Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Vedanta Aluminium, Lanjigarh gets St. John Ambulance Award

Orissadiary.com, Feb 4, 2009

Report by Rashmi r Parida; Bhubaneswar: Orissa Governor MC 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 pride that Vedanta Aluminium Lanjigarh took the lead in training 1569 Anganwadi workers in Kalahandi district. Other industrial organizations 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 health care 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 become Associate Life Member of this international non-profit organization.

Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanjigarh is one among the few corporate 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 recognized as a training center by St. John Ambulance to conduct first aid training programs 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 recognition 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 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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