also became the first industrial house in Orissa to be the associate life member of this international non-profit organisation.

Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanjigarh is one among the few corporates in Orissa who are committed for first aid training and promotion. The company has been actively involved in this activity since 2006. In the year 2007, VAL has created 300 first aid volunteers among its own employees through first aid training, in association with St John Ambulance. In 2008, the company had imparted training to 450 of its employees including contract employees and drivers. Similarly, in order to spread the message of first aid and create a band of volunteers through out Kalahandi district, the company supported training on first aid and lifesaving skills to 1569 anganwadi workers and supervisors in the district.

VAL, Lanjigarh has also been recognised as a training center by St John Ambulance to conduct first aid training programmes for its employees as well as other community members. This is the first center in Kalahandi. The company has also supported in establishing a first aid training center at Bhawanipatna. It has two ambulance brigades, comprising of 60 first aid trained staff and two doctors to extend first aid support to general public in case of any natural or man made calamity or accidents.

The company is actively involved in improvement of health, safety and environment for its employees as well as community members. This award is a recognisition of VAL’s efforts in the area of creating awareness about health and preventive measures for controlling diseases like malaria, cholera and malnutrition etc. Recently, the company has been awarded Occupation Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS) 18001 certificate for its health and safety management system. St John Ambulance is a leading provider of first aid training in the world.

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