Vedanta to support children

Tathya.in, May 20, 2009
Lanjigarh:20/May/2009

Vedanta Aluminium Limited(VAL), Lanjigarh has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for supporting anganwadi centres in Rayagada district.

VAL signed MOU with District Administration of Rayagada and Vedanta Foundation on 20 May here.

At least 600 Anganwadi centres in five blocks of Rayagada district will be supported by the Aluminium Major.

To promote Bal Chetna Program, MOU was signed by Krushna Gopal Mohapatra, Collector, Rayagada, Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer,

The Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh and S Chaamundi, GM, Vedanta Foundation.

The project will cover all the Anganwadi centres in Muniguda, Bissamcuttack, Kolnara and Kesingpur block and 73 per cent of the centres in Rayagada Block.
All these centres will cover about 30,000 children.

Children up to 2.5 years shall be given micro-nutrient supplement, where as children between 2.5 and six years will be given additional nutritional supplement along with the food provided by the Government, under ICDS program.

Specialized training shall be conducted for the Anganwadi workers under the project to improve the pre-school education for the children.

In order to make the Anganwadi centers more attractive, educational toys will also be given to each centre.

Vedanta Foundation will be responsible for implementation of this program in the district.

Signing the MoU, Mr. Mohapatra said that the support would enhance the nutritional level of tribal children in the district.

Dr Mukesh Kumar said, “In this tribal dominated area, nutritional level of children is below average.

We are trying to make sure that through our Bal Chetna Project children get proper nutrition and care at the Anganwadi.

This project will make the children healthy and happy and will increase their attendances in the Anganwadis”.

As per the MoU, children in 139 Anganwadi centres in Muniguda block, 129 centres in Bissamcuttack block, 136 centres in Kolnara block, 115 centres in Kesingpur Block and 127 centres in Rayagada block of the district will be benefited in the project.

Samiron Sarkar, Head CSR, Sweta Upadhayay, Assistant Manager (CSR), Sanjay Sahoo, Assistant Manager Public Relations and BalaKrushna Rath, Project Head, Vedanta Foundation were also present during the MoU signing.